2023 TMST Parent Meeting

May 18, 2023

We are excited to kick off our 2023 summer swim season. Our goal is to strengthen your child’s swimming skills while instilling a lifelong love for water.

ALL Handouts from the meeting are included in the email as well as found online here:

• 2023 Board Members:
  • Christine Bathgate, President
  • Emily Culver
  • Jayme Everhart, Treasurer
  • Brandon Ellis
  • Lauren Vore
• 2023 Coaching Staff:
  • Erin Gutman, Head Coach
  • Michael Galloway
  • Aislyn Hull, Renee Masin, & Kyle Eilerman are assisting coaches
• Lost & Found (not mentioned in meeting)
  • See Board members if you have lost cap, goggles, etc. We already have a small collection
  • We also have items available to borrow if you forget yours!
• Spirit Store:
  • Store is open until Sunday, May 21 at midnight – place your order!
  • Spirit wear will be delivered by June 7 in advance of our first meet on June 8
  • https://torpedos.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
• Swim-A-Thon Fundraiser:
  • Fundraiser held on June 1
  • Each swimmer should raise funds
  • Will have one hour to swim lanes – parents asked to count laps
  • We will have a pasta party along with Swim-A-Thon
    • TMST will provide the pasta
    • We will ask families to sign up for sides, desserts and drinks here
  • Form found here as well as attached to email
• Chipotle Dine to Donate:
  • Saturday, June 3 from 4-8 pm
  • Chipotle Vandalia 275 E National Rd, Vandalia, OH 45377
  • Flyer found here as well as attached to email
• Team Pictures:
  • June 6 from 7-9 pm
  • Group photo at 7:45 pm
  • Can order & pay online, but you also need to fill out the order form and bring to the event
  • Individual photos before and after group photos
  • Practice will be “optional” that evening
  • Form found here as well as attached to email
• Blue Container with Family Folders:
  • Arranged by swimmer last name
  • Swimmers ribbons and pictures are placed in the folders
  • Available during every outdoor practice at Board table
• RSVP for Meets:
  • Parents determine which meets the child will swim; Coaches will determine what events the child swims
  • RSVP yes or no – don’t assume we know your response
  • If you don’t RSVP, we can’t assume ... you will be bombarded with messages
  • Need help RSVPing? We can help!
  • You can actually RSVP for all meets now
  • Championship Meet is not like the rest of the meets
    • We can only take 2 swimmers per event
    • Coaches will determine who swims
    • Will be held in Versailles
    • Swimmers are only allowed to swim in 3 events and 2 relays
  • If your child is sick day of a meet, please:
    • Email: tippmonroeswimteam@gmail.com
    • Or send message via Remind (see below)
• Swim Meet Volunteer positions:
  • If you have questions about your volunteer position, please ask a Board Member
  • Having parents pay attention to the events and listening to what event is being called will help the meet run smoothly and help the volunteers
  • New position:
    • Swimmer Organizer: Volunteer will help ensure kids are in the right event, heat & lane
  • Positions: (Split into shifts) first (Event 1-46) and second (47-86) 8&U finished by event 46:
    • Set Up Crew: Help set up the home meets; arrive 45 minutes prior to warm ups
    • Bullpen: “child wrangling” – round up swimmers to walk them to clerk of course
    • Clerk of Course: arrange swimmer in event/heat/lane
    • Timers: use stopwatch to time each event; assigned a lane
    • Runner: Collects timesheets & DQ’s and submits to Scorer
    • Stroke and Turn: Ensure rules are followed by swimmers
    • Scorer: Enters times & DQs into the system; prints results & ribbon labels
    • Ribbon Writer: Helps put stickers on the ribbons & put in team bag
    • Announcer: Speaks on microphone to announce event in water & swimmers to bullpen
    • Starter: Operates starting system to begin each race
    • Clean Up Crew: Clean up pool area after the swim meet is over
  • More Detailed information regarding volunteer positions found within the team manual here.
• Swim Meet Survival Guide:
  • Gear:
    • Swimmer: Mesh bag, goggles (and extras), swim caps, towels (multiple), flip flops, blanket for ground or chair, cash for concession stand, Sharpie to write on arm
    • Parents: Chairs, Sports-brella, Sunscreen
  • Activities:
    • Cards, games, books, electronics
    • Snacks:
    • Drinks – stay hydrated
  • Food – apples, granola bars – things that won’t melt!
  • Money for concession stand – not all locations accept credit cards!
  • Arrive 20-30 minutes before warm ups to set up your area and be ready to get in the water at least 5 minutes before warm ups.
  • You can leave after your swimmers last event as long as your volunteer position is completed
  • More swim meet tips found here
• Heat Sheet:
  • Typically sent out 12-24 hours before the meet
  • Looking online, you can search for your last name to easily find events
  • Medley Order: Back, Breast, Fly, Free – goes across then down on heat sheet
  • IM Order: Fly, Back, Breast, Free
• How to write on arms:
  • Information found here as well as attached to email
  • Use a Sharpie to write on arm
  • Should write prior to arriving to the meet
  • You’ll want to record the Event, Heat, Lane and Stroke for each swim

• Mock Meet:
  • May 30
  • Goal: To get kids comfortable with how the meet is run
  • We will use starters and blocks
  • 12&Unders: 25 yard & 13&Up 50 yards (update from meeting)
• Darke County Meet
  • Invited TMST to a large county meet – could run very long
  • Each swimmer can swim up to 4 individual events
  • Participants must pay per event – Payment TBD
  • RSVP via website
• MEET SCHEDULE: (TIMES ARE MEET START; WARM UP TIME will be 15-30 minutes PRIOR to meet start)
  • Tuesday, May 30 5:00 pm MOCK MEET @ Troy YMCA
  • Thursday, June 8, 6:00 pm HOME vs Versailles
  • Thursday, June 15, 6:00 pm HOME vs Minster
  • Thursday, June 22, 6:00 pm AWAY @ Botkins
  • Saturday, June 24, 9:00 am AWAY @ Greenville Invitational (warmups TBD; could be as early as 7:30 am)
  • Saturday, July 1, 8:30 am HOME vs Bellefontaine
  • Saturday, July 8, 8:30 am AWAY @ Troy
• Remind App
  • Join the Remind Group Tipp Monroe Swim Team (@TippSwim)
  • Text @TippSwim to 81010
  • We will send weather communications and team updates via Remind
• Weather
  • We work with the pool to make weather-related decisions
  • However, if lightening is sighted, we do have to wait 30 minutes before we can enter the water
  • If a meet is cancelled due to weather, it is up to the home team to decide if a make up date is planned

Website: tippmonroeswimteam.swimtopia.com

Facebook: facebook.com/TippMonroeSwimTeam

Email: tippmonroeswimteam@gmail.com

Remind: @tippswim (Required for weather related updates)

Do you have additional questions? Please reach out to a Board Member. We are available at every practice, or you can email at: tippmonroeswimteam@gmail.com.

See you at the pool!