Thank you for actually reading my emails.

Once we get started I promise I will not bombard you with emails, so thank you for reading them, and following through on all of this.

Important for THIS SATURDAY and ALL MEETS....

This is not difficult.

YOU need to go on the website and "Declare" your swimmer, this lets me know that your swimmer is available for the meet and WILL be attending. If you already know your swimmer will attend every meet (my hope) declare them available for every meet.

Let me explain why this is important...Coaches get a full list of available swimmers for each meet so we can enter them in their events. You will only tell us that they are attending, we enter the events. You do not get to choose which events your child swims. The coaches choose that. If you declare your swimmer as attending and then you don't show up, the coaches will have already entered your swimmer in events and in relays with 3 other swimmers. No shows let down the other 3 swimmers in their relay events, and coaches are expecting your swimmer. If YOU DO NOT declare your swimmer as attending, they will NOT be entered in events. 

Coaches get a printout of which swimmers will be in each event, and the set order of events. This is called a heat sheet. Parents can also see the heat sheet and follow along. A lot of parents prefer to print this and bring along. It will change every meet.

On the lesliebeach.swimtopia.com website, click the top left 3 lines, then click Signup Calendar. You will see your swimmers listed, then click on declare. It will switch your swimmer to "attending."

This can be done on the full website or mobile. 

You can repeat this for each meet.

SWIMSUITS

Boys can wear the bike short style swimsuit or the speedo style suit. I strongly suggest the bike short style, but either is completely fine. There is only one option for the girls. For reference....4-5 yr-olds typically wear a size 22, 7 yr olds typically wear a 24, 8 yr olds are typically a 26. If you have any questions please ask another team parent. We are all here to help each other.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteers are required to help with our meets. Many hands make light work. Our meets do get hot, and loud, and busy, but they are a lot of fun. We have plenty of coaches and parents so you will not have to miss your own kid's swim.

There is a wide variety of options to sign up for. You can be a timer, help with the bullpen (lining swimmers up for their races), etc.

We will teach you how to time and line up the bullpen using the heat sheet. Our swimmers will sit with their age group so they are (generally) easy to find...

We will write your swimmers event numbers and lane assignment on their arms. Don't be alarmed if you see some fun artwork on their arms or bodies. It really makes it a lot of fun!

Coaches will do all of that with sharpies. It easily washes off, or wears off. The swimmers actually really love it, and they get to tell all their friends about being on swim team.

Please let swim meets be a fun event for your swimmer. We have themes each meet, and keep it fun!

See you Saturday! If you can attend, then go declare your swimmers!

Thanks so much for being a Penguin!

~Coach Traci