Hello All,

I apologize now for such a lengthy email but it is necessary with our first meet happening this Saturday!  Show time for our first meet is 8 AM.  You need to let your  kiddos coach know your swimmer is there as soon as you arrive or if they are older they can do it themselves.  If you run behind you MUST let me know (please TEXT me at 210-912-9834 and let me know your status)!!!  

We are racing The Heights of Stone Oak, 239 Colonade Dr, 78260.  Obey parking signs along the drive leading to the pool.  They will tow if parked in the no parking area!  Let’s be respectful and follow their rules. 

If you have volunteered for this meet you will also need to use the sign in table for yourself as well!  We will have name tags for each of our volunteer parents and on the name tags the new parents names will be in RED.  Our seasoned parent’s names will be in BLACK.   It will be a very busy time so if you have any questions during this time find someone with a BLACK name tag before asking your child’s coach.  I am out of town for this meet and our coaches and my husband, Jason, will be available to answer your questions.   

Things your child will need on meet day:

• Spirit t shirt - make sure you label them or you might lose it at one of our meets and we can get it back to you if we know it is yours. 
• Two towels – one to sit on and one to dry off with
• Swim cap – ALL swimmers MUST wear a swim cap for this meet (Their HOA REQUIRES it!!!)
• Goggles – labeled so that when they are all laying on the ground during the meet they will be able to identify them.  Do this by using colored nail polish or sharpie.  This will need to be touched up periodically during the season!
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray – the mosquitoes are going to eat us alive this summer!
• Sharpie – to mark their events and name on their body (event/heat/lane – ask a veteran with a black name tag if you need help with this)
• Water – to stay hydrated in the heat
• Something fun to do like cards, games, coloring book or basically anything to keep them busy in between swims.

Things for you to bring to the meet:

· Meet Program - I will be emailing out our meet program so print that off at home hopefully on Friday morning (once I receive it from the host team) and bring it with you.  It will show you when your kiddos are swimming and what events as well.

· Highlighter – to find their swim information on the meet program.

· Chairs – our parents will be setup under the building so you can have some shade.  You may also setup canopies if space allows. 

· Camera – to capture memories!

· Money for concessions – the host team will have Breakfast: breakfast tacos, fruit, muffins Snacks: candy, chips, fruit, soda, water, Gatorade.  Lunch: chicken sandwiches, chips  All of the money goes back into the host teams  fund to so please be respectful and only bring items if you have an allergy or special dietary needs.

It is imperative that your child stays with their age group parent during the meet until ALL of their races are completed or they may miss a race.  This is something we are very strict about.  Coaches will be watching for kids wandering around and will be enforcing this rule so PLEASE help us in keeping your kiddos with their teammates.  If you feel the need to be with your child the entire meet then I suggest you sit by them so they do not get into trouble. 

Many of our kids will be involved in relays at the beginning and end of the meet.  If you think they are finished swimming it is IMPERATIVE to ask their coach before leaving.  If they leave before a relay, it has to be scratched and the other three swimmers and their coaches are going to be very unhappy with them on Tuesday.  In addition, they will NOT be in any relays the following week so please follow the rules.  If in doubt ask a seasoned veteran or a coach if you have any questions about this.  The medley relay is going to be the very first set of events.  The event is all for strokes (medley relay) and the order is 1)back, 2)breast, 3)fly and 4)free.  The names of the kiddos listed for the event will look something like this:

Jane Doe         Suzy Q                                Jane is back, Suzy is breast

Ann E              Jo Z                                      Ann is fly, Jo is free

Our meets are usually done by 12-1 PM so please allow that much time in your schedule for Saturday.  

There will be about 175 kiddos swimming that morning and their families as well so it will feel like a zoo to you at first so be prepared!  Please ask a seasoned swim parent if you are unsure about anything, we want you to understand the process.  Our veteran swim families are very willing to help and just need you to ask.  Don’t be bashful!!!

If you choose NOT follow through with volunteering during the meet your child will NOT be allowed to swim the following meet.  Please help us by contributing and making the meet run smoothly. 

If you did not receive your shirts and caps last night  we will be handing them out again tonight.  Please consider asking if we need help and remember, I am a volunteer just like you.   

 

See you at the pool,

Kim