Relays:  All swimmers in Event #1-Event #4 need to  be at the child gathering area no later than 5:45.  We need to remember that relays involve a team and one missing swimmer can effect 3 others.   If you are not going to make it with your kids by then, then you need to let one of the coaches know.  The meet may start at 6:00 but only if the kids in the first few events are there are ready to go.
Swim Team  Etiquette: Being a Birkdale swimmer represents our entire neighborhood.  So our behavior is very important.  Please remind the swimmers that running on the pool deck is not safe.  We have had the following issues with swimmers: snapping goggle straps at each other, snapping the back of bathing suits, tugging on swim caps,  5-star ( One person slaps the other so hard that it leaves a imprint of their hand), and yelling in the gathering area.  Yelling for team is great during the races but it makes it very difficult for the child gathers and clerks of coarse to do their job if it is done in the child gathering area.   When swimmers not with parents and are in the gathering area please take a moment to check their behavior. 
Close Events:  Please take note of your child's event. Watch the gathering numbers closely. Some are being gathered almost immediately after they have gotten out of the pool for one.  It would be helpful especially with the 10 and unders to have parents get their swimmer out of the pool and escort them back to the gathering area for their next event.
Leaving Early: If you know that your swimmer cannot stay late please let the coaches know so they will not put them in a relay at the end of a meet.  The next  two meets will probably last until 10:00pm.  The ideal time for notifying Coach Holly would be a minimum of 48 hours prior to the meet.  We understand that things come up but the less changes made the day of the meet the more smoothly thing will run and the faster the meet will be completed.     Leaving early without prior notice and skipping events makes everyone's job harder.  Skipping relays at the end  leaves 3 other disappointed kids who don't get to swim in the relay and for some kids relay ribbons are the only ones they get.
Championships:  The championship meet is between 6-7 hours long, starting at 2:00pm.  It would be a good idea to think about this thoroughly before Coach Holly make out the events.  If you think you cannot stay until the end then let us sooner rather than later.
Missing Meets: Holly is away this weekend at a swim meet, she has the computer and is setting up Tuesday's meet.  If between now and Sunday the status of your child participating or not changes please reply to information@birkdalebarracudas.com with your information.  The sooner we get changes the easier it is to fix them.  This includes people who cannot stay until 10:00pm to finish the meet.    If you have not already emailed Holly about your child's status for the July 6th make up meet with MacAuley then please do ASAP.  Do not you tell her in person and expect her to remember, she needs it in an email so she can double check her data.
Volunteers:  Please remember that whether you have small children, work a full-time job or are a single parent everyone is required to work 2 meets and a shift at the championship   The team is run on volunteer power and everyone has to do their part.  You can switch off with some to watch your younger children or get a baby sitter, whatever it takes.  We cannot accommodate everyone's unique situations.  Everyone was informed of this commitment when they signed up and are expected to follow through.