SUGARWOOD STINGRAYS

Parent Volunteers

• Volunteers are an integral part in the continued success of the Sugarwood Stingrays organization. Swim Meets are 100% volunteer run. At least one parent is required to serve at each meet your swimmers are attending.
• It is VERY important that you attend the meets you and your swimmer sign up for. This is a team sport. When swimmers or volunteers don't show up, it causes many problems for coaches, volunteers and most importantly the other swimmers.
• Don't worry if you've never volunteered before, you will be trained prior to the start of the meet on your position.
• **Please check out the Parent Info tab for more information.

What to Bring to a Swim Meet

• Patience - swim meets can be hot and take several hours
• For your swimmer- Goggles, swim cap, towel, extra clothes, water and/or sports drink, snacks, sunscreen. (Sometimes an extra set of goggles is helpful in case yours leak or the elastic breaks)
• Black Sharpie - to write swimmers' events on their arm and name and age on back right shoulder 
• Printed Heat Sheet- you may want to print the heat sheet at home or have the ability to look it up on your phone. Heat sheets will be emailed day of the meet. 
• Lawn chairs and blanket (optional)
• Tent/canopy (optional)
• Sunscreen and hats/visors 
• Cooler with food and drinks
• Cards, books and games to help pass the time between events
• Money for concessions.

Prior to the start of meet you or your child needs a black sharpie to write:

• The event #, Heat #, Lane #, stroke and if a relay write which number they are in the relay and what stroke they are swimming
• On the back right shoulder, each swimmer needs their name and age.

Example:

Questions and Concerns

If you have a question, complaint, or suggestion, please bring it to a board of directors attention. Please, do not attempt to discuss it with the coach during practice. The coach's attention must be devoted to the swimmers. If the board of director is not available at practice, and you don't think you can wait to contact a member via email or phone, please wait to discuss things with the coach after practice. These same rules also apply during swim meets.

Please click on meet entry form when it’s available to indicate which meets your swimmer(s) will participate in. If there are changes, please let the coach know in advance of the meet. When the coach anticipates a swimmer will swim at a meet, along with individual events, a swimmer may also be included in a relay. If the swimmer doesn't show up, the swimmer is letting down three other swimmers as well as the team.

Please read the following information carefully:

1. Please provide us advanced notice in writing when your swimmer will miss a meet. Rearranging a meet line-up is very difficult at the last minute when swimmers do not show. As team rosters for the Smoky Mountain and City Meets have to be submitted weeks in advance and substitutions are not allowed in these meets, it is especially important to let the coach know if your swimmer cannot attend.
2. NEVER leave a meet early without informing the coaches. There may be a last minute change and your swimmer may be needed to swim.
3. Please be on time for all meets and practices. Swimmers should be at the pool at least 30 minutes before warmups is scheduled to begin. This gives swimmers time to set up in the tent area, find out what events they will be swimming and familiarize themselves with the pool during warm-ups. Parents should help their swimmers check-in and then report to the work assignment for which they volunteered.
4. Dual meets last from 3-4 hours. The Smoky Mountain and City Meet are daylong events. Daylong events require that the swimmers arrive early (usually before 8 a.m.) for warm-ups.
5. Storm policy. Swimmers will not be allowed to remain in or by the pool during an electrical storm. As soon as officials announce the interruption of the meet, parents should take their swimmer to a safe place. No one may leave the meet until the swimmers are given permission to leave by the coach. (Don't just assume the meet will be called off if the delay seems long, as rescheduling a meet is very difficult).
6. Substitutions are prohibited in Smoky and City Meets. If your swimmer is in a relay at either meet and cannot swim, the entire relay team will be disqualified (DQ). In the City Meet, not only do we forfeit the entry fee for any swimmer who does not show up, but we also pay a penalty fee for each no-show