It's here! Our first meet is today! It's been a while since we've all done this and is totally new for some of you, so we wanted to review some basics for our meets.

• Let's do weather first! We swim rain or shine unless there is thunder/lightning. If you have not already done so, please download the SwimTopia app, log in, and enable notifications. We will use it communicate small items that need a quick response, most especially weather delays. If we do have to clear the deck for lightning, DO NOT leave the pool area! Most of the time, we'll have a short delay and start again.
  • If you are not getting notifications from SwimTopia, an email will be sent to the address on file, and it will also be posted to the front page of the website.
• After many changes over the last 24 hours, we have finalized the heat sheet! I'm attaching it along with the volunteer assignments. Please double check to see what your role is for tonight!

All of the parking lot spaces will be reserved for meet officials, but feel free to drop off at the clubhouse. The rest of the team can park along the side streets. Please restrict parking to the outbound lanes and not blocking any driveways. We will have three volunteers shuttling people from the back of the neighborhood to the clubhouse. 

Here's our layout for tonight:

• Be sure to mark your swimmers' races on their arm (or leg) before they arrive at the meet, and put names on their shoulder blades so bullpen parents can help get them where they need to go! There's atutorial on the website - it will look almost identical to the Athlete Event List with a little shorthand. While you're there, there's a little more in depth information on what to expect if you've never been to a swim meet before!
• Swimmers should arrive at the pool at 4:30. We'll have warmups before the meet begins. The first race should get underway at 6:00. Once your swimmer is done (check with a bullpen parent in case we made a mid-meet change!) and your volunteer shift is finished, feel free to head out if you need to or hang with us to cheer on the older kids! Those last few events are some of the most exciting of the night!!
• Swimmers will be spending most of the meet in a "bullpen" with the rest of their age group. A few brave souls have volunteered to sit with them and help them get to their races on time. It's important that they be in their bullpens where those adults can find them, so other than grabbing food, running to the restroom, or swimming, they should be in the bullpen for their age group.
• Concessions is a huge deal for every swim team - we all depend on concessions to help keep keep our teams running! Payment options tonight are credit card, cash, apple pay, Venmo, and snack bar tabs that you've been loading during practice. The credit card machine is tap only. We offer hamburgers, hot dogs, teriyaki chicken sandwiches, baked potatoes, nachos, candy, chips, water, sodas, gatorade, and slushies. 
• Please, no alcohol at the meet. We can be disqualified if anyone is drinking, so let's save that for the after party!
• Things to bring:
  • swim cap (with your name on the inside of it!)
  • goggles
  • if you aren't wearing a Saddlebrook suit or cap, make sure it doesn't have another team logo on it!
  • 2 towels
  • jacket/hoodie for after the sun goes down
  • backpack to keep your stuff in

Did I forget anything? Don't hesitate to ask! 

Go Seahorses!!