SRST: WSO Pre-Meet Info

SRST PRE-MEET EMAIL

IMPORTANT: Remember that swim meets are considered the "wet side" of the sport.  This means you should be communicating with your direct coach (or if needed, Coach Darrell) if you are confused or have questions.  The exception to this would be if you are reviewing the Psych Sheet and you notice you are not signed up for a race that you had entered.  In this case, contact Coach Ben immediately and explain the situation (please carefully review the psych sheet before emailing Coach Ben).

VOLUNTEER TIMING IS REQUIRED: Due to only having shifts for one session of one day, we will go first-come-first serve with a small $10 account credit and no penalty for not signing up.

Hello SRST Family,

Next weekend is the Washington Open meet at King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.  As always, you can find the meet info on our team website as well.

Here is some info:

• ESTIMATED TIMELINE
   

• HEAT SHEET 1 - Not Available
   

• PSYCH SHEET

• MEET INFO SHEET

SPECIAL NOTES DIRECT FROM THE HOST:

SWIM MEET INFO PACKET

1. Coaches will be on deck with the swimmers from the beginning of warm-up until the beginning of competition.  Coaches of course CANNOT GUARANTEE the swimmer makes it to their race and the swimmers must pay attention.  AG2 and above groups should be able to get themselves to the starting blocks on time.  Some coaches may want the swimmer to check in up to 20 min. before each race to ensure enough time for pre-race warm-up activities; check with your direct coach to see what they want to do.
    

2. Please be clean and tidy and respectful of the facility.  Parents please make sure your younger swimmers are not causing any trouble in the locker rooms where they are unsupervised by coaches.
    

3. Please be aware that warm-ups are before the start times listed in the Estimated Timeline linked above. You can read the first page of the meet info to see how long the warm-ups are. Also, touch base with your coach to see what their expectations for warm-up are.
    

4. There are no COVID restrictions at this time.  Masks are optional.  If you are sick or have been around sick people please follow the exact protocols as listed on the CDC website.
    

5. VOLUNTEERS: Volunteering is required. You can review the Team Handbook or any of the newsletters to remind yourself of the dates when SRST is hosting a meet and you are required to volunteer.
   
   A few particulars for parents:
    

•     SAFETY: Does your swimmer use an inhaler or have any health issues we need to be aware of?  This info needs to be communicated with coaches at each meet.  SWIMMERS WITH INHALERS OR OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES MUST HAVE ALL THEIR MEDICATION AVAILABLE AND STORED WITH THE COACH SO WE CAN ACT FAST IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.  Make sure your SRST account has phone numbers for Mom/Dad/Guardians!  (just log into your account and add any numbers you would want the coaches to have access to). As always, please make sure you've turned in your Emergency Medical form which was part of your team registration.
   

• When you look at the timeline you will see the start time of "competition".  Warm-up is before the start of the session (please refer to the meet info to find out how long the warm-up is).  Be early and do not be late.  There is a flow to the warm-ups and that flow is disrupted when kids arrive late.  Show up in your team shirt/(or other SRST apparel) and double check your bag before you leave the house to make sure you have what you need.  Swimmers will NOT need their gear bags (just suit/goggles/team cap/team shirt/sweats/towels/food/water/etc.).
   

• For swimmers not in the first session....You will have your own warm-up and you do not need to come to the early warm-up...just the warm-up for your session.
   

• Never leave valuables in the locker room and keep bags zipped up!
   

• The Heat Sheet may or may not be linked above (if it isn't, hopefully we will have it prior to day one of the meet and can email it to you).  Swimmers can write their events on their arm if they need to or simply print off a heat sheet to keep track of their events.  This should be done ASAP upon arrival.  Parents should bring a sharpie and help the kids write their Event/Heat/Lane on their forearm (see attached photo).  This will greatly reduce the stress and chaos the coach has to deal with when working with 10-20 kids all doing different things.  If you forgot what you signed up for, just log back into your SRST account and review.  Write events on the arm BEFORE the beginning of warm-ups.
   

• Remember there is no glass in the pool.
   

• Please respect the parent volunteers and officials. There may be meet marshals patrolling the deck, enforcing safety...please respect these helpers.
   

• Please stay in the bleachers and never use your cell phone or any recording device behind the blocks or opposite the blocks.
   

• Please encourage swimmers to use the locker rooms and NOT the lobby bathrooms, which are reserved for coaches, parents and officials.
   

• SRST coaches want kids checking in 15 min. before the start of warm-up.
   

• SRST coaches want kids in suits and ready to go, standing behind the starting blocks 5 min. prior to the beginning of warm-up.
   

• Swim meets can seem a little "crazy"...I've heard other descriptions :).  The reality is, swim meets are a lot of fun; and the kids usually love them.  SRST coaches recommend...don't stress!  It does take a long time to learn all the ins/outs of a swim meet.  While you are learning, just go with the flow.  As an example, sometimes a kid will miss a race or get disqualified...these things happen to the best and are all opportunities to learn and grow.
   

• Coaches expect swimmers to do the full team warm-up and stay with coaches until dismissed.  There will not be a designated area for SRST parents or kids at the meet, but if you see other red shirts, go sit by those people and introduce yourself and make friends.
   

• After warm-up there will be a team meeting and cheer.  This is usually 10 min. before the start of competition.  Swimmers should be alert and ready to participate. 
   

• REMEMBER - NEVER DIVE IN DURING A MEET WARM-UP!...You should only dive into the pool when instructed to do so by a USA Swim Coach from SRST.
   

• After the cheer swimmers may go with parents or sit with other team members.
   

• Swimmers should check in with coaches prior to each race and consult with coach immediately after each race (unless the coach prescribes an immediate warm-down after the race...talk to YOUR direct coach to understand their expectations).
   

• All SRST swimmers are required to do a short warm-down after each race (prescribed by the coach).
   

• At the end of the day a swimmer should check-out with their direct coach (or coach assigned to them if their regular coach is not present).
   

• Relays: don't pay any attention to relays you see on the heat sheet or SRST website.  Coaches make the relays on the day of competition based on who shows up and what the goals are for the day.  Relays will be announced to kids at the end of warm-up and the kids can add the relay to their arm with Sharpie after the team cheer.
   

• Wear the team uniform: Red SRST shirt, black suit of choice and team cap.  If you don't have the required uniform you can still swim...just get it for next time!
   

• Swimmers/Parents will be responsible for signing into events that require sign-in (you must read meet info...typically the longer events such as 400 IM and 500 FR require sign-in at the meet).  Note that this is a generic informational email and this specific meet may or may not have distance races. Obviously if there are no distance races in this meet you can ignore this bullet point. Swimmers must also at times provide their own timers for the 400 IM and timers and counters for the 500 FR; swimmers are responsible for arranging with friends and/or parents to cover this responsibility.  Read meet info for details.
   

• When will I be invoiced and when do I pay?  You will be invoiced after the meet is over and the charge will be on your Nov. bill.  You do not need to write a separate check or make separate payment for meets.
   

• When do we get to leave the pool?  Once your last race is over, check in with your coach and then you get to leave.
   

• If your swimmer gets disqualified, don't worry.  We will go over the mistake and try and do better next time.  This is a learning opportunity.  On SRST we don't make a big deal out of a disqualification.  It happens and it's part of the learning process.

    Smile and have fun!

-Coach Ben