Yesterday was a wrap on our dual meets! Here's what's next... 

• Our Swim-A-Thon is tomorrow (June 18) during regular practice times. You don't need to do anything special, just come ready to swim, swim, swim! Pre-team will have normal practice. We'll have donuts for all swimmers. 

The following week is Champs meet and Spirit Day. 

• To psych up for Champs, we'll have Spirit Day on Thursday, June 26, immediately after each group's regular practice. There's no need for kids to RSVP, but we do need a few volunteers to contribute items for the pancake breakfast and assist with cooking pancakes. Please sign up in the app. Pre-team is invited to partake in the festivities too. This day is also the deadline to turn in Swim-A-Thon money.
• RSVPS are open for the 6 and Under Champs Meet, which is Wednesday, June 25 at NISD's 1604 Natatorium. This is a short, low pressure meet where first, second, and third place finishers are awarded stuffed animals and rubber duckies immediately after their races. The meet is organized by Splash!, and we don't have to provide volunteers. (Yay!) Please arrive at the pool by 5 pm and park near the entrance to the indoor pool. Warm ups will be at 5:30 pm. The meet starts at 6:15 pm. RSVPs are due this Sunday at 5 pm. 
• RSVPS are also open for Champs and due by Sunday at 5 pm. Everyone on the competition team (including 6 and Unders) is eligible to swim at Champs, and our collective score at this meet determines our place in the league's final rankings. The meet is Friday, June 27 at 10 am at NISD's 1604 Natatorium in the outdoor pool. There are a lot of specifics related to Champs meet so keep reading... 
• On Wednesday, June 25, there's no morning practice, including for pre-team. Instead, the competition team will have practice at the NISD Natatorium at the following times for each group: 
  • 6 and Unders and 13 and Up: 1-1:30 pm 
  • 7 to 9-year-olds: 1:30-2 pm 
  • 10 to 12-year-olds: 2-2:30 pm 

  Please try to attend this practice; it is your kid's chance to get acquainted with the pool and use the taller diving blocks prior to the meet. We'll be practicing in the inside pool. Look for us on the pool deck. 

• The day of Champs, plan to arrive at the NISD Natatorium at 8:15 am. Park and enter near the outdoor pool gates. We'll be set up at the far end of the pool under our tents. 

• The NISD Champs rules only allow swimmers and volunteers who are registered and background checked to be on the pool deck during the meet. Everyone else must be in the stands. Before you find your seat, help your kid with their sunscreen, arm markings, and snacks, and remind them of the importance of listening to the volunteers and junior coaches for their name to be called for race line ups. If your swimmer cannot be located under the tents when their race leaves for the blocks, they will miss their event. In order to finish the meet in a timely manner, Champs keeps to a strict schedule; they will not delay races. 

• In the water warm ups will be at 9 am. **Your swimmer must be on time for warm ups or they will not be able to swim in their scheduled relays.** Champs rules do not allow us to swap swimmers into races after the morning cut off time, so if Coach does not see your kid in the water at 9 am, she must switch to a swimmer who is present and on time in order to have fully confirmed relays before the deadline. 

• As mentioned, we need volunteers for the Champs, and all volunteers who are on deck must pass NISD's background check. Please RSVP in the app, and we will follow up with instructions to complete the background check. 

• The Monday after Champs, we'll celebrate the season with a pool party for the entire team and their families. Gates will open at 3 pm for open swim. We'll serve pizza at 5 pm and start the awards presentation at 6 pm. The night will wrap up by 7 pm.