Hi Blue Crabs,

I hope that you have all had a great first three weeks of the season! We are looking forward to our first Dual Meet against the Windsor Knolls Wahoos this Saturday! I just wanted to send along two important notes of information:

First, the Blue Crabs swimmer check-in is from 6:45 to 7:00am. During this time, the coaches will be available to write your event numbers on your hand/arm if you would like. After 7:00, please do not ask the coaches to help you with this, as we will need to run Meet Warmup and then coach the meet. You may be able to find some Junior Coaches and older swimmers who are available to help, and you are also welcome to write it for yourself. While there are many ways to write it, the best suggestion is just to write the event number and description, for Example "#12--25 Free."

Additionally, we will be competing in Relays this week for the first time of the season! I wanted to send a reminder of what to expect when you see the meet program:

For the Medley Relays, four people participate on each team. If you are listed 1st, you are swimming Backstroke. If you are listed 2nd, you are swimming Breaststroke. If you are listed 3rd, you are swimming Butterfly. If you are listed 4th, you are swimming Freestyle. 10 and Under swimmers will each swim a 25 and 11 and Over swimmers will each swim a 50. Please keep in mind that some people may not be in their personal best stroke, but we are asking you to compete in the specified stroke in order to help out the entire team. If you are listed 5-8, you are an Alternate and will only compete if someone else is missing.

For the Freestyle Relays, there is ideally one person per Age Group, but younger swimmers are able to swim in a higher position, if needed. This relay includes FIVE swimmers, so if you are #5, you are officially in the relay, even if the program may incorrectly list you as an Alternate. The first two swimmers listed will swim a 25 and the last three swimmers will swim a 50. If you are listed 6-8, you are an Alternate and will only compete if someone else is missing.

For both sets of Relays, if anyone is missing, we will first replace them by moving someone from the next relay "up," and then we will add an alternate. For example, if someone from the B Relay is missing, we will move someone from the C Relay to the B, we will move someone from the D Relay to the C, and then we will add an Alternate to the D Relay.

Please do your best to stay for the entire meet if you are listed on the Freestyle Relay, regardless of whether you are in the initial five spots or if you are an Alternate. We want to be there to support one another and to put forth our best effort for the team.

I hope that helps to clarify two important parts of the Dual Meet process. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me or one of the other coaches know.

Thanks,

Coach Brad