NewsSplash: Spirit Store closes on Tuesday, Picture Day Reminder, Time Trials Registration Deadline, Otters 8/Unders

Jill Magno

Hi Team,

 

Great news!  The High School season is basically over so the pool will be much less crowded moving forward!!!  Thank you for patiently sharing lanes with the big kids for the past month!!!  

 

Spirit Wear Store

  • Our Spirit Wear Store will be open through  Tuesday, May 6th.  Get your orders in NOW so that you will have your spirit wear in time for the competitive season!  The styles are super modern and fun!!!  
  • The store will close at midnight!!!

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Team Photos Reminder

  • Team photos are scheduled for Friday, May 16th beginning at 3:30.  We ll take individual and group photos.
  • Order forms and an online order link will be available before picture day.  
  • Team suits will be distributed before  Picture Day. Team shirts will be distributed on Picture Day (to be worn in the team photo.)  Team shirts were included in the cost of registration.  

 

Time Trials Registration Deadline

  • The deadline to commit to Time Trials is Saturday, May 10th.  Make sure to register your swimmer or they will not be added to the meet roster!!!
  • Time Trials is the first "meet" of the season.  There is no opposing team; it is just us.  It has the feel of a meet without the pressure of a meet.  Swimmers will get their base times for the season in every individual event that they are capable of swimming.  There will not be relays.  
  • Our junior coaches can be in the water to help our non-independent swimmers safely across the pool.  
  • To commit or decline to attend a meet:
    • First, SIGN IN TO THE WEBSITE!!!!
    • Click on the “Events & Meets” tab at the top of the webpage--note you must click on "Events and Meets" so that the calendar opens up.  You can not register from the drop-down menu. 
    • Find the event/meet you want to register for.  Click the "Edit Commitment" button for the meet/event you want to commit to.
    • Click on the name of your swimmer
    • Select whether your swimmer will or will not attend the meet.  
    • Don't forget to hit "Save" at the end!!!

 

Otters 8/Unders Invitational--only pertinent to 6/unders and 7/8's

  • Registration for Otters 8/Unders Invitational opens on Monday, May 5th and closes Thursday, May 15th.  No late entries are accepted.  
  • Participating in this meet is the best way for our littlest Stingrays to get the competitive bug and to eliminate early season jitters.  All 8/unders are highly encouraged to attend.  It is also a good way for new swim parents to learn how a meet works.  Coaches are allowed in the water for our non-independent swimmers.
  • Invitationals have a different registration process from regular dual meets.  You do not register online.  Print this registration form if you can (we will have a limited number of forms on deck if you do not have a printer.)  Fill it out and drop it in the black mail box attached to the family folder cart.  All invitationals have a separate registration fee. To pay:
    • ​Make a check payable to "Benicia Stingrays", make a note with "Otters" and "swimmer's name" and attach it to your registration form OR
    • Pay via Zelle to treasurer@bsrswim.org and make a note in the payment with "Otters" and "swimmer's name".  Note on your registration form that you paid via Zelle.  
    • Do not pay via Venmo or PayPal
    • Do not turn in your registration form without attaching a check or paying via Zelle first
  • The family folder cart is a mini shopping cart that contains our family folders.  Each family has a labeled folder.  As the season progresses, flyers, awards, etc are placed in the folders for you to collect.  It will be on the pool deck near the large green recycle bin.  
  • Otters Meet Info
    • ​Date:  Sunday, June 1st
    • Warmups:  Gates open at 7:30am
    • Meet Schedule:  Meet started at 8:40 last year, it ends by 10:30-11:00
    • Location:  Rankin Aquatic Center, 100 Buckley Street, Martinez
    • Volunteer shifts:  ALL families will have one volunteer shift assigned to them.  Your job assignment will be emailed to you a day or two before the meet.  Shifts are mostly timer positions (start and stop a stopwatch), a few shepherds (organizing the kids for their events) and 1-2 stroke and turn jobs (only assigned to trained judges).  Failure to complete your shift results in your $150 volunteer deposit being taken from your account and the credit card on file will be billed $150 to replace this deposit.  
    • Relays:  Your swimmer MAY be assigned to a relay.  The coaches make this decision and the team pays for any relay entries.  
    • Per swimmer, there is a "splash fee" (meet entry fee) of $6.  Each event registered for is an additional $6 per event. If a swimmer is swimming 4 events, it is a $6 splash fee plus $24 event fees =  $30.  This is paid by you.  
  • If you do not know what events to register your swimmer, sign them up for everything that they are capable of swimming.  Most of the kids can swim freestyle and backstroke.  If you are unsure if they can swim breaststroke or butterfly, ask the coaches before you register. 
  • Questions:  email fundraising@bsrswim.org. Otters coordinators are Andrea Meaders, Krista Heredia, and Jeanne Woodford.