Dear Parents,

This email contains VITAL info about TIME TRIALS (6/6) + TEAM SUITS + VOLUNTEERING! It’s a looooong one, but please read until the end.

TIME TRIALS

!! MOST IMPORTANT !!: Mark availability for Time Trials! Your swimmers WILL NOT SWIM–unless you tell us they are coming. No response is a "no."

WHAT IS TIME TRIALS?

Time trials is a swim meet, but it’s just for Merrimack swimmers. Swimmers practice swimming in a meet setting and record a time for each event. This allows coaches to plan the first A meet. It also allows volunteers to learn on the job.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO FOR TIME TRIALS?

• RSVP YOUR SWIMMER BY MONDAY NIGHT

1. GO HERE and click “Meet Entry”
2. MARK “AVAILABLE” OR “UNAVAILABLE” for EACH swimmer.
3. While you’re at it, sign up for ALL MEETS.

• VOLUNTEER: SIGN UP FOR A ROLE in Meet Sign-ups. New parents should sign up to be timers–it is a great way to learn the ropes. Each lane has three timers so you won’t be alone! There’s no opposing team to help fill slots. So, all families are needed!
• SHOW UP ON TIME.

WHAT IF I HAVE TO RSVP “NO” TO TIME TRIALS? Your swimmer will not be eligible for the first A Meet. We don’t offer makeup time trials during the week, but they can get baseline times at the first B meet on June 17.

TIME TRIALS SCHEDULE

• ARRIVE AT MERRIMACK by 8 am.
  • 8:00 am - 8:20 am : Warm ups for 11 and older swimmers only
  • 8:20 am - 8:30 am: Optional warm ups for 8&U and 9-10
  • Events run 8:40 am - 11:30 am.

TEAM SUITS

• TEAM SUITS for sale: 8-11am ONLY
• Sport Fair (swim specialty store) will have a ONE-TIME POOLSIDE POP-UP SHOP. Swimmers can try on suits and the representatives can help with sizing.
• We encourage ALL swimmers to buy a team suit + good goggles.

DO SWIMSUITS REALLY MATTER?

• Yes! Board shorts, swim shirts, and ruffled two pieces are great for playing in the pool but really stink for swimming. All of that extra fabric drags in the water and makes your swimmer work extra hard! Buy a team suit or any well-fitted suit.

THE WEEK AHEAD

• MONDAY through THURSDAY: Afternoon practices continue. See schedules HERE
• MONDAY 6/1: 11:59pm - DEADLINE to SIGN UP for TIME TRIALS.
• SATURDAY 6/6: TIME TRIALS - 8 am to 11:30 am

REMINDERS

• LONG HAIR? Coach Elizabeth requires swimmers wear a swim cap and have hair tightly pulled back away from their face. If you need help with caps, ask our coaches or older swimmers for their tricks! Please have your caps and goggles on and adjusted before practice starts.
• To create a strong Merrimack community, we request that swimmers don’t wear caps from other club teams.
• We follow MCSL rules for all meets, which require only plain or Merrimack team logos on suits and caps. No club logos. Also, no tie-back suits during meets.

FAQs

• WHAT IF THE WEATHER LOOKS BAD?
  • Practice continues in light rain and cool temperatures, but will be delayed or canceled due to thunder or downpours. We’ll email early and often so you know either way. Follow the Merrimack Pool Twitter feed for weather updates and pool closures.
• WHEN CAN I TALK TO THE COACHES?
  • For safety reasons, please do not talk to coaches during or between practices. They’re watching your kids! Instead, email your team reps [email protected].

MORE QUESTIONS?

• Our WEBSITE is PACKED with info and check out our SWIM MEET FAQ’s.

See you at the pool,

Anne and Anna (B meet reps)

Elena and Chris (A meet reps)