Hello OBST families,

Tomorrow is THE day! I am redistributing our e-mail from last week with a couple minor updates. Please take time to read all of the information below regarding meet protocol and other details in order for Tuesday's home meet to be a success.

Tuesday is NOT a practice. This is the first invitational swim meet we are to host at our facility. A parent or guardian MUST be present for the duration of the meet. If you cannot be here, your child will not be allowed to compete. Doors to the facility will open at 4 p.m. Please enter the facility through the front doors or the side gate to the back right of the property. The gate entrance will be outlined with barricades and signage for easy recognition and clear access.

All OBST athletes are to be ready to hop in for warm-up lanes 4-6 at 4:15 p.m. sharp! GSST will warm-up in lanes 1-3 from 4:15-4:45 p.m. and CFST will have the entire pool from 4:45-5:15 p.m. The meet will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.

Swimmers are welcome to utilize the deep end of the pool to cool down from races, but if swimmers hang out or horseplay occurs, our lifeguards will shut it down.

If you are bringing a tent, please set up your tent outside the fence line. You will be able to come in and out through the aforementioned gate. If you are simply bringing chairs, you may sit on deck. The area from clerk-of-course, behind the blocks, and past the timing console will be open access to athletes, coaches, and volunteers ONLY. The kiddie pool area will remain closed.

Volunteers are necessary to the fluidity of this meet's function. If you are able to, please sign up for a position via SwimTopia by clicking the sign-up calendar, scroll to the home meet event, and proceed to the "jobs" button. We will particularly need timers and additional hands for clerk-of-course. Volunteers will meet with me and/or aquatic center staff at 4:45 p.m. at clerk-of-course (covered pavillion) for an intro meeting.

We have secured the food truck, SugarLove! Food will begin to be available around 4:30 p.m. We have prepared the food truck for a crowd of 260+. Please be prepared with appropriate snacks and beverages for your athlete and family, if necessary. We will have water bottles available/distributed to all volunteers on deck.

OBST merch and swim caps will be for sale at the front desk of the aquatics center if interested.

Our restrooms will be open to all attendees, however, the shower/changing rooms will be strictly available to athletes ONLY per USA Swimming Safe Sport. Please be respectful of that policy or you will be asked to leave the facility.

I will have heat sheets sent to you for self-printing this weekend -- or latest Monday afternoon -- entries are due from visiting teams on Saturday. This meet will also publish to Meet Mobile. A limited amount of paper copies will be available at the front desk.

Lastly, there is going to be major traffic and road closures on Tuesday and throughout the week on Canal Rd due to the bridge construction. If coming from Gulf Shores or off of HWY 59, I would consider leaving a bit earlier than usual to take Beach Blvd around to the pool from 161 instead. 

We also were informed that the road behind the pool (Walker Ln) will be closed to traffic. Please park anywhere within the recreation campus parking lot i.e. EE lot, fitness center lot, etc.

Got grit? Be loud, proud and let's swim our hearts out!

Best,

Coach Dakota