Welcome to the September issue of our monthly look at the goings-on here at the Bath Area Family YMCA. Last month was our annual 10-day hiatus while the Y closed down for its regular maintenance.

But it’s September and schools have begun and in case you missed the story last month in these pages, Caitlin Tycz and Nate Sampson of the Bath Area Y’s Long Reach Swim Club took top honors at the Summer Long Course Y-National Championships held at Indiana University. That brings to four the number of national champions Jay Morissette has coached over the past 20 years or so.

But the thing is, Morissette is not a typical coach. Yes, he is quite proud and pleased at the results of his two champions. His philosophy seems to be working, and it is pretty simple: first and foremost, swimming must be fun.

At the Nationals Caitlin Tycz won the 50-meter butterfly in 27.82 seconds while Nate Samson won the 50-meter backstroke in 27 seconds. That is fast, but fast isn’t the whole story. Morissette’s guiding principle of “make it fun,” stresses quality over quantity, and takes issue with the “no pain no gain” so common in other athletic programs.

“I have developed a firm belief that if the kid continues to have fun while training, he or she will do fine. And perhaps more importantly, he or she will continue to swim because it’s fun.”

Back in the mid- 1980s, when Morissette started his coaching career after being a competitive swimmer for four years in college, such an attitude was not just unheard of but was considered blasphemy.

“By the time I finished college and a career as a competitive swimmer,” Morissette said. “I had listened to all my coaches and picked up a lot of advice. And when I came here Guy (Saucier, then director of the Y) advised me to ‘make swimming the thing to do.’ To me that meant, make it fun. Make it cool. And that’s what we do.”

He cites the lack of injuries among his charges as proof his system works. “For us to deal with a sore shoulder or other signs of overuse is rare,” he said. “Whereas other programs with a more competitive flavor, have to deal with those kinds of injuries.”

For the record, the Bath Area Family YMCA placed 27th overall in the national competition. Throughout the year, the Y provides many ways for youth to grow, thrive and reach their potential. Youth development is seious fun at the Y.

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM A SUCCESS

More than 3,000 breakfasts and lunches were served to area children at the Y this summer as part of the federal free meals program. The summer program is an extension of the school year outreach that provides free breakfast and lunches to those in school who need it.

Kelly Howard, childcare director at the Y, said the program “really took off.”

“ We were very pleased with the response to this program,” she said.

The Y and Bath Recreation were one of 395 sites participating statewide in the program, according to Jamie Curley of the state Department of Education. Statewide, the program this summer had expanded to cover the entire state. Curley said that just in the month of July more than 499,000 meals were served. The program serves all children under the age of 18.

“ We are really pleased with the program’s growth,” Curley said. “We had 118 sponsors this year and hope to expand that even more next summer.”