Hi Stars RED parents!

Invitationals is on Sunday, July 7. Please read this entire e-mail if your child has qualified for Invitationals.

Please call or text me at 512-680-7556 on Saturday night/Sunday morning if your child is sick or there is some other issue which will prevent your child from attending the meet so that we are aware of where they are and won't be frantically searching for them.

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MEET LOCATION - INVITATIONALS

THE LEE AND JOE JAMAIL TEXAS SWIM CENTER (TSC)

Located on the University of Texas campus, one block west of IH-35 on the northwest corner of the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd and Red River Street. Here is a link to driving directions: http://www.tsc.utexas.edu/directions.php.

Note: This is an indoor facility.

Please be on time!!

Swimmer check-in time: 9:30 am (check in your child on the lower level on the east side of the TSC) The doors to the swim center will not open until 9:00.

Volunteer check-in time: 9:30 am (enter at the same level as the swimmers)

Warm-ups begin: 9:45 am (The first 20 minutes is for swimming only and will take place in the diving well. The last 10 minutes is for starts, which will take place in the main pool).

Meet start time: 11:00 am

PARKING

Use of Lots 70 and 80 are approved for this meet. Please see the attached parking map for reference. Parking enforcement for “yellow curbs”, “double parking”, “disabled spaces” and “at all times” spaces remain in effect.

WHAT TO BRING

• Your child in their Steiner Stars Red team suit
• Stars Red Invitational swim cap
• Goggles
• Towels – One for drying off, one for sitting
• Seat cushion – If you’d like to bring one for your swimmer’s comfort, as they will be sitting on the floor (there will NOT be enough room for chairs)
• Warm clothes – You may have heard by now that the UT pool is COLD! Swimmers tend to be very chilled upon exiting the pool, so packing extra clothes for them like a sweat shirt and sweat pants is a good idea.
• Water bottle
• Snack - no nut products! 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.
• Heat sheets - Bring a copy if you'd like; they will be available late on Saturday night on Swimtopia.

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.
• Stars records can still be broken at Invitationals.
• 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!
• The University of Texas pool is divided into two 25-yard pools: the girls’ side and the boys’ side, with a bulkhead in between. Girls’ events will be in the north pool (if you’re in the bleachers looking at the pool, it’s on the right side) and boys’ events will be in the south pool (on the left side).
• The meet will consist of individual events only – no relays. The meet will begin with events 12 (6&U Girls 25-yd Freestyle) and 13 (6&U Boys 25-yd Freestyle) and continue on, keeping the same event numbers as in a regular meet. Girls and boys events will run simultaneously in the two different pools.
• All 25-yard events will be starting from the bulkhead side of the pools. 50- and 100-yard events will start from the starting block side of the pools.
• The TSC can get very loud with all the cheering, and it becomes difficult for swimmers to hear the Starter. Please advise your child to pay extra attention.
• Two large boards (one for the girls’ side, one for the boys’ side) will display the participants’ names in each lane in the current heat. Since the UT pool utilizes an electronic touch-pad system, after each race is over, the board will then immediately display the swimmer’s finals time and their place in that particular heat. Get your camera ready to take a picture of your child’s name on the big board!
• No heat winner ribbons are distributed at Invitationals.
• Once your child is finished with their event(s), they can leave. If you want to pick up your child before the meet ends, you will need to come down the small staircase in the center of the TSC (by concessions) to the deck entry doors on the lower level. Tell the security person your child’s name and that they swim for Stars Red. Then you will need to wait there until your child is brought to you by a coach or volunteer. This procedure must be followed with no exceptions for your child’s safety.

AFTER THE MEET

Medals will be given for first, second and third place finishes. All other places will receive a special Invitational Participant ribbon in recognition for participating and trying their best! These medals and ribbons will be placed in your family folder and will be available at the Stars End-of-Season Party on Monday, July 8.

Congratulations to all of our Invitationals swimmers!

GOOOOOOO STARS!!

Thanks,

Janice Panoff - Stars RED Team Coordinator