Hello Divisional Dolphin Families,

This email is to inform you about everything you need to know about Divisionals on Saturday morning. All of the relevant documentation has been uploaded to the Divisionals event page on Swimtopia, but there are some particular items to call out. First of all, for those new to NVSL swim, the Divisionals meet is broken down into two halves. This year the first half of the meet starts promptly at 8:30AM with Event#31, Boys 8&Under 25M Butterfly. After butterfly events are swum there will be a 10 minute warmup for IM, followed by the IM events. After IM events are swum, there will be a 10 minute warmup for freestyle, followed by the freestyle events. There will be an intermission before the second half of the meet which will be followed by backstroke warmups (10 minutes), backstroke events, breaststroke warmups (10 minutes) and finally breaststroke events.

The Meet Timeline
The 2023 Divisionals Timeline document contains everything you need to know about what time your swimmer needs to be to the pool by. Swimmers in the first half of the meet (especially Butterfly and IM) should arrive in the team area, ready to swim no later than 7:45AM. We’ll have a 15 minute team warmup which begins promptly at 8:05AM. Before IM, Free, Breast, and Back there will be a 10 minute warmup for swimmers in those events only. If you plan to come in time for your swimmer events only, plan accordingly by reviewing the “No Earlier Than” start times portion of the document and let either Coach Pat or the team reps know. The “No Earlier Than” times are estimates, and the time the events start. Your swimmer should arrive in time to get to warm-ups and clerk of course. We will try to send out Alerts through Swimtopia on the meet progress.

Swimmer Arrival, Parking, Team Area, and Pool Layout
The Parking and Pool Layout document contains three maps:

• Page 1 covers swimmer drop-off and parking for parking lot pass holders only. You should plan to arrive at the pool (6406 Telegraph Road Alexandria) on Telegraph road such that you're making a right hand turn into the pool parking lot. If you take the beltway you don’t have to think about it. If you take Fairfax County Parkway just be aware that making a left hand turn into the pool lot may take longer.
• Page 2 covers parking. Parking is on the streets in the neighborhood BEHIND the pool. If you navigate to the address on this document (6317 Maryview Street, Alexandra) you will end up at the back gate of the pool where all spectators will enter and exit the pool. To get to the street parking after you drop your swimmer off you will make a right out of the parking lot back onto Telegraph Road and take the next right on Willowood Ln. The Highland Park team rep suggested that if you see an open spot as you approach the pool’s back gate you should take it. Remember to be courteous and not block driveways or fire hydrants. Fairfax law states that cars parked within 10ft of a driveway approach can be ticketed should a homeowner report an infraction.
• Page 3 covers the pool layout. Note that concessions are in front of the pool and tennis courts while the team areas are behind the pool and tennis courts. Greenbriar has team area 6 (our tents will be there). There is plenty of space around the outside of the tennis courts so Highland Park suggested bringing chairs and blankets if you would like to have a place to “stretch out” while waiting for your swimmer’s events. They also suggested bringing bug spray.

Concessions: Food, Beverages, and T-Shirts
On the topic of concessions, they will be available for breakfast and for lunch. They will accept Cash, Credit, and Venmo. Concessions will also have Divisional T-Shirts For Saleavailable on a first-come-first-served basis.

Volunteering
Most volunteer positions have already been filled for the swim meet at our planning meeting last night, but there are a few tasks we could use some help with on Saturday. Please login here and select a task you can do for us.

Meet Program
The other two documents uploaded are the Divisionals Div11 Meet Program with Times and Greenbriar’s latest report of swimmers sorted by last name. Feel free to print them out to follow along at the swim meet. Remember, first half of the meet starts with event #31 and ends with event #10. The second half starts with event #11 and ends with event #30.

Car Decorating
And, while we aren’t hosting a Pep Rally this week at the pool per se, if your car windows need a “sprucing up” to display your Dolphin Swim Team pride, join us for car decorating in the pool parking lot Friday July 21 at 5pm to get our cars ready to travel to Divisionals!

Thanks for reading through this email. All the documents listed above can be found on the Divisionals Signup Page in Swimtopia.  Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you have them.

Team Reps Dan and Rob