GCSTO Holiday Meet Coaches & Families
GCSTO Holiday Meet Coaches & Families,
We look forward to seeing everyone at the meet this weekend. If you could please send the following to your participating families it would be appreciated:
Salvation Army Holiday Cheer Event
We are asking all participants to reach down into their pockets and help out a child this holiday season by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to donate to this worthy cause. We will have 2 collection areas… one will be at the heat sheet sales table located just inside the doors as you enter from the east side of the facility and one will be right at our concession stand in the wrestling room. Please consider bringing in something so that our goal of 300 presents donated to this charity is achieved. Last year we delivered over 200 gifts to the Salvation Army Holiday Cheer! PLEASE HELP US OUT AND BRING ON IN A GIFT!
Parking
Please remember to park on the east side of our facility which is on the opposite side of the facility from the football field without exception.There is a lot on the west side of the facility but that is not to be used so that it remains clear for Academy functions as there will be SEVERAL of those going on this weekend. Again, no matter what there is to be no pick-up, drop-off or parking anywhere but the east side of the facility.
Warm-Ups Times
Here are the assigned warm-up time periods (these have been adjusted to ensure that we have plenty of room for athletes to safely warm-up in the pool):
MEET SCHEDULE:
Friday: Open warm-ups 5:00 - 5:55 P.M.
Meet Starts: 6:05 P.M.
Saturday A.M. Sessions: All GCSTO swimmers & PHST female swimmers 7:30-7:55 a.m./ All FAST, LTPY, MW & WAC swimmers & PHST male swimmers 7:55 - 8:20A.M./ All UASC & USA swimmers 8:20-8:45 A.M./Open warm-ups 8:45-8:55 A.M. (lanes 1, 2, 5 & 6 are one-way sprints/lanes 3 & 4 are general warm-ups)
Meet Starts:9:05 A.M.
Sunday A.M. Sessions: All UASC & USA swimmers 7:30-7:55 a.m./ All GCSTO swimmers & PHST female swimmers 7:55 - 8:20A.M./ All FAST, LTPY, MW & WAC swimmers & PHST male swimmers 8:20-8:45 A.M./Open warm-ups 8:45-8:55 A.M. (lanes 1, 2, 5 & 6 are one-way sprints/lanes 3 & 4 are general warm-ups)
Meet Starts:9:05 A.M.
Meet Operations
Relays: We will NOT run any relays due to the size of the meet.
IM’s:We will deck seed the200 IM’s & 200 frees at the meet. All other events will be pre-seeded.
Off-Limit Areas – The area in between the Academy basketball gyms on the lower level are off limits at all times during the course of the meet to meet participants or spectators.
No Spectators On Deck – Please remember that only, coaches, meet personal and athletes are to be on deck at any USA Swimming sanctioned event.
Wheelchair Access – Anyone needing wheelchair access should contact their head coach, in advance, so that arrangements can be made with meet management for access to the venue.
Deck Entries – We will take deck entries into open lanes only. Please be prepared to pay with cash or check on the spot to do so.
No Heavy or Breakable Items In the First Two Rows of the Balcony Please – Twice we’ve had instances of something being unintentionally dropped over the balcony edge. Last year an Ipad hit an athlete and caused a concussion in that athlete. Please… no items like this in the front two rows of the bleachers for the safety of all those on deck. Thanks!
No Peanuts at the Pool – We’re running a peanut free environment to help ensure the safety of any competitors with peanut allergies so please do not bring peanuts/peanut products into the event. THANKS!
Clothing – Please bring plenty of towels & extra dry clothes to ensure that your athletes stay as warm as possible at all times as, even with the heat the facility has, it can get cold in hallways and such due to folks coming in and out of the meet.
Flyover starts – We will use flyover starts for all events except the backstroke events.
Wrestling Mats In Athlete Area – Please remind your athlete’s that they are to remain off of the wrestling mats at all times.
Bull-Pen Area – Please be reminded that only athletes, coaches and bull-pen volunteers are to be inside the bull-pen at any time. Parents & spectators are to remain out of that area at all times to help us ensure athlete safety and efficient bull-pen operations.
Heat Sheet Sales
We will have the heat sheets for sale in the foyer as you enter into the facility from that east side parking lot. The heat sheet cost will be approximately $8 for the entire meet’s events. Please do your best to bring exact change for this if you would!
Vendors
GCSTO Booster Club Concessions – We will have our concession stand set up in the athlete rest area (Academy’s Barton or Wrestling Room) with plenty of food and drinks to meet your needs on Saturday & Sunday.
Equipment Vendors – Aquatic Adventures Outdoors ( will be at the meet Saturday and Sunday for your vending needs.
Thanks… and PLEASE don’t forget to bring in a gift to donate to the efforts of the Salvation Army’s Holiday Cheer event!
GCSTO