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Conference Meet 2009
Conference 2009, Meet Details
Conference is August 8th and 9th at Acalanes High School.
Conference 101: The Nuts and Bolts
Jobs: Conference is a big, confusing meet. If you're working the meet, please show up on time. Check in 30 minutes prior to your shift with Clint Shaw (Saturday) or Jenna Krook (Sunday). If you have hired a sub, please let Mary Docktor know PRIOR to this weekend. All Conference subs must be 18 years or older.
Equipment:
Please make sure your swimmers have a cap, a good set of goggles and a tight (no drag) swim suit for Conference. These can make a big difference in the way a child swims. The coaches have noticed some stretched, ragged suits and goggles which are slowing our swimmers down. Our kids will perform better in proper, well-fitting equipment. Yes, the end of the season is upon us but consider it an investment for next year.
Regarding suits:
The Walnut Creek Swim Conference voted to follow the USA Swimming Rules Guidelines for approved swimwear. A full description of the rules can be found at USASwimming.org. The Conference rules themselves are posted under 'Definition of Meets'. Violation of these rules will result in disqualification.
What is Conference?
Conference is the championship meet of the Walnut Creek Swim Conference. It's by far our most important meet of the season. New this year: Saturday's events are (in order) free prelims, breast prelims, IM finals (for 11s and up), free finals, breast finals and the medley relay. Sunday's events are back prelims, fly prelims, IM finals (7-10s), back finals, fly finals and the free relay. The last events conclude around 4:00. We encourage you to stay until the end to cheer on our relay teams. There are so many exciting finishes, it's fun to watch!
Arrival:
Everyone should show up Saturday morning by 7:10 for the team cheer and warm up. We have the first cheer of the day again this year: 7:20 (yikes!!!) A spirit prize will again be awarded. With good sportsmanship, loud cheers and Seahorse pride, we can win the day!
Parking: Parking is tight at Acalanes. Allow plenty of time to find a spot. Free parking is available in the Acalanes lots (other than the gated area used for vendors and officials) and the gravel lot outside of Springbrook Pool. Parking is permitted in the "parking area along the west side of Acalanes adjacent to Pleasant Hill Road" but there is no parking in the bike lane in front of the school. No other off street parking is allowed. Be sure to follow the street parking signs. Unauthorized cars may be towed or ticketed.
Warm ups: Saturday: Our warm ups begin at 7:45, following the 7:20 cheer. Everyone should be present to show our Seahorse spirit. Our warm up lanes are 6 and 7. Again, the coaches want everyone there for Saturday's warm ups. Sunday: Sunday's warm-ups begin at 7:15 and we're in lanes 8 and 9. If your child isn't swimming until later in the morning and you wish to skip the official warm-up, talk to a coach. After the meet begins, swimmers can warm up in the designated pool (generaly recommended within an hour of a scheduled race). Young children using the warm up pool should be supervised by an adult at all times. Please note: "three-point entries" are mandatory. If your swimmer doesn't know what a three-point entry is, he or she should consult a coach by Friday. No starts or dives are permitted in this pool. Individual Events:
Each child has been entered in two individual events. In general, the two fastest IM swimmers of each gender in each age group (7 and up) also will swim the IM. If you are uncertain whether your child will be swimming the IM, please check with a coach. Unlike any of the dual meets or City Meet, Conference has both preliminary and final heats. Prelims are run in the morning, finals in the afternoon. After each preliminary event (e.g., freestyle), results are posted. The top twenty swimmers swim a second time, the fastest ten in one heat (called "finals") and the next ten in another (called consulation finals or "consuls"). Do NOT leave the pool until you know whether your swimmer has qualified for a second swim. (There are always surprises at this meet!) Further, if your child is an alternate, be sure to report to the Clerk of the Course and don't leave until all the swimmers are seated. Every year, many swimmers fail to make it to the Clerk of the Course on time and are disqualified from their second swim. Don't make this mistake! It is really fun for the children to swim in finals. In addition, the team earns points for each second swim completed successfully!
Relays:
There will be an A and a B relay for each age group and each gender, except in those instances where we don't have eight swimmers of a particular age and gender. New this year: the B relays are scored. The tentative relay teams (with alternates) will be posted at the pool this week. They will also be posted in our team area at Acalanes. The coaches have discretion to modify relays as they see fit. The free relay will not be finalized until after the freestyle events on Saturday. Look for an email Saturday night listing the final free relay teams. Check in before leaving the meet to make sure your child hasn't been added to a relay. It is very important that all children ultimately slated for a relay are present and ready to swim. A child who fails to do so risks disappointing every other swimmer on the relay and on our team. Also, the relays are so exciting your child won't want to miss out.
Clerk of the Course:
There are no shepherds working at this meet. Parents are responsible for the timely check in of their own children to the clerk of the course (a "holding tank" where all swimmers of an age group are seated while waiting for their event). An announcement is made when the clerk of the course begins to seat a particular event but it is difficult to hear the announcement from our distant team area. Be on the watch to make sure your children get in on time! If your child isn't properly checked in, he or she will not be permitted to swim.
*Marking:
all 10 and under swimmers must be pre-marked on their left shoulders with name, stroke, heat and lane. The shoulders should be marked as shown in the illustration in the Conference Meet Program (and also in the clerk of the course area). This is new this year. Bring a sharpie to the meet.
*Order of events:
IMs will be swum AFTER prelims each morning. 6 & under swimmers are expected to check in to the Clerk at 8:00 and 7/8s by 8:20 if swimming the first event of the day (Free on Saturday; Back on Sunday). This is new this year
Regarding consuls and finals, "once seated, a swimmer must remain seated or the swimmer may be considered not checked in and replaced by an alternate when the heat is about to be released."
The point of the foregoing is this: please make sure your child gets to the clerk of the course on time and stays seated once there!
Team Area:
Our team area at Acalanes is the hallway between rooms 401 and 505. Out team is large but our team area is not. Please be respectful of your neighbors: make room for them on the grass and in the hallways. There is also a designated area inside the pool facility where the team can sit to watch the races. Look for DPST! Please note that the viewing area is shared: courteous, respectful behavior is appreciated by all.
Sportsmanship:
The Conference rules (and common courtesy) require good sportsmanship. The rules state: "All swimmers, coaches and parents are expected to behave responsibly and respectfully." Inappropriate behavior may result in disqualification or ejection from the premises.
Miscellaneous:
*No artificial noisemakers are allowed in the stands.
*Blue masking tape must be used to post signs. NO duct tape or zip ties are allowed. Nothing may be placed on the floors.
*First Aid: The first aid kit will be located at Lifeguard Station at the Main Entrance.
* Lost and Found: Lost and found will be located next to the Lifeguard Station at the Main Entrance. Stuff will be pitched at the end of the day Sunday.
* Children must be monitored at all times. No one is allowed on building equipment, stairways and roofs.
* Glass containers, BBQs and pets are prohibited.
Well, that's it for Conference. We hope you're all in good spirits and ready to
PUSH IT TO THE LIMITS!
Thanks for all your hard work. It's been a great summer. Let's go out with a bang!!!!
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