STING parents and swimmers,

The FIRST regular season STING swim meet is this Saturday, October 3, at 4:00pm at Fowler Family YMCA in Peachtree Corners (5600 W Jones Bridge Rd Norcross). This meet includes swimmers from STING, Fowler Fins, and Decatur Bluefins . Below are the details you need to know for Saturday.

Swimmers need to arrive between 2:45-3:00pm. Warm-ups start at 3:30pm. The meet begins at 4:00pm. We estimate the meet will last about 3-3.5 hours.

Before you arrive at the YMCA:

• The heat sheet with events and lanes will be emailed to the team Friday night or Saturday morning when it is available. Please print your own copy at home to follow the events at the meet.
• Mark your swimmer with his/her name on their back shoulder and their Events/Heats/Lanes on their arm.
  • If you need instructions on how to mark your swimmer, please refer to the Swim Meet 101 information on the team website: https://iaysting.swimtopia.com/swim-meet-101
  • For this first meet only, there will be a parent volunteer at the check-in table to show rookie parents how to mark their swimmer for the meet. 

When you arrive at the YMCA:

• Check-in your swimmer at the check-in table. The table will be outside the basketball gym. Volunteers will also check-in at the table and get their name tag.
• Direct your swimmer to the basketball gym to set up where they want to sit and get ready for warm-ups.
• If you are running late and will not be to the Y by 3:30pm when warm-ups start, please send Emily Crenshaw a direct message in GroupMe. That way, we know you are on your way. Otherwise, we will start calling missing swimmers at 3:30pm if we have not heard from you.

What to bring:

• Swimmers should wear the team suit or a solid black racing suit. They need to bring a swim cap and goggles. I recommend bringing extras of both - you never know when something might break.
• Swimmers and families should bring folding chairs, blankets, towels, etc. to sit on in the gym or viewing areas.
  • If you are bringing a wagon to haul your equipment, PLEASE fold it up after you have unloaded. We need to be respectful of the facility and other members who are using the areas. 
• Extra towels - for sitting on and drying off with.
• Swimmers should bring drinks and snacks and anything they want to entertain themselves with during the meet - books, cards, games, etc.
• PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put your swimmer's name or initials in all their gear - swimsuits, team t-shirts, cap, goggles, swim bag, water bottles, etc. Things get lost very easily!
• Swimmer's are welcome to wear their new STING team t-shirt. 
• From the last time we swam at Fowler I remember the gym being pretty cool. Swimmers may want to bring parkas, sweatshirts, etc. to keep warm in the gym between events. 

General information about the meet:

• Swimmers may NOT be dropped off for the meet. A parent must be present and stay for the duration of the meet.
• All swimmers MUST sit in the basketball gym. This is where the swimmers' names will be called for lining up for events. The Bullpen parents will not call names outside the gym or go looking for swimmers. 
  • Parents are responsible for making sure their swimmer(s) line up when the Bullpen volunteers call for their event. The coaches will be on the pool deck and will not be responsible for making sure your swimmer is lined up. 
  • Swimmers may NOT sit with families outside of the gym. Families ARE welcome to sit in the gym.
• ABSOLUTELY NO RUNNING IN THE GYM!!! I cannot stress this enough! The floor gets slippery and we don't want anyone getting hurt.
• Parents MAY NOT sit on the pool deck for the duration of the meet. When it is your swimmer's event, you are welcome to walk onto the pool deck to watch his/her event. Please exit the pool deck when your swimmer's event is over. DO NOT linger on the pool deck. 
• You are free to leave the meet when your swimmer is finished swimming his/her events. Please make sure to pick up all belongings and pick up any trash.
  • Please do NOT leave the meet early before your swimmer has completed his/her events. If there are extenuating circumstances, please discuss with Coach Juan Carlos or Coach Jeff. Swimmers leaving early impacts the team and relays. 
• Results will be posted in Swimtopia when they are available. Ribbons for the top 8 finishers in each event (not heat) will be available next week at practice.

If for any reason your swimmer cannot attend, please contact Coach Juan Carlos immediately. You can send him a direct message on GroupMe. A swimmer not coming to the meet impacts the entire team.

A separate email with further details and instructions will be sent to the volunteers on Friday. Volunteers should plan to arrive and be ready by 3:30pm (unless your job is before the meet - Check-In parents need to plan to arrive by 2:30pm to be set up).

All meet day communication will happen via GroupMe. If you have not joined the team GroupMe, please do so before Saturday: https://web.groupme.com/join_group/116261418/T84vX...

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

GO STING!!