Hi Bolts! Our Blue & Gold Time Trials meet will be this Saturday, 5/4. If you have never been to a swim meet before, it can be an overwhelming experience. Here are a few tips to help you.

Arrival Times

Volunteers for meet set-up will need to be there by 6:30 am

Tent parents will need to be there by 6:45 am to check swimmers in and write their events on their arms.

Swimmers please arrive by 7 am to check-in.10 & under will circle in with tent parents AND at coaches tent (you only need to circle their name). 11 & up will circle in at coaches tent.

Warm-ups will begin by 7:15 am.

The meet will begin at 8 am.

Parking and Set-up

Parents please do not park in the  circle drive or in the parking lot near the tennis courts. This parking is reserved for Coaches & Officials only. Parking is available in the gravel road by the playground.

Age group tents for 7-8 & 9-10 will be set-up outside the pool gates. This is where family tents can be set-up as well. 6 & Under age group tents will be set-up right inside the pool gates. 

Here is a map for our Swim Meet set-up: https://ldlbolts.swimtopia.com/londonderry-map

Volunteers 

Volunteers please check in with Kari Crenshaw when you arrive to get checked in and get your name tag. If you don’t check in by 7:45 am, either in person or by email or text to let her know you will be at the meet, she will start filling unclaimed positions and you will be considered a "no-show". There will be a timers meeting after warm-ups. There is still a couple more volunteer shifts that need to be filled. We cannot run a meet without volunteers! Please sign-up to volunteer here: https://ldlbolts.swimtopia.com/swim_meets

Here are the things that you should pack for time trials

Swimmer Pack List:

• Bolt Swimsuit
• Swim-cap
• Tie-dye or Bolts Shirt
• At least one pair of goggles( 2 pair preferred in case one breaks)
• At least 1 towel for warm-up and meet
• Sunscreen
• Clothes/Coverup to wear between events if preferred
• Healthy Snacks 
• Water bottles
• Chair
• Entertainment (coloring books, board games, tablets, etc.)

Parent Pack List

• Pop Up Tent
• A portable chair
• Money for concessions
• Snacks and water
• Sunglasses and/or a hat
• More sunscreen
• Bug spray

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  During the Meet
• Heat Sheets- You might want to download the Swimtopia app to your phone. It is the software we use to score the meet and you will be able to see the events your kids are swimming. It is free to download and you will be able to see a limited amount of info. For a small fee you can have more features.
• Races – Our Legendary DJ, TC, will be calling event numbers to the ready benches. Swimmers need to listen for those numbers and check their arm to see if they should report. The ready benches are rows of benches inside the pool area where a volunteer puts the swimmers in the correct heats and lane positions. You will need to listen to the announcements in order to hear what event is being called to the benches. Your swimmer will then be moved from the ready benches to the starting blocks by a volunteer. The swimmer should have their cap and goggles firmly in place before getting on the blocks. The starter will give directions for the swimmers to get on the blocks (or in the water for backstroke), take their mark, and then the starter beep. This is when your swimmer will dive in the water and you can begin cheering for them. When the race is over, they should promptly exit the pool. The swimmer can then check in with the coaches for feedback. After that, they should go back to their tent to rest for their next event.
• On Deck - The area immediately surrounding the pool is known as the "on deck" area during a meet. Often this will be roped off to keep spectators from encroaching. Only NWAL officials and on-duty parent volunteers are allowed on deck during a meet. Meet officials are present on the pool deck during the swim meet. They usually wear white. Most meets have a referee, a starter and several stroke and turn officials. The officials are parent volunteers from both teams who are NWAL trained. They are impartial and there to enforce the NWAL rules. This ensures that each meet is run consistently and fairly throughout the NWAL organization. The meet referee has the final say in all disputes.
• Photography - We love that you enjoy capturing your kiddos swimming in action. This year per NEW league rules we are NOT allowed to take pictures from behind the blocks of swimmers.

After the Meet

• Equipment Tear Down – As soon as the last heat of the last event is swam, the meet is over. Please stay, if you can, for a few minutes and help put all the equipment away. There will be Bolt Board members there to supervise and many hands make light work. Your help is truly appreciated.
• Clean Up - As you pack up your gear, please look around your area and pick up all the trash. Trash bins are provided throughout the team set up and pool area. Please use them. If you see someone dropping trash, please remind them to pick it up.

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  Let's have a great meet! Go Bolts!