Steiner Stars vs Wells Branch Armada
Saturday May 27, 2023
MEET LOCATION:
Willow Bend Pool
2801 Sauls Drive, Austin, TX 78728
Corner of Sauls Drive and Bratton Lane in Wells Branch
https://goo.gl/maps/JyjYwxezAsM2

What a crazy week with the end of school and graduation on Saturday. Congratulations to our Red Star graduates! I can’t believe that it is also time to kick off the 2023 SWIM SEASON! The swimmers have worked really hard these past few weeks and now it is their time to shine.

This email is long, get comfortable and digest it as this contains a lot of pertinent information. New this year all board members will be wearing NEON GREEN shirts that say BOARD MEMBER on the back, if you need anything find one of us and we will be able to help you.

PARKING:

• There is limited parking in the lot adjacent to the pool for our families. There is on-street parking on Sauls Drive, the adjacent streets, and the nearby elementary school. Do NOT park on Bratton Lane or in the parking lots of the businesses on Long Vista or YOU WILL BE TOWED. Long Vista itself now has no parking signs along it for the half-block nearest to the pool. Allow extra time for parking and walking to the pool. Note: parents can come into the pool lot and drop off swimmers in front of the pool gate and then go park.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ

• There are two single restrooms outside of the pool gate and additional ones inside of the pool gate.
• Wells Branch is a six lane 25 yard pool. The exact length is 75.08 feet and the conversion factor is 0.999.
• Age group tents are reserved for swimmers and Tent Parents ONLY - Please do not sit in the tent unless you are an assigned Tent Parent for that meet. We also kindly ask that spouses of Tent Parents not sit in the age group tents as well. We have a hard working team of volunteers that transport and set-up these tents every week. Space is limited and they are strictly for our swimmers and the volunteering Tent Parents.
• Ready Bench and area behind the starting blocks are for swimmers and coaches ONLY. There are NO cameras or cell phones allowed behind the blocks per USA Swimming guidelines.
• In the interest of safety athletes must stay in their age-group tent when not swimming
• Tent parents will be writing on the swimmers events on their arms so please do not apply sunscreen until AFTER this has been done. If you want to write on your swimmers arm before you check in see the attached document on how to do so.
• Male swimmers must wear jammers or swim briefs (NO board shorts are allowed)
• Female swimmers must wear a competition suit (NO rash guards or two pieces allowed)
• ALL swimmer must wear a Steiner Stars swim cap

MEET ABSENCES:

• For any absences the day of the meet please text Candice Palmer, Team Coordinator (571-599-1330) as soon a possible so we can make necessary adjustments

HEAT SHEETS/MEET RESULTS:

• Heat Sheets and Meet Entries are posted under the Calendar section of the Red Team website. Please check the meet entries file that is posted along with the Heat Sheets. This will tell you what events (including heat and lane) your swimmer is in. Relays are always subject to change.
• You will be able to view preliminary results via the Swimtopia App. Final results will be posted to the website following the meet.

APPS:

• Swimtopia App - You can download theSwimTopia Mobile App on theApp StoreorGoogle Play

We have the ability to communicate through push notifications -- which is helpful for when we need to get information out quickly.

To receive push alerts on your phone:

1. Log in with your SwimTopia login
2. Be sure to check your app’s notification settings -- ensure that it’s set to pop up on your screen (Android users: set the Importance to “Urgent”)

* We highly recommend that you upgrade to the Pro version of the app to get estimated start times for events that will also update as the meet progresses.

*Please ensure you have the app opened and you are signed in on meet day.

APPAREL:

• Please text Julie (512-773-5453) if you need a Stars cap

CONCESSIONS:

• Wells Branch will have a concessions stand set up that will accept cash and credit card.

CHECK-IN TIMES:

"Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable" - Eric Jerome Dickey

There are numerous cogs to the wheel that make a meet successful and one of those key elements is getting swimmers checked in on time. I know it sounds trivial but late swimmers cause a considerable amount of work for the Coaches and Computer volunteers which may unfortunately delay the meet.

• 5:00 AM - Set Up Crew Arrive & Tent Set-up Volunteers
• 6:10 AM - Tent Parents Report to Tent
• 6:25 AM - Swimmer Check-In (check your swimmer in with the tent parents at their age group tent)
• 6:25 AM - Volunteer Check-In both first and 2nd shift (check your swimmer in first and then check-in with our Volunteer Coordinators at the white check-in table) Please wear your nametag
• 6:50 AM - STARS Swimmer Warm-Up
• 7:10 AM - Stroke/Exchange Judge Meetings under flag (BOTH SHIFTS)
• 7:15 AM - Timer Meeting by lifeguard office (BOTH SHIFTS)
• 7:20 AM - ALL 1st shift volunteers report to positions
• 7:20 AM - First call for Events 1, 2 & 3 to ready bench
• 7:25AM - Event 1 at Starting Blocks
• 7:30AM - Start of the Meet
• EVENT 45 - SHIFT CHANGE: 2nd Shift Volunteers in place (1st shift to remain in positions until relieved)

PARENT/ COACH RELAY IF TIME ALLOWS (lanes 4, 5 & 6)

• EVENT 78 - Exchange Judges report to positions
• EVENT 81 - Tent Tear Down/Transport crew report to 5/6 Tents

Thank you all in advance for your cooperation and dedication to our team! We are lucky to have such amazing parents and swimmers

PHOTOS:

We have amazing volunteers who take action shots of our swimmers in and out of the water. To see these photos visit theGALLERY HERE on the website. If you are prompted for a password it is “stars”

NEW TO SWIM TEAM or need some reminders

• Swim Team 101

It’s going to be a hot one on Saturday so please remember to hydrate yourself and your swimmer. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me.

Let’s kick off the summer with a great first meet against Wells Branch Armada.

GOOOOOOO STARS!!!
Candice Palmer
Red Team Coordinator
571-599-1330