Hello Dolphins,

Our swimmers are looking REALLY good at practice and it's almost time to see their hard work pay off at our first meet this Friday against the Long Meadow Farms Stars!

Please read ALL of the following information. This email should tell you everything you need to know for Friday such as:

* Directions to the Meet

* Parking

* When to Arrive & Swimmer Check-In Information

* What to Bring

* Special Request from Coaches

* Order of Events

* Heat Sheets

* Spectator Seating

* Ribbons & Swimmer Check-Out Information

* Parent Volunteer Assignments

* Meet Length

* Looking Ahead

DIRECTIONS TO THE MEET:

The Long Meadow Farms Pool is located at 21018 Long Meadow Farms Parkway, Richmond,TX 77406.

The easiest way to get to the pool is to take Hwy 6 south to Westheimer and turn right. Stay on Westheimer and follow around to the Westpark Tollway. Get on the Westpark Tollway and continue for approximately 3 miles. Exit 99 / Grand Parkway and turn left (south) onto 99. Exit W. Belfort. Continue straight through the stoplight at W. Bellfort and turn right on Long Meadow Farms Parkway. Continue to the corner of Long Meadow Farms Parkway and Winston Ranch. Pool will be on the left. 

PARKING:

Parking in the main lot is reserved parking only. You will need to find parking on the street. Please do not park in "no parking" zones. 

WHEN TO ARRIVE & SWIMMER CHECK-IN INFORMATION:

ALL swimmers MUST arrive by 4:45 p.m. I cannot stress enough that it is very important to BE ON TIME. I recommend leaving your home by 4:00 p.m. so that you have enough time to drive to the meet (during rush hour traffic), park, unload your car and get checked-in. Please find where our team is set up and bring your swimmer to their age group tent. The ready bench and tent parents will take attendance promptly at 5 p.m. and will notify the coaches if any swimmers are absent. Again, please do not be late or you will miss warm-ups and could also be scratched from a relay.The meet will start promptly at 6:00 p.m.

In case of an unplanned absence or delay, please send me a TEXT: 832-275-5888

WHAT TO BRING:

* Wear your team suit and team t-shirt!

* goggles (+ extra pair in case yours break)

* swim cap (optional but highly encouraged)

* towels (at least one to dry off & one to sit on)

* healthy snacks

* plenty of water - it will be hot!

* money for concessions. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, candy and drinks will be available for purchase.

* sun screen - do not apply to the back of your hands before the meet. The swimmer ID# will be written on the swimmer's hand and will not write if sunscreen is on the hand.

* bug spray

* flashlight for when it gets dark

* folding chairs for you and your swimmer

* You may bring iPads, cards, games, etc., but YOU are responsible for them!

* Keep all your belongings together in a bag

* Please label all your swim gear and belongings! Write your name inside your team t-shirt!

SPECIAL REQUEST FROM COACHES:

Please do not speak to the coaches before the meet. They have a HUGE job working with the other team, processing last minute changes and getting our swimmers warmed up and ready to start the meet on time. 

ORDER OF EVENTS:

Assisted Swimmers

Freestyle Relay - All ages, unlimited heats

Freestyle - All ages, unlimited heats

Backstroke - All ages, unlimited heats

IM (Individual Medley) - 9/10 & Up, 2 heats

<<Short break for volunteer change over (timers, judges, etc.) >>

Breaststroke, - 7/8 & Up, 3 heats

Butterfly - 7/8 & Up, 3 heats

Medley Relay - 7/8 & Up, # of heats vary (coaches will decide)

**7/8 & Up Parents: There is a chance that your swimmer may not qualify to swim breast or fly but could qualify to swim in the medley relay. If this happens, please be aware that your swimmer may have a long break in the second half. Do NOT leave the meet early just because you do not feel like waiting around for the last event. Your swimmer is part of a relay team and if one swimmer leaves, the entire team will be scratched. That means I will have 3 very disappointed swimmers with equally disappointed parents. I am warning you now, should this happen, please know your swimmer will no longer be allowed to swim in a relay for the rest of the season.

HEAT SHEETS:

Lane and event assignments for your swimmer will be available to view on the swimtopia app by 6 p.m. on Thursday. If you would like access to the full heat sheet, live event bar and meet results, you will need to upgrade to the pro version of the app. The cost is 1.99/month and you can cancel at any time. Please know events and lane assignments are subject to change. All changes will be reflected live on the app. 

SPECTATOR SEATING:

Spectator seating is limited on deck. Please do not stand in areas that are roped off. 

Also, please do not sit under the tents with your child unless you are an assigned tent parent. Too many people under the tents creates a lot of confusion and no room for the swimmers and their gear. There is plenty of room outside the fence area and some trees for shade. 

Please watch young children at all times and especially keep away from the nearby lake.

RIBBONS & SWIMMER CHECK-OUT INFORMATION:

IMPORTANT, please make sure your swimmer stays with their group. If they want to go with you to the restroom, concessions, etc., you must check them out with the tent parents so they know where their swimmers are at all times. If a swimmer misses a race, they will not get a chance to make it up.

When your swimmer is finished with all of their events, please check-out with your tent parent before you leave.

Ribbons will be given to you when you check out your swimmer. Ribbons that are not ready by that time will be given to your swimmer at practice.

PARENT VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS:

All families have been assigned a volunteer position and are expected to help at the meets. Once you have dropped off your swimmer at their age group tent, please check-in with Kara Bemis at the Volunteer table so she can direct you where to go. All volunteers should be checked-in by 5:15 p.m.

LENGTH OF MEET:

Meets are generally 4-5 hours long. This meet may run long since it is the first meet of the season. Please bear with us - we will do our best to get through the events as quickly as possible. Remember everyone working the meet are parent volunteers too!

LOOKING AHEAD:

There will be no practices on: 

Friday MEET DAY - sleep in, rest, eat healthy, stay hydrated and be ready to swim fast!

Saturday & Sunday Sleep in and rest up! You've earned it!

Monday MEET DAY - sleep in, rest, eat healthy, stay hydrated and be ready to swim fast AGAIN!

Tuesday PICTURE DAY - come to pool for pictures but no practice afterwards. More info about this will be sent to the team towards the end of the week.

We will resume our *morning* practice schedule on Wednesday, June 12th.

Get ready to swim hard, cheer loud and have lots of fun at the meet on Friday! 

GO DOLPHINS!