I can't wait to see all of our AWESOME Tiger Sharks at the Division Championship tomorrow! 

BLUF: The league and NEISD have a lot of rules and procedures that will help tomorrow run smoothly. Please read all of the meet information below to make sure you are prepared. 

Follow the schedule. MSSL is VERY SPECIFIC about the timeline for this event and the entry procedures that all teams should follow, so please make note of the following times:

• Before you arrive- MARK YOUR SWIMMER'S ARMS. This may be the most important thing you do for the entire meet.
• 1:15 PM- Swimmers arrive. Please plan to arrive early so that you can find parking. When you arrive, all swimmers and volunteers need to check in with the team.
  • All volunteers are required to have a wristband (provided by MSSL) and a name tag indicating your job and shift (provided by Tiger Sharks). You will not be permitted to enter the pool deck without these, so you must check in with Ashlie to get your credentials.
• 1:30 PM- Coaches, Swimmers and 1st Half Volunteers enter the Natatorium using the LEFT entry door. 
  • MSSL has provided some additional entry procedures that we will need to be prepared to follow. When doors open, entry will be permitted in the following order:
    • VVIP/EARLY ENTRY: First shift volunteers. After you receive your wristband and name tag, please go to the front of the line to enter the natatorium first and go to your duty station. 
    • VIP: Coaches, swimmers, and officials. 
      • MSSL would like for teams to enter in the order of their location on the pool deck to help avoid a jumble of swimmers on the pool deck. Tiger Sharks will enter the building second, after the Jewish Community Center team. 
      • Swimmers will proceed to our assigned bleachers on the right side of the pool. They will leave bags and other personal items on assigned bleachers and report immediately to the Bill Walker Pool for warm-ups. This is in the same building, just a larger pool on the far left side of the natatorium. Coaches and board members will be on the pool deck to help swimmers locate assigned bleachers and make their way to the warm-up pool.

• 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM- Swimmers will do warm-ups. Spectators are not allowed in the Bill Walker Pool area.
• 2:00 PM- General admission. Spectators may enter the RIGHT entry door. Please note that this time has been changed again by the league. All Spectators will go through a security screening and must follow NEISD's clear bag policy. Proceed upstairs to the viewing area.
• 2:45 PM- Meet begins! Please note that this is a change from the originally posted start time.
• 6:30 PM- Estimated meet end time. All swimmers and spectators will need to be out of the Natatorium by 7:00 PM.

Follow the Natatorium Rules. Spectators need to be aware of the facility expectations. While it may seem like a lot of rules to follow, it's important to remember that the natatorium staff are required to enforce NEISD policies. As guests, we must ensure that we are respectful of the facility so that we have the opportunity to host future events here.

Please note these important rules:

• The Josh Davis Natatorium is a school district facility, so no weapons of any kind are permitted, including concealed handguns carried by a licensed user. All spectators will be subject to bag check and security screening upon entry.
• No spectators (or parents) are allowed on the first floor pool deck. Only swimmers, coaches, and volunteers will be allowed on the first floor pool deck. Parents will not be allowed downstairs near the pool. Doors will be monitored to prevent entrance.
• No swimmers allowed in the spectator area. Swimmers will check in with the team and STAY with them until their last event.
• NEISD has a clear bag policy for all spectators. This rule does not apply to swimmers.
• Spectators are not allowed to bring in outside food. You may bring 1 clear bottle of water for each spectator. No Yetis, Stanleys or other emotional support water bottles are permitted. Food trucks will be available on site, but food is not allowed inside in the spectator area.
• Swimmers may bring healthy, low mess snacks. Swimmers may bring water, sports drinks, and healthy snacks. Please do not bring messy foods including gum,  candy or anything that may be crumbly. Just like in Girl Scouts, we are going to leave the facility better than we found it, and ask that all swimmers be responsible for cleaning up their trash. 

Be prepared. I know that this is a lot of information, and all of the rules and procedures are probably making your head spin. Attached you will find a PowerPoint created by the league with some additional information about where swimmers will be located in the pool area. If it helps to visualize it this way, please take a look at it. 

Direct communication to our team leaders only. Except in the case of a true emergency, please reach out to our coaches, Ashlie or Ally G. first. We will field any questions, concerns, complaints, or frustrations that you may have and do our best to support you. 

Show up for your volunteer shift. If you signed up to volunteer, you will receive a separate reminder email regarding your job and your shift. We are counting on you to be there! Please make sure that you are on time for your shift and able to serve for the entire time. 

Trust us to take care of your swimmers. This meet will not run like a traditional summer league meet. For those families with young swimmers or those new the sport, it may feel scary to drop your swimmer off with the team and not see them until the end of the meet. I assure you- they will be well supervised and taken care of! If your swimmer has a phone, smart watch or other means of communication, they may bring it with them in case they need to reach you.

If your swimmer does not have their own phone, please save my number and text me if you have any questions or concerns. If you do reach out to me during the meet, please make sure you do the following:

• Text. The pool deck is a loud and exciting place! I likely will not be able to hear you if you try to call. Save us both the frustration, and send a text, please.
• Identify yourself. I don't have everyone's number saved, so please start the text by letting me know who you are, who your swimmer is, and their age group.
• Give me time to respond. As we are moving kids from the the bleachers to the blocks, I may not be able to respond immediately, but I will do my best to address concerns and help communicate messages to your swimmers.

This is a BIG MEET with over 330 swimmers! It will be crowded and a little crazy, but it will also be a lot of FUN! Bring your best cheering voices and your patience. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Go Tiger Sharks!

Ashlie

832-423-6014