We hope that all of our sharks are as excited as we are for our first meet tomorrow.  We have a lot of new brave swimmers, so if you have one that needs a little more encouragement tomorrow, please reply to this email to let us know.  In addition to our regular coaches, we have junior coaches (our 11-13 year olds) that are there to encourage, hold hands, and make it fun for all!

Here's everything you need to know about tomorrow and Friday.  

THURSDAY

• Regular morning practice times tomorrow. 
  • This will be light swims; mostly focusing on starts, finishes, relays, and flip-turns (if needed). Younger swimmers will get their events written on their arms by the coaches during practice. So please, NO SUNSCREEN on the inside of the arms! That erases the sharpie.
• Pizza and Poster Pep Rally! 12:00 - 1:30 at Nonnina’s Pizzeria (9950 Jones Bridge Rd).
  • This is not a team funded event, but a great opportunity to build team camaraderie and get excited for the meet!Parents/Guardians are required.
  • Coaches will be there with poster boards and markers for our sharks to decorate the posters we display at the meet. Feel free to bring your own markers and any additional red, white, blue, and shark supplies to add to your poster.
  • If you can’t make it to Nonnina’s, you’re still encouraged to make your own poster.  Our theme is Red, White, and Blue. Please keep content encouraging for the Sharks swim team
  • The best two posters will win an award at Fun Friday!!
• Swim Meet: Arrival 4:00; Start 5:30
  • Swimmers need to be at our pool by 4:00 pm to finalize/touch up arm writing and warm up. Our team will warm up at 4:30 pm. Double Gate will warm up at 5, and the ASA Ref will start the meet PROMPTLY at 5:30pm.
  • Patriotic Theme: Swimmers should wear their team swimsuits, but are encouraged to come decked out/accessorized in Red, White and Blue, too! The 2 most spirited prizes will be given out at Fun Friday.
  • Parking: Brian Evans and his security team will deploy the No Parking signs around the Rec Center - please park accordingly. They will be citing violators. Bancroft Valley, Ambler Way, Pemberton Cove, and Colonnade Trail, are authorized streets to park on (just as long as you are opposite the no parking signs). 
    If you live close, I highly suggest walking! The weather doesn't look to be a concern (hooray!).
  • Golf Carts: In addition to the golf cart spots along the tennis courts, resident golf carts should park on the pine straw and perimeter grass areas only.
  • Spectators: If you are a resident, outside spectators should be registered as your guests at the gate. If you are not a resident and have additional spectators, please send me ([email protected]) their names ASAP, so I can add them to the swim team guest list. All guests through the gate must show a valid ID.
  • Bullpen: Our bullpen will be located around the kiddie-pool. Swimmers should check in there, and need to stay there unless getting food, etc. Help all the parent bullpen volunteers by bringing activities to keep your swimmer busy and happy in the bullpen.
  • Pool Notes: Both the slide pool and kiddie pool are PROHIBITED during the meet. Lifeguards will be staffed to keep children out, but parental help is needed.
  • Concessions (Cash Preferred, processing fee for CC): Attached is our menu. Our Sugar Shack will be outside and probably pretty popular amongst the swimmers. Be sure to send them with a dollar or two, as they only take cash!! 
  • Please plan accordingly and be prepared! We will be removing lounge chairs and using a lot of the table chairs for on-deck set up behind the blocks, so bring tailgate chairs, umbrellas for shade, and plenty of sunscreen! You may also want to bring kid chairs, towels, games, sunblock, and food or money to buy snacks. Outside food and beverages are allowed, but as always — NO GLASS ON THE POOL DECK. Some helpful packing tips can be found on the website (https://ccos.swimtopia.com/preparation)
  • Swim Meets can be lengthy! Especially the first couple, so bare with us volunteers and help out when/where you can!
  • Attached to this email is the swimmers’ events for tomorrow. If you’re new to swim, I have a little more explanation on the website for reading event sheets and arm writing. (https://ccos.swimtopia.com/preparation)
• Win, Lose, We Ice Cream
  • We celebrate every swim meet with ice cream with the coaches after the meet. This week is at the Brusters on Old Alabama in the Kroger shopping center.

TGIF! It's time to Celebrate! 9:30 - 11:00 am

• We love to celebrate our swimmers on Fridays! Instead of traditional practice, we have a Fun Friday!! One of our team sponsors, Anne Tiano, will provide the donuts!
  • Arrive at 9:30
  • We will do awards first (2 Best Posters, 2 Most Spirited, and our Sharks of the Week - 1 boy and girl from each age group)
  • Following awards, it will be a free-fun/play swim with the coaches in the pool
• Mini-sharks are welcome, but our coaches will not be able to watch them, so parental support or flotation support is needed. 

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to the concessions cooler!  It's just another way to make this a successful season!

Go Sharks!

Meredith and Lindsay