Hello Dolphins,

It's almost time for our very first meet this Saturday against the Villager Piranhas! We are excited and anxious to see all of our swimmers show off their skills.

Please read below everything you need to know for our first meet on Saturday and also for the timeline Friday. I know it is lengthy but it is ALL very important information.

FRIDAY

TEAM DINNER AND T-SHIRT PICK-UP:

Swimmers will practice as usual during their normal practice times. Afterwards, we invite everyone to pack a dinner and come join us at the park for a team picnic. We will celebrate the end of school, get pumped up for our first meet and enjoy a nice night out together.

T-shirts will be distributed to those that have not yet received their shirts.

We will not decorate cars since the meet location is now at our home pool. We will instead do this before Champs prelims in a few weeks.

SATURDAY

POOL AND PARKING INFORMATION:

The Briarhills Dolphins are hosting the Villager Piranahas at the Briarhills Pool.

If at all possible, we request our Dolphins to please come to the pool on Saturday by biking or walking rather than driving. This will help the parking situation and ease vehicle traffic in the area. If you live outside of walking distance, please consider asking a friend close by if you can park at their house and walk to the pool.

There will be a “drop off” zone in front of the pool for those that wish to drop off their swimmer and gear before parking away from the pool.

WHEN TO ARRIVE & SWIMMER CHECK-IN INFORMATION:

ALL swimmers MUST be checked in at their tents by 7:00 a.m. This means arriving a few minutes before 7 so that you have enough time to unload your gear and get to your tent. I cannot stress enough that it is very important to BE ON TIME. We will take attendance at 7:00, start warmups at 7:10 and finish warm-ups at 7:30. Anyone who has not arrived on time risks being scratched from their relays.

The meet will start promptly at 8:00 a.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 – girls at a minimum need their hair pulled back in a ponytail or bun)

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

* healthy snacks

* plenty of water - it will be hot!

* cash for concessions. Breakfast tacos, donuts, kolaches, snacks, candy and drinks (including coffee) will be available for purchase.

* sun screen

* bug spray

* folding chairs for you and your swimmer

* 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:

The order of events are different than they have been in the past. Please be sure to review so you don’t miss your swimmer’s race.

Freestyle - All ages, unlimited heats

Backstroke – 6 & under, unlimited heats

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

Freestyle Relay – 6 & under, unlimited heats

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

IM (Individual Medley) - 9/10 & Up, # of heats vary (coaches will decide)

Backstroke - All ages, unlimited heats

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

Freestyle Relay - All ages, unlimited heats

**Swimmers may only enter in a maximum of 3 individual events and 2 relays. Please pay attention to the entries in your swimtopia app to know what events your swimmer is swimming.

6 & unders are free to leave after swimming backstroke. Everyone else, please do NOT leave the meet early. Most everyone else will be swimming events that require you to stay for the entire length of the meet. If your swimmer is part of a relay team and leaves the meet early, the entire relay 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 entered in a relay for the rest of the season.

HEAT SHEETS:

Heat sheets will be emailed to the team Friday evening.

SPECTATORS:

Spectator viewing is limited on deck. Please watch your swimmer’s race and then kindly leave the area so that other parents can watch their swimmer. Please do not cross or 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 tents.

Please watch young children at all times.

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.

Swimmers are not allowed on the playground during the meet. No exceptions!

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

RIBBONS:

The first 6 places will be awarded a ribbon. Swimmers that place 7^th or higher overall will not receive a ribbon. Ribbons may be given when you check out your swimmer if they are ready. If they are not ready, ribbons will be given to your swimmer at their next 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 7:15 a.m.

LENGTH OF MEET:

Meets are generally 4-5 hours long. This meet may start slow 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:

Monday is MEET DAY - sleep in, rest, eat healthy, stay hydrated and be ready to swim fast AGAIN! Meet starts at 2 p.m. and swimmers will need to arrive by 1 p.m.

Meet information will be sent either Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

Tuesday we switch to morning practices!

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

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

GO DOLPHINS!