Helllllloooooo Hammerheads!

It's almost time, it's here, only 30 hours to go!!!! I'm SUPER excited for our first swim meet of the season!! There is A LOT of information in this email... please read it all, then print, save, or move to a folder for reference.

Shirts (for everyone): 

They are here! They look AWESOME!!!! If your swimmer did not get them Thursday, Ms. Katee will bring them to the meet. Write swimmer's name on the shirt tag! It helps us when we find them laying around after practice!

Meet Times:

Saturday meets start at 8 a.m. and most will be done around 12:00 p.m. give or take depending on the size of the team(s).   For away meets, please arrive no later than 7 a.m. and warm ups start at 7:20.  For home meets, arrive at 6:40 and warm ups start at 6:50 a.m.   Please see the schedule on the website.

Entries: 

Swimmers are normally allowed to swim a maximum of 4 events for dual meets, either 3 individual events and 1 relay or 2 and 2. I try to put everyone in at least 1 relay (this is why it’s important you let me know if your swimmer will not be there) For Champs, swimmers can swim up to 5 events: 3 individual and 2 relays (although at Champs Hammerheads are only allowed to enter 1 relay team).

Heat Sheet & Entry List:

Once entries are sent on Wednesday, the computer operator combines both teams’ entries and creates a "heat sheet". Usually we receive this some time on Thursday or Friday. Make a standing Friday night date with your printer and be sure to bring your heat sheet with you on Saturday (or save to your phone). We will email it AND post it on the Hammerheads website. You can see your swimmer's EVENTS on the SwipTopia app (as soon as Coach Susan sends entries on Wed. nights) but you won't see the heat or lane. That will be on the heat sheet Friday night.  Instead of searching the WHOLE heat sheet, use the Entry List by Name to find your swimmer.   Look back in your email or on the website and read the email from last week: Heat Sheets 102.  Don't forget to bring a Sharpie to put the Event/Heat/Lane on your swimmer's arm!  

Absences:

If your swimmer is sick during the week and you’re not sure how they will feel on Saturday, I can put them in individual events only. If they do miss, it won’t affect relays.  It's easier to scratch if they're still not feeling well but very difficult to add a swimmer after the heat sheet has been created.   If your swimmer wakes up Friday night or Sat. morning sick, please text me 904-945-6564 as soon as you know (my phone is on silent when sleeping). I’ll start looking for subs as soon as I wake up. Much easier to do this early than when I arrive at the meet.

What to Wear: 

Team suit or one piece suit, team t-shirt (Write your swimmer’s name on the tag), shoes and don’t forget your cap and goggles!!

What to Bring:  For Saturday meets: 

tents, chairs, coolers, drinks, healthy snacks, towel, extra towel, blankets to sit on, sunscreen, bug spray, hair ties, Sharpie Permanent Marker(s), games/toys to keep swimmers busy between events, the heat sheet, big smiles, and positive attitudes!

How a Swim Meet Runs:

• Announcer calls events to the ready bench
• Take your younger swimmer or send your older swimmer to the ready bench when his/her events are called
• The ready bench volunteers will help line up the swimmers by Event / Heat / Lane
• They will move them forward as other heats swim
• Keep an eye on the flip chart indicating what event is in the water
• Watch your swimmer and yell like crazy (I’ll tell you now they won’t be able to hear you but yell anyway! It's fun! )
• Be proud when your swimmer shakes the hand of the next swimmer
• Meet your swimmer when they finish their race
• Ask them what their time was and hopefully it’s faster than the time on the heat sheet (that’s their fastest time so far)

*All swimmers should check in with the coaches after they swim for tips, pointers, high fives, and Yes! The PR dance is back! If they beat their old time we’ll have a special celebration for them.

What to Write (black sharpie marker): *see heat sheet email and pictures that I sent last week

1. On your swimmer’s right back/shoulder, please write last name, first name and underneath that write HLH (this helps ready bench get the kids lined up and timers to ensure they have the right swimmer in the right lane).

2. E/H/L: Event, Heat, Lane written on swimmer’s forearm

• Swimmers are entered into events, such as Boys 13-14 50 yd brst
• If there are more than 6 swimmers, they are divided into Heats
• Then each swimmer in each heat is assigned a lane number
• This way when timers push their buttons, the time is put into the computer for the swimmer assigned to that lane

*swim parents may also want to write the events on your arm so you don’t miss your child’s swim / Hammerhead shark drawings are always welcome!  

*** Sportsmanship ***

This is a BIG deal to the coaches and please talk to you swimmer about this. The Hammerheads are known for having great sportsmanship and we want to continue this. Please remind your swimmer to shake the hand of the swimmer in the next lane! Everyone in the pool is trying their very best so whether you won your heat or missed it by a hair, we want to congratulate everyone for their hard work.

Congratulations: 

If you happen to miss your swimmer’s event (chasing your other children, trying to sneak in a bathroom break, etc), ask them their time, ask them how their dive felt, ask them if they gave 100% effort and tell them how much you enjoyed seeing them swim! (we’ll never tell if you missed it!) :)

After the Meet:

• Clean up your area and make sure your swimmer has all their gear
• Get your swimmer a treat if they got new PRs (personal records – new best times) and don’t focus on place

Results:

• The computer operator volunteers will work hard to get the meet completed and results sent to the coaches as soon as they can
• When the coach wakes up from her nap (ha ha) she’ll review the results.   
• The computer operator will import the results into SwimTopia site and you'll see results, and hopefully improvements, in the app
• Remind your swimmer that as they become faster, it’s harder to take off large amounts of time.
• The time on the heat sheet (best time to date) may be from Champs/end of season last year so hard to beat it early this year
• Set a goal for the next week

RSVP for the Next Meet:

Yes, you need to do this as soon when you get home on Saturday!  Coach Susan usually starts working on entries for the next meet on Sunday afternoons (they are due by Wed. and she needs time to get them all done) so RSVP ASAP.

Ribbons: Volunteer(s) will print labels for ribbons and put them in the ribbon boxes. These will usually be available by Tuesday at practice (one box for boys, one box is for girls).

Now you are ready to go swim parents!!! I'll send a separate email with the heat sheet and Entry List by Name

Gooooooooooo Hammerheads!

Coach Susan

904-945-6564