Sailfish Parents,

It has been a great 1st week of swim team despite the rain. I am excited about the enthusiasm I am seeing from our young swimmers! We have one more practice before our first away meet at Arbor Creek on Tuesday evening.

This is Action Needed Part: To ensure a successful meet, parents need to register their swimmers on Swimtopia and volunteer for roles during the event. Below is information Heather sent earlier this week about the meet. Also enclosed are instructions for how to declare your swimmer and to volunteer. We need this information entered prior to 8PM on Sunday, but sooner would help us be better prepared.

1. Swimmer Eligibility: Is your swimmer meet eligible for next Tuesday, June 10th? Your swimmer is eligible if they can arrive at Arbor Creek in time to be ready for warm-ups at 5:30PM and are comfortable trying safely one of the following events for their age group. They do not have to do all events. Coach Greg will determine the appropriate events for each swimmer, but as long as they can compete in one we would encourage meet attendance.

a. 6 & Under: 15-yards/15-meters each of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke unassisted. With the safety of each participant in mind, 6 and under swimmers may be assisted in subsequent heats.

i. A rope will be place in the pool along the 15 yard line. Catchers (Parents) will be in each lane on the other side of the rope. They will be there to grab child at end of race. Catchers cannot reach across rope to touch swimmer.

ii. If you want to enter your child in the meet you will need to be a catcher ready in the pool.

iii. We encourage our 6 & Under who can make or almost make the 15 yards to participate. 6 & Under are allowed to touch the bottom of the pool if they do not push off for forward progress. In essence they can stand in place or bob vertically for a rest.

b. 7 & 8: 1 length of the pool each of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

c. 9 & 10: 1 length of the pool each of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

d. 11 & 12: 2 lengths of the pool each of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly

e. 13 & 14: 2 lengths of the pool each of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly

f. Heather had previously sent a pdf document titled “Score Sheet Disq Sheet.” It will show what constitutes as DQ. We understand that for this first meet swimmers will be nervous. We want to make sure our swimmers are learning and getting better at competing. Race disqualification is just a tool to help them improve as swimmers and is very common in this league with younger and newer swimmers.

2. Arbor Creek Meet Logistics: Please arrive in time for your swimmer to enter the water at 5:30 for warm-ups. Arbor creek plans to play the national anthem promptly at 6 PM.

a. Location: 200 Commons Drive, Holly Springs

b. Parking: Arbor Creek parking lot will be reserved for your team’s families. We have a small lot. When the lot becomes full, you may park along Commons Drive, Arbor Crest Rd and Arbor Creek Drive. Please be respectful of neighbors and do not block driveways.

c. Team Area: Our team area will be just as we enter the pool near the restrooms, slide, and grill are. They have limited seating, so bring your own chairs.

d. Concessions: They will have snacks and drinks for purchase via cash or Venmo.

e. Uniform: Please wear our Sweetwater Sailfish suit. Have goggles and swim cap as well. Cap is optional but encouraged. Enclosed is the attachment “Recommend Swim Goggles” a document with links to purchase goggles.

3. Volunteers needed for Arbor Creek: For those parents who will not be in the water as a catcher for their 6& Under we ask that you sign up for a volunteer role. Below are the roles/descriptions needed. Enclosed are the instructions for how to sign up in Swimtopia. We ask parents during kick-off what they would prefer to do. If what you would prefer to do is taken, please select another job. Melissa Fort will be your point of contact when arriving. The Arbor Creek volunteers will also help/coach us through this first one. Please sign up prior to 8PM Sunday, June 8th.

a. Floater: This is an extra volunteer to be used as needed on meet day.

b. Order of Finish Judge: Observes and records the finish for all main events. May stand with opposing team's OOF Judge to complete the task together.

c. Ribbon Writer: Hand writes or places stickers on ribbons, once they receive the ribbon labels from the Meet Administrator. Coordinates delivery of ribbons for the visiting team.

d. Runner: Picks up order of finish forms, timing sheets, DQ slips and possible Clerk of Course sheets as needed from meet officials during the meet and delivers them the Meet Administrator.

e. Timers: One timer per lane required. Each team provides 3 timers for a 6 lane pool. Time swimmers in one lane, using automated timing devices and/or manual stopwatches.

f. Sign up via swimtopia using the enclosed instructions titled “Volunteer and Entry Instructions.”

4. Declare Your Swimmer: If your swimmer is eligible for the meet next week declare then in swimtopia using the enclosed instructions titled “Volunteer and Entry Instructions.

5. Tarheel Swimming Association: If you are interested in learning more about our league and swim meet rules, please see the enclosed 2025 TSA Rules.