Some quick Friday updates and reminders:

CHECK IN TOMORROW AT 6:15 AM

In case of emergency, please call or text Coach Scott: 408-613-5126. Otherwise, we’ll see you all bright and early at the pool. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen…it’s going to be a hot one!

TEAM SUITS AVAILABLE TODAY AT PRACTICE

Our new team suits are here! You can pick yours up tonight (Friday) at practice or tomorrow at the meet. You can also purchase a team cap for $10.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SATURDAY

Please check the Volunteer Assignments list for your assigned shift(s) for this Saturday.

We have the follow positions still open for second shift: women’s bathroom, ribbons, and timer. Please send email to Wendy Marley (marleywl@yahoo.com) ASAP if you can help with any of these.

We are also looking for a parent who is interested in training as a runner. This a great position for someone who likes to be around the action on the pool deck, as you’re walking around delivering all the meet printouts to the volunteers and coaches.

We always need a couple of parents to help escort our youngest swimmers to their spots at the correct end of the pool for the relays. If you have a child under 8 who is in a relay and you are not already working a shift, please plan to shadow them to the clerk of the course and help with getting all the swimmers where they need to be. It only takes a few minutes, and it positions you right there for the race!

ALWAYS CHECK OUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Just one more reminder…always check OUT with the coaches before you leave a meet. Even if you aren’t assigned to a relay, you might be needed as an emergency substitute. And we encourage you to stay to the end so you can cheer for all the relays!

PENGUIN POWER!

Time Trials on Saturday was a great success — thanks to all our swimmers, coaches, and parents for working hard and getting our season off to such a good start!

TIME TRIALS MAKE-UPS TODAY – NO REGULAR PRACTICES

Remember that today (Monday, June 2) is Time Trials Make-Up Day. There are no regular practices. Enjoy your evening off!

Swimmers who did not attend Time Trials (or who did not swim all of their events) must attend Time Trials Make-Up Day today. Please be at the pool and check in with the coaches at 6:00 pm. We need parents to stay to help set up, serve as timers and recorders, and clean up afterwards. We hope to be done no later than 8:00 pm.

THIS WEEK AT PRACTICE

The coaches this week will be working with swimmers on specific focus areas based on what they saw at time trials. They will also be working on relays and getting the whole team “race ready” for the meet against Almaden this weekend.

WILL YOU BE AT THE MEET ON SATURDAY?

If you will not be swimming at the meet this Saturday, or will have to miss any part of the meet, you must let the coaches know TODAY. You can either send email to the coaches (coaches@swimlpac.org) or fill out the “Note to Coaches” form at the pool. You should also notify Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Marley (marleywl@yahoo.com).

In general, please plan to notify both the coaches and the volunteer coordinators at least one week ahead of time if you will be missing a meet. The coaches start assigning events and relays on Mondays, and the volunteer coordinators need to be sure all shifts are covered. So please let us know ASAP if your swimmers will be missing any meets this season.

So far, these are the only swimmers we know will be missing this Saturday (6/7):

• Siena, Sofia and Sarina Seps: Have to leave at noon

 DUAL MEET #1: ALMADEN @ LPAC (SATURDAY, 6/7)

Our first “real” meet of the season will be at home this Saturday against the Almaden Gators — traditionally the toughest team in the league. It’s time to show them our mighty PENGUIN POWER!

MEET CHECK-IN TIME: 6:15 AM (SORRY, THAT’S NOT A TYPO)

We love hosting meets in the friendly confines of our spacious and comfortable penguin home, but there is one drawback: we have to start quite early in the morning. Swimmers need to check in with the coaches starting at 6:15 am. Any swimmers who have not checked in by 6:30 am will be scratched from the meet.

Why do we have to get started so early? There are many reasons. The home team always has first warmups. LPAC’s home pool has only four usable racing lanes, so meets take longer than they do at other pools in the league. And we have to finish and clean up so that the pool can open to its members no later than 2:00 pm. This all adds up to an early start, which means a 6:15 check-in time.

Parents, please be sure your swimmers understand the importance of checking in on time. We had more than 50 swimmers check in late at Time Trials on Saturday. The problem is that any last-minute scratches or changes need to be entered into the computer, and those have to be done early so that all the lane sheets and other reports can be printed out.

It’s really a very simple equation: the meet cannot start on time if our swimmers do not check in on time. We all understand that it’s tough to get up early on a summer Saturday morning, but we’ve all got to do it.

And once you’re there, it’s actually kind of fun. There is something special about the smell of chlorine in the morning — and hanging out with friends watching the day begin!

If your child is ill on Saturday morning and cannot make it to the meet, please call Coach Scott’s cell phone: 408-613-5126.

WHAT TO WEAR

Our LPAC team swim suits should be available by Saturday; check email later this week for more info. All swimmers are encouraged to wear their team suits (or a plain black suit) and new LPAC caps during their races.

Please be aware that the league does have certain rules about what swimmers can (and can’t) wear during meets:

• Swimmers are NOT allowed to wear any other team caps (i.e., caps from year-round swim teams, high school teams, etc.).
• No rash guards or shirts are allowed.
• Girls’ suits must be above the knee and cannot have sleeves.
• Boys must wear jammers or Speedo-style briefs; no full-body suits are allowed.
• No suits with zippers, buckles, hooks, or other mechanical fasteners are allowed. Ties are OK.

If you don’t have one already, caps will be available to purchase for $10 at the announcer’s table during the meet. Team merchandise should also be available to pick up.

MORNING PRACTICES START NEXT WEEK!

We will switch to morning practice times starting next week (June 9). Practice times will be as follows:

• 15-18: 6:45–7:45/8:15* am (*dryland on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
• 12-14: 7:45–8:45/9:15* am (*dryland on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
• 9-11: 8:45–9:30 am
• 8 & under: 9:30–10:15 am

Swimmers who unable to attend morning practices because of school or work commitments may attend night practices, Monday through Thursday from 8:00-9:00 pm. Swimmers must have coaches’ prior permission to attend night practices.

*Swimmers ages 12 and up will also have 30 minutes of dryland exercises immediately after their regular practice times on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Please bring running shoes on these days.

Just a few quick updates before Time Trials tomorrow:

• Yes, there is practice tonight (Friday), though we know a lot of our penguin friends might still be enjoying the Los Paseos Carnival, graduation parties, or other fun events.
• Check-in time for Time Trials is 7:15 am. Swimmers should check in at the coaches’ table (near the shallow end of the pool), and parents need to check in at the Volunteer table outside the main entrance.
• If you want to check your events ahead of time, click on the “Meet Entries” link on the Time Trials web page: https://swimlpac.org/meets/time-trials/
• We’ve also posted a list of the buddy families to the website, so check that out if you haven’t met your buddies yet (or can’t quite remember who they are): https://swimlpac.org/team-info/buddy-families/
• Team merchandise will not be available tomorrow after all, but it should be here by next weekend. We will still have LPAC caps for sale, though.
• Team suits should be available on June 6. Swimmers can wear last year’s LPAC suit or any racing suit for Time Trials tomorrow.

See you all in the morning!