PSA from your friendly relay wrangler:  
You walk to the sign in tent, and there in front of you is that dreaded half sheet of extra work with your name on it. You are a wrangler. WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO? YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THOSE KIDS!

I get it, and, seriously, every parent is in the same boat because even if you know the veteran families, you probably don't know all the new ones. Your swimmer likely does know those other kids, though, and can help. This is a great way to get to know some of the other kids!

Hopefully, these tips will help you understand your role a bit better.

1. When you have wrangled your relay group, you need to bring them to the sign in tent BEFORE going to the clerk of course. The clerk of course and I are checking our sheets with each other all through the process and I need to know that you have your full group or I add to my collection of gray hairs.

2. Lots of kids come straight to the tent to wait for their group. If you can't find a kid or two, check there. 

3. When you come to the tent and see your missing kids, don't assume I know that your group is full. Tell me you are there. Remember, I don't know a lot of you yet, either {parent or swimmer} so please don't rely on my recognizing you or your group. I'm even making my husband do this, and I pretty much always recognize him! 

4. After you have checked in with the relay wrangler {me} and told her how fabulous she is {me again}, take kids 1 and 3 {labeled on your sheet} to their lane on the starting side, and then take kids 2 and 4 to the same lane on other end. You need to stay with them there until the race is over.

If you have any questions, please ask me, Tami Barrett, Geren Mandl or Chet Carbaough. Thanks so much!

RAYS IN THE WATER!!!!!