6/21 Meet at Clover Hill – 8120 Glendale Drive, Frederick MD (located within the neighborhood of Clover Hill). Coaches arrive 6:45 AM. Swimmers arrive 7:05 AM. Hood warmup is at 7:25-7:50 AM. Meet starts at 8 AM. The pool is outside, 6 lanes, 25 meters, and does not have starting blocks. Individual events will always start at the deep end. Relays with swimmers starting their leg in the shallow end will start in the water (no diving). Do not leave the meet without checking in with a coach to make sure your swimmer is not needed for a relay. 

Good sportsmanship is expected from everyone. Unsportsmanlike behavior and lack of adherence to rules will not be tolerated and should be brought to the attention of Team Reps immediately. Meets are for the swimmers, and we appreciate everyone’s help in keeping things positive and laid back.

The meet will be longer than the first meet. We also have a number of long-term volunteers that are away this weekend. Even if you are not sure what swimming or meets are all about, please step up to help. You will have more fun at the meet, and we can’t do it without you.

Please sign up to volunteer if you haven’t already! Beth will not be there this weekend, so you will check in with Shannon when you arrive. I can see that we are still in need of: Clerk Helper in Team Area, Clerk of Course 2^nd half, stroke and turn (2^nd Half), time sheet runner (both halfs), and 2 timers (2^nd half). We will also need either an additional stroke and turn volunteer or one of the current stroke and turn volunteers to be willing to step into the referee or starter position. If you are trained/willing to try starting or being ref, please reach out to Shannon or Beth ([email protected]) right away. Lots of folks our regular starters and refs have other obligations this weekend, so we will need folks from both teams to step up and try it out. We cannot run a meet without these positions being filled, and we will hold up the meet until they are filled if folks do not volunteer ahead of time. Everyone that is volunteering must check in by the start of the meet.

Suits/Caps/Goggles: Information about apparel is on the Hammerheads webpage on the apparel tab after you log in. Swimmers are not required to wear the team suit or cap, but it does help us to identify them and feel like a team. Wearing a suit from a prior season is totally OK! Well-fitting suits work best, and our team colors are red, white, and blue. Tie-back suits are not allowed at all; technical suits are not allowed for 12 and under swimmers (Plus, it’s summer league! No need to wear an uncomfortable suit!). Swimmers generally must not wear caps or suits representing another team.

Parking: You will need to allow some extra time for parking, and note the areas available on the attached map. Parking is tight. Please consider carpooling. Please park only in these lots (see attached map and coordinates below). Please do not park in front of residential homes, in front of the Clover Hill Clubhouse, or on the grass except in spots designated by our parking lot attendants. Please plan to arrive by the time noted above.

The Springhill Parking Lot: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VBpvaWPLJypwdVsU6?g_st=ic...

The East Parking Lot: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sFmmmdavDTyRmRgt9?g_st=ic

Warmups: Our warmup time is 7:25. Coming to warmups is very important so that swimmers can settle any nerves and make sure that they are ready for their events. Every pool is slightly different; warmups let the swimmers figure out some of those differences before their races.

Team seating: There will be seating for Hood on part of the lawn surrounding the pool and in front of the pool bathhouse. Teams/Families will need to provide their own shade. Space is limited, please share your tents. Tents may be set up on Saturday morning only. Please pick up any trash. We appreciate everyone’s assistance in keeping the area clean.

Coach Area: The coaches’ area is on deck next to the starter. Coaches should bring their own chairs. Hood will bring a team tent for coaches.

Volunteering: First, thank you! Second, check in with Beth Reiten at the volunteer table near Clerk of Course as soon as you arrive. This will make everyone breathe a little easier. If we do not have enough volunteers, we cannot run the meet. Thus, if you haven’t signed up for a volunteer position and there is a need, you may be asked to step in. Please help to clean up as much as you can after the meet is concluded.

Spectators: Only swimmers, coaches and on-deck volunteers may be behind the pool blocks and in the clerk of course area. Spectators have great viewing of the meet on two sides of the pool but are asked to stay behind the yellow rope. Good sportsmanship is expected from everyone. Meets are for the swimmers, and we appreciate everyone’s help in keeping things positive.

Getting swimmers to events: Listen/watch for your child’s event to be called to Clerk of Course. We will also have a volunteer in the team seating area to help identify swimmers who should be going to Clerk of Course. When it is called, children go to the tent to line up. Volunteers at Clerk of Course will help them get into the appropriate places for their events. It is helpful to write the event, heat, and lane on swimmers’ hand, arm, or leg so that the swimmer can quickly check their information. This is often written with a Sharpie. This information will be sent out as a ‘handwriters’ attachment closer to the meet (often Friday night). For new folks, you want to mark your swimmer to look like the picture where the numbers represent the event, heat, and lane of the races the swimmer is in.

If you’re not sure what to do for your swimmer, coaches and other parents will help you on Saturday morning. If you have a child that often gets nervous and forgets what they’re supposed to do, you might also want to write the amount they are swimming as well as the stroke to help them remember. No parents are allowed in Clerk of Course unless the swimmer has accommodations. Adults of swimmers needing accommodations should identify themselves to Shannon Kundey ([email protected]) as soon as possible so that both team reps are aware. Parents in Clerk of Course make it very difficult to move the meet along and ultimately lead swimmers to be nervous. If parents stay out of Clerk of Course, the kids talk to each other and have a much better time. Coaches and junior coaches will be available to help out swimmers who are feeling especially nervous. Just let Shannon Kundey ([email protected]) know that they need a buddy.

Restrooms/locker rooms: Located in the pool bathhouse

Cameras: No cameras are allowed behind the blocks.

Meeting times on Saturday morning for various volunteer positions:

Stroke & Turn: 7:30 inside the clubhouse

Timers: 7:40 start end of pool

Clerk of Course (not including Team Seating Area Clerk Helper): 7:45 large tent at the back of the pol where swimmers stage

Clerk Team Seating Area Helper: See Shannon Kundey ([email protected]) at 7:45

Coaches (scratch meeting): 7:50 coaches tent in the pool area

What do I do if my swimmer can no longer attend? Let us know right away via email. We know things happen at the last minute, but the team has a deadline to ‘scratch’ swimmers who cannot compete to avoid penalties. Please do not leave the meet until you have checked in with a coach to make sure you are not needed for a relay. 

Programs: Programs are not sold at the meet. We will send them via email when they are available if you would like to print off a copy. They will also use the Meet Mobile app to post meet information. Meet Mobile is an app available for mobile devices that is used at many swim meets to provide information about events, heats, and lanes as well as results. You may wish to download and install the app prior to the day of the meet.

Food & Fun: The Hurricanes’ concession stand will offer a light menu with items donuts, coffee, candy, water, drinks, etc. The concession stand is cash only. They will have three food trucks located in front of the clubhouse: Tom’s Coffee, Cooking with Greece, Kona Ice. You are also welcome to bring your own snacks, and we encourage you to bring things for your swimmers to do in between events. Please do not let them go out of the pool area until they are done with their events. We also encourage safe sun practices, but keep in mind that sunscreen does take off Sharpie!