Crocs!

Tomorrow is Time Trials and the official kick off of our 2023 swim season! Here is a bunch of information that may help.  Please read all the way through - I know it's long, but it's important!

CROC BUDDIES: Last call for 11 and up Croc Buddies!  We still need a few more older buddies to help our little Crocs get off to a great start!  This program is a lot of fun for older and younger so don't miss out! If you have an 11 or older swimmer who would like to be a Croc Buddy, please email [email protected] TODAY!!!

GEAR HAND OUT: Team gear will be handed out at tonight's practice party - see you there!

TIME TRIALS:

MORNING SETUP/PARKING: Please read carefully - this will be the process for this year - tweaked a little from last year, so even the experienced parents need to know...

The gates will be unlocked at 6:15 am for you to come in and set up your tent. No one will be allowed in before 6:15 except the setup crew and board members - they need to get in and start setting up the facility.  Please note that the 'front row' area above the retaining wall on the non-block end of the pool is reserved for diamond and platinum sponsor tents.  Otherwise, you are welcome to set up on any grassy areas inside and outside the gate area. There is no set up allowed on any paved area around the pool. 

No parking is allowed in the pool parking lot unless you are a sponsor with a reserved spot or team computer personnel transporting equipment.  The lot will be open for drop off of equipment until 6:30 - after that, it will be closed to traffic for safety reasons.  If you arrive after 6:30, please plan to drop off your equipment at the end of the driveway on Coles Crossing Drive. 

Parking in the Sampson back lot is easiest. Please observe all NO PARKING signs on Coles Crossing Drive. We need to be courteous to our non-Croc neighbors - we don't want visits from law enforcement or tow trucks - we have especially had issues in the past with blocking Coles Crossing Drive to thru traffic where it narrows down west of the pool.  Also, please remember it is illegal to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant and there is one right in front of the pool...

CIRCLE IN BY 7:30 AM: Each week, all swimmers MUST circle in by 7:30 at the pool to tell the computer volunteers that they are there. If a swimmer's name is not circled, the clerk of course assumes they are not there and they may be scratched from the meet.  If you're running late, contact a friend and get them to circle in for you - you don't want to show up and find out your swimmer has been scratched!

The circle-in boards will be hanging on the fence by the bike racks. Swimmers can circle their name (bring a pen or sharpie) or we can have a volunteer circle your name for you.  

OTHER STUFF: If you go to the home tab on the team website & click on 'meet entry' (even though it says it's closed), it will have a list of the event #s that your child is swimming. It is very helpful to write their event numbers on their arm with a sharpie (and maybe yours too!) so they can listen for their events and know when to go to the ready bench to line up. The ready bench area will under the pergola again this year.

WARM-UPS will begin at 7:45 and they are required for all swimmers. We will practice team cheers once warmups are done and then we will start the meet.

WEATHER- After all the cool weather we've been dealing with, the forecast tomorrow is for a high of 93, so it'll be HOT. Bring plenty of sunscreen and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

VOLUNTEERS- There is no common volunteer check in area. The lead in your area will confirm you are there for your shift and report back to make sure you get credit. Please listen for the announcer to announce shift changes, timer/scribe meeting, officials meeting and ready bench meeting.  If you have questions, ask the lead in your area or look for Ashley Yoakem, or come by the announcers area.

CONCESSIONS- We will be grilling burgers and hot dogs along with having pizza and an array of snacks and candy along with water, Gatorade and sodas. We will be accepting cash & credit cards ($5 minimum). We will have the Smart Drinks truck there in the morning with coffee, tea & smoothies and Bahama Bucks will be there a little bit later in the morning.

CHECKLIST for what you should bring: swimmers!!, suits, goggles, caps, sunscreen, water, a sharpie, towels, tent, chairs, food/snacks (or you can buy them!) & LOTS of patience!! We have a lot of new families on the team. PLEASE remember that we are all volunteers and want everything to run as smoothly and quickly as possible but there will be some hiccups along the way, especially at Time Trials where we are training a lot of new volunteers and getting the bugs worked out of all our systems, including our new timing system.

TIMELINE:  There is an ESTIMATED timeline attached for your general information.  Please note that this is ESTIMATED only!  The meet may progress faster or slower than this estimate, but it should give you a general idea what to expect.

Congrats - if you're still reading, you've passed the endurance test.  There will be a raise in your next volunteer paycheck - or something like that...

See you tomorrow, and Go Crocs!!!!