STARS BLUE Parents,

Last week was another great meet with swimmers stepping up and volunteers making the meet run smoothly (almost)!  This is our first week with a full practice schedule and I expect a bunch of personal bests (red/white/blue ribbons) and hopefully more invitational qualifiers.  This week we will swim against one of our division foes and the competition ramps up! 

We will host the Brushy Creek Marlins at our first HOME meet at Bella Mar!  This is our chance to show what great hosts we can be, as well as give our swimmers the opportunity to swim in a pool that is comfortable and familiar.  I can already taste the burger compliments of Brian the Grillmaster Cussimanio and can't wait to hear what blasts from the past Chris 2 turntables and a microphone Martin will bring!  This email contains VERY IMPORTANT information so please READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY, even if you're an old pro at home meets.

Meet Location:

BELLA MAR POOL

5:00  Parking volunteers arrive

5:10  Meet and Tent Set-Up

5:45  Tent Parent check-in

5:50  Swimmer check-in (please check your child in at their tent with the Tent Parent on duty)

5:50 to 6:05  Volunteer check-in (please check in with the Volunteer Coordinators after you’ve checked your child in at their tent)

6:05 to 6:35  Warm-ups    As the host team, we have 1st warm-up :(

6:55  Ready Bench reports to duty and timers and judges meetings

7:15  Meet Start Time

Please do NOT be late for check-in!  It is very important that we have all first-shift volunteers and Tent Parents in place for swimmer arrival.  Tent parents, you can mark your kids after warm ups, just make sure you get a good swimmer count so we can adjust relays if needed.  If your swimmer has not arrived by warm-ups they WILL be scratched from the meet, no exceptions.  Please be on time!  Text me if you are running late.

Important Info:

PARKING - We will be running the shuttle from River Ridge to Bella Mar.  Please drop your swimmers off and then drive to River Ridge Elementary and hop on the shuttle. This year to help boost usage of the shuttle, adult riders will get a ticket that can be redeemed for a free coffee from concessions and each family will be entered into a raffle for a RESERVED SPOT at Star Wars!!  If history repeats itself, that could be a 1 in 15 chance!  As you know, we have very limited parking in and around the Bella Mar neighborhood so please drop off your swimmer and use the shuttle.  If you choose to park, it is IMPERATIVE that you follow the parking rules laid out below.

If you choose to park along the street on Bella Mar Trail, please adhere to the following rules:

DO NOT under any circumstances park in front of a residence anywhere in the Bella Mar neighborhood.

DO NOT park where there are signs or cones that say NO PARKING!  I know this goes without saying, but every year we have people who move cones to make more parking spaces and the Sheriff's department has to hand out tickets.  You cannot park within the traffic circle, in front of fire hydrants, mailbox kiosks, or curbs marked in red/yellow.  Please don’t be “that person” who thinks the rules apply to everyone but them!

The Bella Mar pool parking lot is reserved for the visiting team, so please do not attempt to park there.  You may drop your swimmer(s) off along Calistoga Way (the street that runs along the back side of Bella Mar near the tennis courts) or at the entrance to the parking lot, but you may not park in the lot itself (unless you were the winning bidder for the reserved spot-Pete!).

I have attached a parking map as well so that you are perfectly clear on where you can and cannot park.  We also encourage you to carpool, walk, ride your bike or have your spouse/neighbor/friend/etc. drop you off at the pool in order to minimize the number of cars in and around Bella Mar.  Help us stay in good standing with the HOA and Bella Mar residents by following these rules!!

TENT AREA - Our tents will be set up immediately inside the pool gates.  This area tends to get very crowded, so please be mindful of walking paths from the tents to the ready benches when setting up your chairs.  If you are blocking a walkway, you will need to move to an area that does not obstruct the path.  Our splash pool and baby pool will be COMPLETELY OFF LIMITS during the meet.

Once again, your swimmer MUST REMAIN IN THEIR TENT AT ALL TIMES unless you notify the Tent Parent.  If your swimmer is not in the tent when their event is called and lined up, they may be scratched from their event!

CONCESSIONS - Our concession stand will be in full swing on Saturday!  We will have all kinds of goodies in the morning, including coffee, plus plenty of lunch items and snacks throughout the day.  I can already taste the cheeseburger!  Our concession stand is cash-only, so be sure to hit the ATM on Friday.

SPORTSMANSHIP - Please talk to your swimmer about showing good sportsmanship, both to the Marlin swimmers and each other.  The STARS pride themselves on being a positive, friendly team and we want to continue that tradition this summer!  If you witness any behavior to the contrary, either from our swimmers or the opposing team, please report it to the Meet Director.  Please also remember that the best way to teach good sportsmanship is to show it yourself.  We are all examples for our kiddos!

Uniforms - Please try to wear your team caps in addition to your team suits as this is part of the uniform!  The Apparel team will be on hand if needed.

PRE-MEET MEETINGS - Please listen for the announcement that Judges, Timers, Runners and Ready Bench will hold their pre-meet meetings.  This will be sometime around 6:55.  If you are signed up for one of these roles, you must attend the meeting at the start of the meet, even if you are on duty for second shift.

MEET MOBILE - We will be using the Meet Mobile app to post scores as the meet progresses.  We will also post scores in the Bella Mar pavilion.

CLEAN-UP - Please remember to clean up after yourselves when you leave the pool. If you see trash lying around, please pick it up and throw it out.  Our clean up team works very hard after each meet to ensure we leave the pool area just like we found it and you can help these efforts by cleaning up after yourself and your swimmer.

Our fearless Meet Director is Mitch Aubin ([email protected] or 512.413.1899).

Heat sheets and meet entries are posted to the website but are subject to change due to absences.

Swimmer sign up is now open for the next meet at Cedar Park.

You may contact me with any questions or concerns. Please also reach out if you have a sick swimmer or are otherwise unable to make it on Saturday morning.  Email or text me at 512-567-9393.

See you at the pool!  GO BLUE!!

Albert Wong

STARS BLUE Team Coordinator