Piranha News and A-Meet Entries for Saturday's Meet
THE NVSL SEASON BEGINS…OUR FIRST AWAY A-MEET IS THIS SATURDAY AND OUR SECOND B-MEET IS AT PARKLAWN POOL ON MONDAY NIGHT
Bring on the meets! Attached is the meet sheet for our first A-Meet at Mosby Woods! Don’t forget to make your B-Meet selections by Saturday at 3 PM on Swimtopia.
Four FYIs FOR THIS WEEK: 1) There is a TON going on Friday – Picture Day, Parklawn Refresher Clinic for NVSL Certified Stroke & Turn Judges & Our First Friday Night Grill –Swimmers (with their 2022 Team “Light Blue” Shirt on over their team suits) must arrive by 5:45 PM for the team photo. Meet at the Basketball Court. Individual pictures will be taken earlier starting at 4:45 PM if you are interested. Don’t worry about dinner – our grill will be open! We will have popsicles after the team picture. 2) Sign up to volunteer for Meets – If your swimmer is swimming in a meet, one parent from each family is expected to volunteer at the meet. To sign up for a job, log on to Swimtopia, click on the calendar tab, and next to Time Trials you will see a green button that says "Job Signup". Click on that button and then the blue “Sign Up for Jobs” Button, and let us know what you can do. Here is a handy link too: https://parklawnswimteam.swimtopia.com/swim_meets/376553/shift_assignment. If you have any questions, not sure how to volunteer at meets, or have any trouble with Swimtopia, please reach out to Caroline Molina or Karen Corbett. 3) Parents, we need your help bringing on the fun: We still need volunteers for Friday’s popsicles gathering after Team Pictures: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0445A5AE29A1FC1-peprally. Questions – please reach out to Ali Supple and Kelsey Gutierrez, our Pep Rally and Social chairs.
SWIM TEAM ACTIVITIES IN THE UPCOMING WEEK
Team & Individual Pictures, Friday Night Grill & Stroke & Turn Clinic – Friday June 17. This will be a busy night and the line up is as follows:
4:45 PM – Individual swim team pictures will be taken starting at 4:45 and ending by 5:45 PM. This is for families who are interested in having individual or sibling pictures taken. You will receive a link to your photos next week and you can order your photos and other items, such as fridge magnets – Parklawn favorite for many years, coffee cups and more. For more information: Swim Team Picture Day
5:30 PM – Mini-Stroke & Turn clinic for Certified S&T Officials. Look for Brad & Katie on deck. This is only for parents who are certified Stroke & Turn Judges and have taken the NVSL training within the last 2 years to attend this clinic. It is meant to be a refresher and/or reinforcement to the NVSL S&T training as opposed to a replacement.
5:45 PM– Swimmers must arrive with their 2022 team t-shirt on over their suits and go to the basketball court. See FYI #1 above. The team will have popsicles after the team pictures, and our “Bigs and Littles” will meet up then for those who were not able to attend our rainy pizza party last week.
6:00 PM– Friday Night Grill – Make it easy on yourself and have dinner at the pool this Friday night while supplies last! Our team will be selling hamburgers, brats, veggie burgers and hotdogs. Each are $5. Make it a combo— add chips & a drink for just $1 more 😋. Support our team and avoid the Friday night dinner hassle! This event is for the entire hungry Parklawn Pool population!
Away A-Meet “Rock the Green” on Saturday, June 18 at Mosby Woods (3136 Plantation Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22030). We are looking forward to our first Division 11 meet! Please see attached meet sheet and entries by name for the list of swimmers participating in this meet.
A-Meet Selection Process. We only place three swimmers from our team in each individual event (based on their times); each swimmer can swim up to two individual events. Given the number of swimmers in certain age groups, many of our Piranhas may not swim in an A-meet. At least six swimmers are selected for each age group/gender to swim at an A-meet. For our swimmers who have aged up (i.e., being a 9-year-old in the 9/10 age group), this is considered their “minor” year. Often the swimmers who are a year older swim in the A-meet because they are faster and stronger. If you have questions about seeding, please reach out to Coach Dan, Coach Gypsy or the Molifes.
Swimmers are expected to arrive by 8:10 AM and be ready to warm-up (caps & goggles on). Mosby Woods is approximately 30 minutes away from the pool; plan accordingly. Warm-ups start at 8:20 AM; the meets starts at 9:00 AM. Swimmers must arrive prior to warm-up (and warm-up with the team) to participate in the meet; otherwise the swimmer will be scratched for the entire meet. Please note that the swimmers listed to be in a relay team is subject to change, especially the assigned stroke. Swimmers should seek feedback about their races from Coach Dan, John & Gypsy who are on deck. Our meet theme is ROCK THE GREEN so be sure to add some green gear on top of your Parklawn T-shirt or hoodie to complete your look. Green beads, tutus, hats, wigs – you name it – as long as it is green. Post A-Meet lunch will be at District Taco (5275-C Leesburg Pike, Falls Church VA 22041).
And one parent from each family is expected to volunteer: See FYI #2 above. If your child is swimming, we expect on parent from each family to be volunteering: A few quick reminders about volunteer positions:
●Marshal volunteers must arrive when swimmers are expected to arrive. We can’t start warm-ups without our marshals.
●Timers, Stroke & Turn Judges, and Clerk of Course volunteers should arrive 30 minutes before the meet starts. Timers have a meeting with the Chief Timer and Stroke & Turn Judges will have a meeting with the Referee before the national anthem.
NVSL Meet Weather Policy. We will delay for 30 minutes if there is thunder and follow the pool rules. NVSL meets (including A-meets, Relay Carnival and Divisionals) are never cancelled; only delayed. Arrive on time and wait in your car if needed. We will send delay announcements via TeamSnap.
Morning Practices Only Starting June 20 – Monday through Friday. We are trying to keep the deck with the blue umbrellas and black chairs near the diving well available as much as possible for divers and swimmers. Another tip – have your swimmers arrive with a bag – backpack, drawstring bag, or swim bag – that has all of the stuff they need for practices and meets – towel, cap, extra hair ties for long hair, a couple of pairs of goggles (trust us, they will lose at least one pair this summer), extra swimsuit, water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, and snacks.
Home B-Meet “Sweet Dreams at the Pool” on Monday, June 20 against Dowden Terrace Pool at Parklawn Pool. Our second B-meet of the season is at home – Parklawn Pool. Swimmers should arrive by 4:50 PM with caps and googles on; warm-ups start at 5:00 PM. Swimmers should arrive through the back gate near the Basketball Court. Show your team spirit by wearing your Piranhas gear (T-shirts, hoodies, etc.). Also, this meet’s theme is “Sweet Dreams at the Pool.” Throw on your Piranha PJ pants, wear comfy pajamas, etc. Which Piranha will rock the most positive energy and sportsmanship at our first home B-meet? Lollipop Kickboard Races will be held before the meet starts; arrive by 5:30 PM if you have a little one who would like to swim in the kickboard race. Swimmers should seek feedback about their races from Coach Dan, Kevin & John who are on deck.
At this meet, swimmers may swim two events (free, back, breast, fly) plus IM if they are eligible. If you are hoping to improve your IM time before the July 3rd IM Carnival, you should swim IM at this meet. Coaches decide whether swimmers are eligible to swim back, breast, fly and IM. Swimmers who placed 1st or 2nd in an individual event at Saturday’s A-meet are NOT permitted to swim that stroke at this B-meet. Swimmers must select the strokes that they wish to swim by Saturday, June 18 at 3 PM on Swimtopia. Coaches will review & approve the strokes prior to the B-meet.
And one parent from each family is expected to volunteer: See FYI #2 above.
Also, Parklawn families should park in the field to accommodate our swim meet opponents who will primarily park in the main parking lot since they will be less familiar with our parking patterns. This will enable us to have maximum capacity at minimal congestion. Please note: The playground, basketball court and baby pool are closed during swim meets, including warm-up.
AND WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Sunday Morning Clinic Led by Coach Kevin
Coach Kevin is leading a 40-minute clinic for the 11 & Up Swimmers on Sunday. Coach Kevin will be focusing on starts, breakouts, finishes and turns. Clinic Runs until July 10 (No Clinic on July 3):
From 8:00 to 8:40 AM - 11/12 Swimmers
From 8:40 to 9:20 AM - 13/14 Swimmers
From 9:20 to 10 AM - 15-18 Swimmers
This clinic is limited to 11/12, 13/14 and 15-18 swimmers who have legal times from 2021 or 2022 in all four strokes for their age group as of June 11. Swimmers must commit to attending 3 out of 4 sessions. Sign-up is first come and first served at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4AA5A929A0FF2-sunday. Swimmers who no-show or cancel (unless there is a good reason) will be suspended from the program.
Afternoon Clinics Led by Coach Armi. Coach Armi is leading afternoon clinics on Tuesdays & Thursdays between 1:30 and 3:00 PM. These clinics will focus on swimmers who were recommended by our coaches for some extra technique work and for some additional coaching to address DQs. These clinics are for the 9/10 and 8U swimmers.