Crocs!

Tomorrow is our first dual meet of the season.  We will swim against the Woodlands Waves in our out of division meet.  As usual, there is a bunch of information below to help provide as much information for the meet as possible.

PEP RALLY:  We will have our pep rally tonight at the pool from 6-7pm.  There will be pizza, snacks, games, cheer practice and some inspirational words from our coaches before tomorrow.  We look forward to seeing everyone.  NOTE:  We will NOT have a pep rally next week before our away meet.

CROC BUDDIES:  If your older swimmer did not collect their photo button and/or connect with their 6&under Croc buddy at time trials, please plan to connect with either Isabelle or the Messer sisters at the meet.  Isabelle will be looking for the older Croc buddies in the morning.

SWIM MEET:

MORNING SETUP/PARKING:  Please read this carefully.  We will have the same plan as last week, except we need to reserve the area outside the gate for our visiting team.

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 am 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 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, although be aware that many spots are blocked off due to construction/storage equipment for the upcoming renovations happening at Sampson this summer.  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 coaches and computer volunteers that they are there.  If a swimmer’s name is not circled, then the clerk of course assumes they are not there and they may be scratched from the meet.  If you are running late, contact a friend and get them to circle in for you.

The circle-in board will be hanging on the fence by the bike racks.  There will be volunteers stationed to help circle your swimmers’ names.

OTHER STUFF:  If you go to the home tab on the team website and click on ‘meet entry’ (even though is says it is closed), it will have a list of the event numbers 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 will form under the tents by the pergola again this year.

RELAY ETIQUETTE:  VERY IMPORTANT!!!  If your swimmer is in a relay at the end of the meet, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE EARLY.  If you do, you will be letting down the other 3 swimmers not the relay team who will have to scratch with you.  If you must leave early, TELL THE COACHES before you leave — they can identify a replacement and substitute them in, so the relay can still compete.

WARM-UPS will begin at 7:15 this week, and all future home meets, and they are required for all swimmers.  The visiting team will warm up after us, then we gather at the pool for team cheers and start the meet.

WEATHER:  The forecast looks similar to last week, with highs in the low to mid 80s and partly cloudy.  That said, it will still be a long day.  Bring plenty of sunscreen and don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

VOLUNTEERS:  There is no common volunteer check in area.  The lead in your area will confirm you have reported to your shift and ensure that you get credit for volunteering.  Please listen for the announcer to announce shift changes, timer/scribe meeting, officials meeting and ready bench meeting.  We expect to have our officials meeting at 7:50am in the circle drive; the timers/scribes meeting at 8am in the circle drive; and the ready bench meeting at 8am under the green tents by the pergola.  If you have questions, ask the lead in your area, check with Alexis Dempsey (our volunteer coordinator, her tent is located near the left end of the pergola by the lane line reels), or come by the announcers area.

CONCESSIONS:  We will be grilling burgers and will have pizza, pasta, and an array of snacks and candy available for sale along with water, Gatorade and sodas.  We will be accepting cash and credit cards ($5 minimum).  Smart Drinks food truck will be there in the morning, offering coffee, tea and smoothies and Bahama Bucks is scheduled to be there.

CHECKLIST for what you should bring:  swimmers!!, suits, goggles, caps, sunscreen, water, a sharpie, towels, tent, chairs, food/snacks (or money for concessions) and patience.  Please understand that we are all volunteers and our goal is to run an efficient meet and get everyone done and home as quickly as possible.

TIMELINE:  I have attached an ESTIMATED timeline for your general information.  Please note this may shift based on swimmer scratches in the morning and the meet can run slower or faster than anticipated.  The heat sheets will be published in SwimTopia tomorrow after the scratch meeting — otherwise your swimmers heat/lanes could change and we don’t want anyone with the wrong information.

See everyone tomorrow.  Eat ‘em Up, Crocs!

JT Gasson

President, Coles Crocs