Sharks Parents,

**Please read through this entire email, as this contains lots of important information and is different from those of dual meets this season.**

This is the Big Test of our season's work!! Our swimmers have worked hard for the last two and a half months, and they will use it all this Saturday as we swim against our entire division! All swimmers that have an official individual event time this season, and have swam in TWO dual meets, are eligible to compete at the Divisional meet. And our team needs all of our swimmers there!!! Let’s bring home the BIG “W” and the trophy this weekend!!!

We ask all families to plan on arriving no later than 6:45 am.This gives some time to park, set up your tents, chairs, blankets, check in your swimmers and for your volunteer shift. Have a buddy in mind that you can ask to check in your swimmers if you are on your way but not there by that time!!!

Where: Klein Cain Natatorium, 10201 Spring Cypress Rd, Klein, TX 77070

Setup Map attached. The front parking lot is reserved for officials and coaches.

****Swimmer RSVP closes on Tuesday for Divisionals. Email Coach Erick at [email protected] if you need to change your RSVP.****

Saturday Morning Timeline:

7:00am - Swimmer check-in deadline - All Swimmers Must Be Checked In By 7:00 am!! Your swimmer could be scratched if they are not checked in at this time!!!

7:00-7:20am - Sharks warmups, lanes 4-8

7:00am - Coaches/Team Rep meeting

7:20am – Officials meeting

7:30am - Volunteers must check in by - 7:30 am

8:00am - Scribes and timers meeting *REQUIRED*

8:25am - National Anthem

Meet starts immediately following the National Anthem

Swimmer Check In - Swimmers must be checked in by 7:00 am at the latest! After 7:00 am swimmers may be scratched! Look for our Junior Coaches in our check-in area for your swimmer’s event slips. If your swimmer must leave the event for any reason, please let the coaches know before you leave.

Coach Erick will be the contact for any relay changes! He will do his best to inform everyone that has been added to a relay team or have had their team scratched. If you see him or your coaches after 8:20 am or so, they can tell you of any changes you need to know about. Be aware though that changes may be made until the event is called to the ready bench, so keep an eye out if he's walking around our setup area!

Volunteers and Volunteering-**This is your LAST chance to make up points if you are short for the season so make sure that you check the job sign-up!!

All volunteers will need to check in with our Volunteer Coordinator, Nora Gutierrez, after checking in your swimmers. She will be near swimmer check in. Please check in no matter what shift you are working when you check in your swimmer! Volunteering for Divisionals is separated into 3 shifts instead of the usual 2. If you are working second or third shift, please pay attention to the announcements about starting the next shift of volunteers.

Shift 1 = events 1 - 30
Shift 2 = events 31 - 56
Shift 3 = events 57 - 86

Please make sure you are on time for your shifts. This is a big meet and being on time helps keep the meet running smoothly.

Parking - Cars should enter via Cutten Rd, NOT the front of the school. Only those with an official parking pass may park in the parking lot closest to the Natatorium. There will be plenty of parking in the other lot. See attached map. Park in the lot that is purple and labeled NWAL Swim Meet Parking on the map.

Family Tents- Even though the meet is inside the Natatorium, family set-up will still be outside!!! The set up area is closest to the natatorium, on the football field. Please keep kids/items OFF the football uprights. Please be courteous as we will have many teams packed in here. The set up area will be marked off with cones.

We must do our absolute best to preserve the field on which we set up. We cannot have anything destructive on the field, which includes: riding toys, motorized vehicles, digging/sand toys, water balloons, fireworks, kiddie pools, tent stakes, etc. Tennis courts, bleachers, retention pond, baseball fields, and uprights are OFF LIMITS!! 

Families are encouraged to bring their own tents and chairs! We are expecting to finish the meet around 3:00 pm or so but it may run later or end earlier. This will make for a very long day in the sun without shade.

Concessions- There will be food trucks available for breakfast, snack and lunch items. CASH is accepted, a minimum of $5 is required for card transactions. With six teams in attendance, it is highly recommended that you bring at least water/Gatorade and some of your own snack items as well. There will also be a couple options for frozen treats. Our team will have the Italian Ice Guy in attendance.

General rules- Swimmers and parents are not allowed to question, interfere, or talk to meet officials. Officials will be wearing white shirts and blue shorts/pants and will have NWAL name tags. This includes scorers and computer entry officials. Violation of these rules can cost your team points and can cause your swimmer to be disqualified from their last or next event. Speak to your coaches first about swim questions or disqualifications. Any problems during the meet or First Aid needs can be brought to the attention of either your coaches or Kat Henderson, our Team Rep. The easiest way to communicate with her during meets is via text, so save her name and number now: 832-353-9157.

The ready bench will be to the LEFT of the entrance doors. Spectators enter on the RIGHT. Remember to watch your kiddos swim, then leave the natatorium bleachers so other families have space to watch their kids. No camping in the natatorium bleachers. Facility monitors will ask families to leave after a certain amount of time. No chairs, blankets, food/drink in indoor bleachers. 

Nobody is allowed in the pool unless they are competing in the event that is in progress. Doing so will delay the meet and can cause swimmers to be disqualified.

Please help us police the kids and make sure they are staying out of trouble and not doing anything we would not want them doing at our pool.

Please be mindful of wet vs. dry bathrooms. Wet swimmer bathrooms are located in the locker rooms, opposite pool side from the bleachers. Dry restrooms can be found near the bleachers, start end of the pool.

As a reminder, absolutely no alcohol, smoking, or vaping on Klein ISD property. Klein Police Officers will be on site at all times. 

The areas in and around the starting blocks is off limits to everyone except swimmers that are swimming an event, and volunteers that are timing, scribing, or assisting with ready bench.

We would also like to remind all families that horseplay, fighting, rough housing, name calling, bullying, harassment or any kind of poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated anywhere at the meet but especially at the ready bench area at the pool before and after your swimmers’ events are swam. This includes anything directed towards our own teammates, our competitors or meet officials by swimmers or spectators. Any incidents will result in lost team points, swimmer disqualifications, even up to ejection from the meet or the team entirely. All teams are on a “final warning” status. We cannot have poor conduct at an event this size.

Please remember, we are guests at their pool. Please pick up after yourselves and follow their rules. Please respect their facility and equipment.

The most important rule of all for our swimmers, do your best and have fun!

Please continue to monitor your email this week for updates and/or changes.

See you all Saturday! Go Sharks!!

Sharks Board