Dear Parents and swimmers,

It is hard to believe that the regular season is over, and we are just 2 days away from City Meet! This is the championship meet where every team in the Chattanooga Area Swim League will compete against each other. It is an exciting meet! This is a long message about what to expect and how to be prepared for this meet.

This year’s meet will be held at the Fort Olgethorpe Pool at 19 Van Cleve Street Fort Olgethorpe, GA 30742. This is an outdoor, 8-lane pool with spectator seating on the pool deck, but it is not meant to camp out there. Each team has a specified “crash” area. (Crash Map attached) The easiest access to our crash area is from Gilbert Drive, as there is parking directly behind our area. We will be given access to our crash area at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 13th. We highly recommend that you set up anytime that evening from 4-8:00 p.m. This will help alleviate any anxiety getting there on Friday morning, and will give your swimmer a chance to see the pool. There will additional parking in the small main lot at entrance on Norris (off Van Cleve) - this is a great drop off area as well, the big field behind pool (This is behind our crash area - entrance on Gilbert off Lafayette Rd - turn onto Gilbert across from Krystal), new field parking (entrance on Forrest off Lafayette Rd), and at Old Fort Baptist Church on Van Cleve across from main entrance to pool

During the morning session (10 and under) there will be a Clerk of Course. This is where ALL 10 & under swimmers are required to report before their race. They will not be allowed to go directly to the starting blocks. Clerk of Course will also be run for ALL finals swimmers.

The top 16 swimmers for each individual event and the top 8 relays will be brought back in the evening for finals. Two alternates are also named in the event of any scratches. (Alternates are required to come to finals.) We will be keeping an ongoing list of finals swimmers for our team in our crash area, but please make sure you check with the coaches before leaving for the day to know if you should return. (We hope you return for finals even if you are not swimming to cheer on the team!)

It is required that ALL swimmers have a team cap. The only other caps approved by CASL are those representing a charity, such as Emily’s Power for a Cure. If your child has lost, ripped or damaged their STH cap, we will have them for sale in our crash area on both Friday and Saturday for $8.00.

The warm up times are as follows:

Friday, July 14th:

    10 & Unders: 8:00 a.m. (Please have your swimmer pool ready by 7:45 a.m. in our crash                       area)

    11 & up: 11:20 a.m. (Please have your swimmer pool ready by 11:05 a.m. in our crash                          area)

    Finals: 5:00 p.m. (all finals swimmers be ready by 4:45 p.m.)

Saturday, July 15th:

    10 & Unders: 7:00 a.m. (Please have your swimmer pool ready by 6:45 a.m. in our crash             area)

    11 & Up: 12:00 p.m. (Please be pool ready by 11:45 a.m. in our crash area)

    Finals: 4:15 p.m. (all finals swimmers be ready by 4:00 p.m.)

This is an outdoor meet, so please be prepared for the elements. The highs are expected to reach into the 90s for both days without the heat index, and there is also a chance for scattered storms. Dress accordingly and stay hydrated!!! You’ll also want to pack a cooler with snacks, food and drinks for your family.

Here is a list of ideal items to bring for the meet:

For the swimmer:

Competition bathing suit

Extra bathing suit

Swim cap

Extra swim cap (these will be for sale for $8 in the STH crash area)

Goggles

Extra pair of goggles

Towel

Extra towels

Change of clothes

Things to occupy time between races: cards, games, frisbee, coloring books, etc.

 

For swimmer's parents:

Chairs

Blankets

Cabana/tent

Tarp (in case the ground is wet)

Hat (We still have STH hats for sale!)

Sunglasses

Sunscreen

Bug spray

Spray bottle with water

Cooler with snacks and waters for your family

 

Best of luck to all of our swimmers! Go Sharks!

 

P.S. The end of the season banquet will be held on Monday, July 17th at 6:00 p.m. at St. Jude on Ashland Terrace with a pool party immediately following at the STH pool. Stay tuned for more info on this event. We look forward to celebrating all of our sharks that night!