Good morning Sea Lions!

Heat Sheets were released last night via the Swimtopia app, and I've attached those and the Event by Swimmer report here.  Please note that due to any scratches that come through, those events/heats/lanes may change up until the start of the meet, so please double check the app at the meet to confirm your swimmers events/heats/lanes.

I want to send everyone a few reminders based on some emails and feedback that has come to the board over the past couple of weeks.  Please take a couple of minutes to review these - I've also updated this on our website:  https://lslswim.swimtopia.com/declaring-for-meets

Meet Entries and Deadlines

All swimmers must sign up by the deadline - no exceptions.  We have specific timelines that we have to meet - and with over 200 swimmers and 100 events, that takes time.  Allowing swimmers to add after our team deadline of Tuesday/midnight puts us at risk of missing our league entries deadline on Fridays.

Event Selection

Coaches have a lot of factors to consider when building a meet of 100 events for 200 swimmers, when each swimmer can only participate in a total of 4 events. Not everyone can swim the 25 Free event - the coaches work hard to balance the requests of each swimmer, the ability of each swimmer, and the overall structure of the team in the meet. If your events change, please remind your swimmer that the coaches know they can do it, and that the team needs them to fill the spot.

League rules do not permit us to modify any entries after we have exchanged with the opposing team. Changes at that point are only allowed if a swimmer has scratched (is not longer attending) and we need to substitute in relay teams.  Please make sure you communicate any specific request/concerns via the Notes section when you declare your swimmer for the meet.

Leaving Early

If for an unexpected reason you need to leave a meet early, please have your swimmer (or for littles, a parent can) find a coach and let them know you are leaving early. We need to know this to prevent coaches and bullpen workers from searching for swimmers that are no longer at the pool.

We know meets are long (and often hot!) and that kids get tired. But it is so important that you stay for all of your events, for several reasons:

1. Your swimmer has worked hard at practice, and deserves to see that work pay off in the competition of the meet
2. Coaches strategically place swimmers into events to ensure points. Other teams know we have a large and very competitive team, and often load swimmers into later events on the chance that people go home early and skip. Losing those points could, in close meets, cost us a win.
3. Every team does their best to run meets as efficiently as possible, but we all know that they can run late. It's only fair that we all take our turn to stay for later events.

If anyone has questions about these, feel free to let me know and I'm happy to help you out.

See you all at the pool tomorrow!

Kerry