In this email (the longest one you'll get until Meet of Champions):

1. Practice this week
2. Meet #1 June 4
3. Swim meets are NOT drop-off events
4. Meet absences -- tell us TODAY
5. Arrival times for Meet #1
6. Food and merchandise at & after Meet #1
7. Quick notes

1. Practice this week

Practice this week is at The Club on Monday, and Ellis Creek Tuesday-Friday. All practices are in the morning now, with special times for Meet Mondays.

7-8: 8:00 AM
9-10: 8:30 AM
11-12: 9:00 AM
13 & Up: 9:30 AM

6 & Under don’t practice on Meet Mondays, but it’s important for everyone else to practice on Mondays, so the coaches can make last-minute adjustments and cover meet strategy. See the whole practice schedule under the “Schedules” tab for times.

2. Meet #1 June 4

Our first meet is at HOME with the Greatwood Geysers. Bring your bug spray, extra towels, goggles/caps, snacks/drinks, etc. You can find a packing list for meet essentials, and details about meet logistics, on the Meet Day page. SUNSCREEN REMINDER - please don't apply sunscreen on swimmers' arms until AFTER they have been marked at the meet (it ruins our markers and does not allow the pen to dry properly).

Please park legally (one side of Walker School Road opposite the Club is a no-parking zone marked with hard-to-see signs), and SLPD Officer Stockholm reminds us not to leave items in our cars – sporting events are a magnet for thieves!

3. Swim meets are NOT drop-off events

Your swimmers need to have a responsible adult on-site during the whole meet. We swim in the rain, but not if there is lightning in the area. Sign up for our Remind text service for weather updates and practice delays/cancellations. If the meet is suspended by lightning, the pool area will be cleared, and you will need to go to your car for safety; the main Club building is not available to us during swim meets. Stick close, though -- when the meet resumes, we forfeit any races that we don’t show up for!

4. Arrival times for Meet #1

(FYI, these times are later than they will be for the rest of the meets. The first meet is a special 5:30 start because the Greatwood swimmers are still in school on Monday.)

4:00 PM Age Group Parents: (New info!) Skip the main volunteer sign-in -- pick up your clipboard and marker from a board member on the west side of the pool by the age group tents no later than 4:00 PM.

4:15 PM Swimmers: Sign in at your age group tent at 4:15 PM -- warmup starts at 4:25.

5:00 PM First-half volunteers and relay stroke judges: Sign in with Jamie at the main volunteer sign-in table (near the entrance to the pool) by 5:00 PM and get instructions for when and where to report.

6:30ish PM Second-half volunteers: Sign in with Jamie at the main volunteer sign-in table between 6:30-7:00 PM. If you arrive earlier, please wait until 6:30 to give the volunteer coordinators time to work on first-half responsibilities.

5. Meet absences -- tell us TODAY

Thursday is the last-minute deadline to report meet absences or change volunteer signups online for a Monday meet. If you have an illness or emergency that forces you to be absent for this Monday’s meet, please email coaches Brian [email protected] and Alex [email protected], meet director Mel [email protected], AND volunteer coordinators Jamie & Purvi [email protected]. For meet-day volunteer emergencies, text Jamie at 832-216-6175

If your swimmer is NOT going to be able to swim at a future meet, please report your absence now with the MEET ENTRY button (illustrated how-to directions > HERE). We assume that all swimmers will attend, unless you report an absence. The coaches start lining up heats and relays on Friday and Saturday, so report absences early.

6. Food and merchandise at & after Meet #1

Food: Anna’s Gourmet Greek food truck will be in the parking lot. The Tarpons will have a concession stand with Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, drinks, and snacks.

Merchandise: Check out the Tarpons merchandise table for all the latest Tarpons merch, including towels, hats, shirts, caps, goggles, water bottles, bags, team photos, and more!

After-meet party: It’s a late meet, so join us at 12:30 Tuesday for lunch fun at Jade Ly. We love all of our sponsors!

Photo make-up session: There will be another chance for individual/sibling photos for portrait packages and photo buttons on Wednesday, June 6 from 8-9 AM at Ellis Creek. Photo order form.

Kendra Scott event: Join us Thursday, June 7th from 5:00-7:00 for a fun night of shopping, refreshments, fun, and a discount - all while raising money for our swim team! There will be snacks for the kids as well. Phone orders will be accepted all day. Tell them you are with the Tarpons!

7. Quick notes

Send your Tarpons photos (group shots are ideal) to [email protected] to go in our end-of-season slideshow.

Team t-shirts are at the printer and coming very soon.

Volunteer signup continues on our website, http://www.newterritorytarpons.com Every Tarpons family must sign up for 5 family volunteer slots by June 11! Look under the “Meet Day” tab for complete instructions. Email [email protected] with questions about volunteering.

We’re always looking for new members to add to our already-amazing Board of Directors. Grab a board member in blue, and ask how you can help!

Thanks for bearing with the long Meet #1 emails. See you at the pool -- Go Tarpons!