Tomorrow is the day! Since we have so many new swimmers, and it's been a while for the rest of you, we thought we'd do a quick "what to expect."

Tomorrow afternoon, we will finalize the race assignments and volunteer positions and email them out to everyone as well as posting them on the website on the meets page. Please check the volunteer sheet when you get it as we had to tweak a few of those to make sure we could actually run the meet. This is a home meet - please arrive between 4:30 and 4:45. Competition will start about 6:00. 

Suits, Etc: If you haven't picked up any suits you ordered, please make sure to do so at practice tomorrow so you'll have it for the meet! Swim caps are in, and we'll be giving them out tomorrow morning at practice. If you use a different cap, please don't forget that if they have another team logo on it, you need to turn it inside out. 

Drop Off: Feel free to drop off swimmers, chairs, etc at the clubhouse turnaround. Pull into the circle drive so the swimmers don’t have to cross or block traffic. 

Parking: The clubhouse parking lot will be reserved for meet officials. Any of the cul-de-sacs maybe be used for parking (in outbound lanes only, please). Please be sure not to block any driveways. Because our neighborhood is so hilly, we will have Saddlebrook “Uber” Drivers running shuttles, especially from the further out sections of the neighborhood. 

Check-in/Admin: We will have a round table set up at the main pool entrance for you to check in. The rest of the head tables (scorekeeping, time entry, ribbons, etc) will be moved inside the clubhouse this season so that the pavilion can be used for extra spectator space. 

Bullpens/Spectator Areas: We will be on the home side, next to the main gate and pavilion. Be sure to bring your own camp chairs! We usually have most of our spectators set up between the bullpens (10x10 canopies where the swimmers sit with their age groups) and the pool. Feel free to spread out into the pavilion and grassy area outside the fence if you'd like more space. Bathrooms are located in the clubhouse. 

Covid: We would like for everyone to weigh their own risk and choose for themselves whether they would like to change their behavior because of risk of covid. Masks will not be required, but of course, if anyone chooses to wear one, they are more than welcome. If spectators would like more room to spread out, they are welcome to share any of the area outside the fence. We will designate the area at the shallow end of the pool for parents who would like to come in specifically to watch a race and then move back out into a more spacious area. We will have an area near the dive blocks for swimmers to hang masks should they choose to wear them. 

Concessions: We will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, baked potatoes (with toppings) nachos, chips, candy, drinks, etc. Concessions will be located on the upper deck. Be sure to bring cash!

How to mark up your swimmer: Before you get to the meet, you'll want to write your swimmer's race information on their arm (or thigh if they prefer) with a sharpie (quick tip - sunscreen after the meet helps get it off). You'll make four columns for Event, Heat, Lane, and Stroke (their races will be listed on the heat sheet I will email out tomorrow afternoon). It should like this: 

You'll also want to put names on the shoulder blade of the younger swimmers so the bullpen parents can keep track of them. Some parents also like to do some artwork: a seahorse, "Eat my bubbles," etc are very popular. 

Miscellaneous: Once your swimmer is finished with their races, you're free to go. Ribbons will be waiting for them at the clubhouse on Thursday at practice. 

I'm sure I missed a million things - hopefully this gets us off to a good start!

Go Seahorses! 

Kate and Megan