RAYS END OF YEAR BANQUET
August 10th, 5:00pm, R. B. Hunt Cafetorium
Click on the button for more information...
St. Augustine YMCA Rays Information
What you need to know about meets....
1. Meets are super fun!
2. Before the Meet
a. Be sure to check the map to know exactly where you are going. Directions to each meet are listed below.
b. Print the heat sheet and mark where your child is swimming. Please don't pay any attention to the names
listed under the relay events...these are just placeholders. Coach will make the relays at warm-up time.
c. Feel free to mark your swimmers before they go to bed. Click here to see how it is done. Please be sure
to follow the rules regarding markings. Swimmers are not to be marked with anything except their
events.
d. Pack your bags the night before.
Swimmers: team suit, extra suit, 2 caps, 2 goggles, 2 towels, clothes to wear between events. Dry
clothes to put on after the meet, plenty to drink and healthy snacks, books, cards, etc.
Parents: plenty to drink, camera, a hat, sunscreen
Siblings: plenty to drink, healthy snacks, sunscreen, tons of stuff to keep them occupied...they will not
be allowed into the water.
e. Also for the car...sleeping bag or seat for the swimmer to rest on between events.
f. Hints for early rising: GO TO BED EARLY!, pack a cooler with breakfast items to eat in the car, GO TO
BED EARLY!, sleep in your meet clothes, GO TO BED EARLY!, pack the car on Friday night, GO TO
BED EARLY!
3. At the Meet
a. Arrive at the meet early enough to find our spot, find the bathrooms, check out the pool and be dressed,
marked and ready to swim at 7:55am. All swimmers, and especially novice swimmers, perform better
and have much more fun if they are not rushed. They need time to dress, become familiar with the
facility, look at the heat sheet, talk to Coach and greet their friends. Please be at the meet early.
b. If you have not marked your swimmer, please help make that happen as soon as you get to the meet.
c. Swimmers should sit together under the designated team tents. Parents should not join the swimmers
under the tent, neither should they encourage the swimmers to come sit with them elsewhere. Siblings
should sit with their parents. Having a "Parents' Area" makes it a real team event. The parents all get
to know each other (think future carpools), and the swimmers always have someone to turn to when
they need help; for example, if Grace's mom went to get a cup of coffee, Forrest's mom can help Grace
find her towel.
d. Blue Group: Blue grouper should report to the deck at 7:55am, ready to swim
e. Red Group: Red groupers should remain under the tents, ready to go, until called to the deck by a coach.
f. Ready area: After warm up, the swimmers will be sent back to the tents to rest. They should put on their t-shirts and shorts and wait to be called for their events. During this waiting time, swimmers must
remain seated, in the shade, in the Ready Area. If a swimmer does not answer the call for an event,
he/she will just miss the opportunity to compete; the wranglers will not go looking for swimmers.
Remaining seated, in the Ready Area between events is a part of being on the swim team. There is no
excuse for a swimmer to be running around the facility. Please be sure your swimmer is where he/she
belongs.
g. Relays: Relays are made up of swimmers who have arrived on time for the meet. Coach will make the
relays and give the names to the wranglers.
h. Viewing Area: Parents may watch the events from the sides of the pool. Parent should not be at either
end of the pool. It is distracting to the swimmers and it interferes with the officials.
i. Results: Please check the results as they are posted. If there is what you believe to be a mistake, please
let Coach know as soon as possible. Mistakes found after the fact are often difficult to fix.
j. Officials: There should be no communication between the Meet Officials and the parents. Only the
Coaches and official Team Wranglers are allowed to speak to the Meet Officials.
4. After the Meet
a. All swimmers should check in with a Coach before changing out of their suits to go home. This is how
we avoid having 3 very sad relay swimmers unable to compete because their 4th has gone home.
b. Please be sure to clean up your area. We want to leave the pool area as we found it.
5. More Information
a. Coach Parkey and Coach Krystal will be found on deck during the meet. You will know where we are
because we very rarely move from our spot once the meet begins. Please save commentary regarding your swimmers performance or the way the meet is being run for another time, but if you need us, you will find us right in our spot!
b. If you need anything before the meet, please text Coach Parkey at 904-347-3240. I tend to go to bed
early, but I am also up very early and will answer you before you are on the road in the morning.
6. Parents and Coaches: We can work together, but we cannot do each other's job.
a. After a race: Please give your swimmer a few moments to think about what they have just accomplished
and to discuss it with a Coach before you talk to them. Please don't be there at the end of the pool when
they finish. Let them walk to you, let them speak first. Praise the effort. Don't offer stroke technique
advice or race strategy to swimmers. Please leave that for the coach. Parents should just show children
lots of love and attention...independent of swimming performance.
b. Try to keep swimmers at a steady emotional level. They are swimming the first of what will be hundreds
if not more races to come. It’s best not to get too “high” or too “low” over any one race. Help them learn
to enjoy competing in each race, because it is fun to swim with others. Teach them (and model this
yourself) to leave each completed race in the past – regardless of the outcome - and move right on to the next one. Parents should see to the comfort and safety of the children, and let the coach do the coaching.
Trust me on this one. Everyone has more fun when the coach does the coaching, and the parents do the
parenting. The swimmers need us both.
7. One Final Random Musing
a. Competition is a wonderful thing. This may well be the first time your young athletes have been a part
of a sport where there are winners and....you know...NOT winners. :) Please help us teach your
swimmers the thrill of victory, the grace of defeat and the of camaraderie of good sportsmanship. We
want our swimmers to want to win, but to also understand that competitors are to be respected and
valued for the important role they play in our swimmers' lives.
1. Meets are super fun!
2. Before the Meet
a. Be sure to check the map to know exactly where you are going. Directions to each meet are listed below.
b. Print the heat sheet and mark where your child is swimming. Please don't pay any attention to the names
listed under the relay events...these are just placeholders. Coach will make the relays at warm-up time.
c. Feel free to mark your swimmers before they go to bed. Click here to see how it is done. Please be sure
to follow the rules regarding markings. Swimmers are not to be marked with anything except their
events.
d. Pack your bags the night before.
Swimmers: team suit, extra suit, 2 caps, 2 goggles, 2 towels, clothes to wear between events. Dry
clothes to put on after the meet, plenty to drink and healthy snacks, books, cards, etc.
Parents: plenty to drink, camera, a hat, sunscreen
Siblings: plenty to drink, healthy snacks, sunscreen, tons of stuff to keep them occupied...they will not
be allowed into the water.
e. Also for the car...sleeping bag or seat for the swimmer to rest on between events.
f. Hints for early rising: GO TO BED EARLY!, pack a cooler with breakfast items to eat in the car, GO TO
BED EARLY!, sleep in your meet clothes, GO TO BED EARLY!, pack the car on Friday night, GO TO
BED EARLY!
3. At the Meet
a. Arrive at the meet early enough to find our spot, find the bathrooms, check out the pool and be dressed,
marked and ready to swim at 7:55am. All swimmers, and especially novice swimmers, perform better
and have much more fun if they are not rushed. They need time to dress, become familiar with the
facility, look at the heat sheet, talk to Coach and greet their friends. Please be at the meet early.
b. If you have not marked your swimmer, please help make that happen as soon as you get to the meet.
c. Swimmers should sit together under the designated team tents. Parents should not join the swimmers
under the tent, neither should they encourage the swimmers to come sit with them elsewhere. Siblings
should sit with their parents. Having a "Parents' Area" makes it a real team event. The parents all get
to know each other (think future carpools), and the swimmers always have someone to turn to when
they need help; for example, if Grace's mom went to get a cup of coffee, Forrest's mom can help Grace
find her towel.
d. Blue Group: Blue grouper should report to the deck at 7:55am, ready to swim
e. Red Group: Red groupers should remain under the tents, ready to go, until called to the deck by a coach.
f. Ready area: After warm up, the swimmers will be sent back to the tents to rest. They should put on their t-shirts and shorts and wait to be called for their events. During this waiting time, swimmers must
remain seated, in the shade, in the Ready Area. If a swimmer does not answer the call for an event,
he/she will just miss the opportunity to compete; the wranglers will not go looking for swimmers.
Remaining seated, in the Ready Area between events is a part of being on the swim team. There is no
excuse for a swimmer to be running around the facility. Please be sure your swimmer is where he/she
belongs.
g. Relays: Relays are made up of swimmers who have arrived on time for the meet. Coach will make the
relays and give the names to the wranglers.
h. Viewing Area: Parents may watch the events from the sides of the pool. Parent should not be at either
end of the pool. It is distracting to the swimmers and it interferes with the officials.
i. Results: Please check the results as they are posted. If there is what you believe to be a mistake, please
let Coach know as soon as possible. Mistakes found after the fact are often difficult to fix.
j. Officials: There should be no communication between the Meet Officials and the parents. Only the
Coaches and official Team Wranglers are allowed to speak to the Meet Officials.
4. After the Meet
a. All swimmers should check in with a Coach before changing out of their suits to go home. This is how
we avoid having 3 very sad relay swimmers unable to compete because their 4th has gone home.
b. Please be sure to clean up your area. We want to leave the pool area as we found it.
5. More Information
a. Coach Parkey and Coach Krystal will be found on deck during the meet. You will know where we are
because we very rarely move from our spot once the meet begins. Please save commentary regarding your swimmers performance or the way the meet is being run for another time, but if you need us, you will find us right in our spot!
b. If you need anything before the meet, please text Coach Parkey at 904-347-3240. I tend to go to bed
early, but I am also up very early and will answer you before you are on the road in the morning.
6. Parents and Coaches: We can work together, but we cannot do each other's job.
a. After a race: Please give your swimmer a few moments to think about what they have just accomplished
and to discuss it with a Coach before you talk to them. Please don't be there at the end of the pool when
they finish. Let them walk to you, let them speak first. Praise the effort. Don't offer stroke technique
advice or race strategy to swimmers. Please leave that for the coach. Parents should just show children
lots of love and attention...independent of swimming performance.
b. Try to keep swimmers at a steady emotional level. They are swimming the first of what will be hundreds
if not more races to come. It’s best not to get too “high” or too “low” over any one race. Help them learn
to enjoy competing in each race, because it is fun to swim with others. Teach them (and model this
yourself) to leave each completed race in the past – regardless of the outcome - and move right on to the next one. Parents should see to the comfort and safety of the children, and let the coach do the coaching.
Trust me on this one. Everyone has more fun when the coach does the coaching, and the parents do the
parenting. The swimmers need us both.
7. One Final Random Musing
a. Competition is a wonderful thing. This may well be the first time your young athletes have been a part
of a sport where there are winners and....you know...NOT winners. :) Please help us teach your
swimmers the thrill of victory, the grace of defeat and the of camaraderie of good sportsmanship. We
want our swimmers to want to win, but to also understand that competitors are to be respected and
valued for the important role they play in our swimmers' lives.
Meet Schedule
(Click on meet for directions)
June 21: Ponte Vedra YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
June 28: Ponte Vedra YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
July 12: Baker YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
July 12 MOVED to: McArthur YMCA, warm-up 8:00am
July 19: Barco-Newton YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
Championship Meet
July 26: Ponte Vedra Warm-up at 8:15am
(Click on meet for directions)
June 21: Ponte Vedra YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
June 28: Ponte Vedra YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
July 12: Baker YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
July 12 MOVED to: McArthur YMCA, warm-up 8:00am
July 19: Barco-Newton YMCA, warm-up at 8:00am
Championship Meet
July 26: Ponte Vedra Warm-up at 8:15am
10 Training Habits
|
1. Support Your Teammates
2. Positive Personal Attitude 3. Effort 4. Listening 5. Be on Time 6. Be informed 7. Streamlines 8. Turns 9. Finishes 10. Wall to Wall |
Swimmer Tricks for Early Rising
|
1. Pack bags and put them in the car Friday night.
2. Pack a cooler with breakfast foods to eat in the car on the way to the meet. 3. Sleep in the clothes you will be wearing to the meet. 4. GO TO BED EARLY. |
