Steiner Stars Red

Invitationals - Saturday July 13, 2019

LOCATION:

Texas A&M Natatorium

797 Olsen Blvd, College Station, TX 77845

LAST MINUTE ABSENCES:

• Call or text Amy Bedford (Team Coordinator) at 808-346-1889

INVITATIONALS MEET TIMELINE:

11:15 am - Security Volunteer Check-in and meeting

11:15 am – Pit Parent Check-in (at Terrace) 

11:30 am - Swimmer Check-in

Noon - Hospitality Volunteer Check-in 

12:45 pm - Stroke/Exchange Judge and Head Timer Check-in (meetings will be held at 1:15pm)

1:00 pm - Head Runner, Ready Bench (including Head), Timer, and Awards Volunteer Check-in

New this year - Swimmers will be dropped off at the Terrace directly to the left of the Student Recreation Center.  Volunteers and Coaches will be stationed at the Terrace to check-in swimmers as they arrive.  We will then enter the Natatorium as a team at our designated entry time.  

1:45 pm - Start of the Meet

PARKING:

The West Campus Garage located immediately adjacent to the Rec Center is paid parking. There are also paid parking spaces in lot 104. Both of these areas remain paid parking even on the weekends. Lots 100a, 102, and 100g in front of Reed Arena are free on the weekends. See attached map.

ACCESS:

Only qualifying Invitational meet swimmers, registered coaches and volunteers, and registered meet officials are allowed on the pool deck. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Swimmers, coaches, and volunteers will enter the Natatorium entrance which faces parking lot 104.  Volunteer check-in will also be at this entrance.  

All spectators will enter the main door of the Rec Center which faces Kyle Field.  The spectator entrance to the natatorium will be up the staircase just inside the entrance.  Elevators are available at the staircase.  

Please prepare your swimmer with all necessary items for this meet.  Food or item deliveries will be prohibited during the meet.

PARENT SEATING:

All Attendees will enter the main door of the Rec Center which faces Kyle Field. The spectator entrance to the Natatorium will be up the staircase just inside the entrance. Family members may observe the meet from the stadium seating area at the main entrance level to the facility. There will be no reserved seating.

“We are going to need the cooperation of everyone as there are only 1100 stadium seats available while there is an anticipated spectator attendance of more than 2000 people. We are asking that you not “camp out” in the stands but only stay to watch your swimmer and then move out of the stands for a while. One way to make this work is to partner with parents on your team that have swimmers outside of your swimmer’s age group. For example: if your swimmer is in the 7­8 girls group partner with other families that have swimmers in the 11­/12 girls group and 15/­17 girl’s groups and rotate in and out of the seats to see your swimmer. Sharing is a must for this to work at this venue. Saving seats is not allowed and security will be directing people to seats that are not occupied by a person and requesting all other items be removed from the seats.

Folding chairs, blankets, sleeping bags, etc are NOT allowed to be brought into the Natatorium viewing area.

WHAT TO BRING - LABEL EVERYTHING:

• Your child in their Steiner Stars Red team suit
• Stars Red Invitational swim cap
• Goggles
• Towels – One for drying off, one for sitting
• Clothes – Swimmers can get chilled upon exiting the pool. Packing extra clothes for them like a sweat shirt, Stars t-shirt, and pajama pants is a good idea.
• Water bottle
• Snacks - no nut products, please. No one will be monitoring the swimmers’ food intake, so please be sure to tell your child when they can/can’t eat if you are concerned about them eating prior to their events.
• Space will be limited - so pack accordingly but know that seating and storage will be very tight

WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED:

• Stars Red coaches – They will guide and support the swimmers as always!
• Deck volunteers – To assist in various capacities

DURING THE MEET:

• This meet is for the individual swimmer, there will be no scoring
• The meet will follow the Northwest Swim Circuit order of events, with the exception of 6&U Butterfly which will take place with the other Butterfly events following 15-17 100 YD Freestyle (events 66 and 67) 
• Each team will receive one "A" relay slot in each relay event
• Stars Records can still be broken at Invitationals 
• The meet will take place in two 25-yard pools, one for boys’ events and one for girls’ events. The girls will start in the pool closest to the score board. The boys will start in the pool closest to the diving well.
• No heat winner ribbons are distributed at Invitationals

PICKUP: (NEW PROCEDURES THIS YEAR)

If you want to pick up your child before the meet ends, you will need to exit the Natatorium and come around to the swimmer entrance across from lot 104. Parents will be asked to provide a security person with a piece of paper that includes the name of their swimmer and the team name and to stay there until the swimmers(s) are brought to them by a coach or volunteer (NO EXCEPTIONS).  All swimmers not picked up prior to event 68 will be required to remain with their team until the end of the meet.  This procedure must be followed with no exceptions for your child’s safety. If you are planning on taking your child home early from the meet, make sure he/she has not been placed in the last set of relays

At the conclusion of the meet, all remaining swimmers will be taken to the designated reunion area directly to the left of the natatorium entrance.  We will have volunteers on hand to help swimmers reunite with families or responsible parties. 

AWARDS:

• Medals are given for first, second, and third place finishes. All other places will receive a Participation Ribbon.
• Invitational awards and time improvement ribbons will be available in the Family Folders on the porch at 12621 Capella Trail (Summer Vista) starting Monday July 15th.  

HEAT SHEETS:

• Once finalized heat sheets will be posted on the calendar section of the Red Team website

REC CENTER DAY PASSES:

The Texas A&M Rec Center will offer day passes to any meet attendees for use of all facilities for $10 (additional fees may apply to certain areas). Day passes are available to any attendee that is 18 years or older with a valid ID. Minors may also purchase a day pass as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Please see the Student Rec Center staff on meet day for further details.

Congratulations to all the Invitational Qualifiers!  I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday!  

Amy