Hello Gators,

Attached is the heat sheet for today's meet. Spectator parents- you will need to print your own heat sheets if you want them.  I'll have heat sheets for the age group helpers, coaches, stroke and turn judges and scorers.  I've circled the events that will be combined this evening.  If you are new to swimming, if two events are combined it just means they will line up at the blocks at the same time for their assigned lanes.  The most popular events to combine are relays, IM and distance free (100 or 50 for 10 and under).

I've also attached a document called "events by athlete" so you can quickly look up your child's events without having to scan the heat sheet.  Use this to mark your child with their events.  Please also write their name and age on their back.  Pro tip- apply sunscreen BEFORE you write on them with sharpie.  Otherwise the sunscreen will ruin all of your hard work.  Only adults and coaches are to use sharpies on site at the meet.  Please refrain from allowing kids to tatoo themselves with our markers.  We need them to last through the season!

Tonight might be chilly for swimmers!  Please bring towels and/or sweatshirts for them to wear between events.

Please encourage your kids to swim the events they have been assigned.  I had thoughtful discussions with the coaches about event entries.  Sydney and I worked on these last night.  Remember, this is the first meet of the season.  No one is expecting perfection.  We are setting bench marks for improvement over the next weeks.  If your swimmer is put in an event that is not their favorite, please encourage them to just try their best for their team.  Remember, every swim counts and we are all cheering each other on!  The greatest growth comes from struggle!

Those are all my thoughts for now.  See you all tonight!

Go Gators!

Karen