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    2025.05.27 Weekly Email - Time Trials and MORE

    May 27th

    Greetings Cary Park Sea Dragon (CPSD) Families!

    Time Trials and Team Photos are on Saturday, May 30th. Time Trials Sign-Up Deadline is Wednesday, May 27th @ midnight. Please RSVP if your athletes are attending or not attending. Swimmers will arrive at Cary Park Pool wearing their swimsuits at 6:45 am. Time trials are expected to last until 11 am (latest noon). Time trials are not mandatory and there will not be make-up time trials. Mini Sea Dragons do not participate in time trials, however, they are welcome to come for the team photo (not required). Please read below for all the important details on the meet schedule, what to bring/wear (team colors for the photo!), arm markings, parking, swimmer and spectator seating, event schedule and heat sheet, and concessions.

    Learn how to Sign-up for Swim Meets: Click HERE. All dual meet sign-ups are open. If you know your athletes will or will not attend meets this season, it is easier to indicate if they are attending/not attending now to avoid missing deadlines. Selections can be changed up until the deadline.

    Swimtopia Mobile App allows families to follow Meet Events during meets. Please make sure you have downloaded Swimtopia Mobile App with Push Notifications. Click HERE to learn more.

    Congratulations to this week’s Sea Dragons of the Week (Click Here or see below). Each week, coaches highlight two swimmers from each age group for their work ethic, team spirit, personal improvement, and/or overall sportsmanship. Please make sure your family home address is accurate in your Swimtopia account. Volunteers place yard signs for Sea Dragon Swimmers of the Week and need accurate addresses. Thanks!

    Interested in volunteering as a Stroke and Turn Judge, Starter, or Meet Administrator (or did you already volunteer)? These specialized volunteer positions require TSA training. A free TSA Clinic will be held at Cary Park Clubhouse on the morning of Saturday, June 6th. Learn more about free TSA Clinics offered for the 2026 season: Click HERE. For questions about these positions, please email the VP of Volunteers ([email protected]).

    Season Long Volunteer Opening (get all your points): We need a Breakdown Coordinator. This position will work all 3 home meets and Time Trials. You will meet the break down crew at the end of the meet and ensure everything is put away etc. There will be training during time trials to make sure the person understands the role.For questions about this positions, please email the VP of Volunteers ([email protected]).

    Upcoming Dates and Deadlines:

    • Time Trials Sign-Up Deadline: Wednesday, May 27th @ midnight
    • Time Trials and Team Photos Saturday, May 30th
    • Team Registration Closes Monday, June 1st
    • Pasta Pump Up Pot Luck Monday, June 8th

    NEW / IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

    HOW TO SIGN-UP FOR SWIM MEETS IN SWIMTOPIA:

    • Log in with your password to the team website.
    • Under the Meets & Events tab, select "Signup Calendar" to sign up for volunteer jobs.
    • Click the green MEET ENTRY tab, and then click the EDIT tab under your athletes' names.
    • For each of your athletes, select an option from the drop-down list next to their names.
      • Attending
      • Not Attending
    • Indicate swimmer’s relay participation status, select an option from the drop-down list for each swimmer:
      • Available for all relays
      • Arriving late, not available for early relays (medley relay)
      • Leaving early, not available for late relays (free relay)
      • Not available for any relays
    • Provide comments to coach regarding swimmer’s event preferences in the textbox.
    • Click Save to record your choices.
    • Pro-tip: All dual meet sign-ups are open. If you know your athletes will or will not attend meets this season, it is easier to indicate if they are attending/not attending now to avoid missing deadlines. Selections can be changed up until the deadline.

    2026 Time Trials and Team Photos - Morning of Saturday, May 30th

    • Time Trials Registration Deadline: Wednesday, May 27th @ midnight
      • Please RSVP if your athletes are attending or not attending.
      • See Meet Sign-Up Instructions Below
    • What:
      • Time trials are a mock meet that provides swimmers the opportunity to practice events and get a baseline time.
      • It is also a training opportunity for parents to learn how a meet is run and to learn about volunteer positions.
      • Time trials are NOT mandatory. If your swimmer is unable to attend time trials, the swimmer will be entered in the first meet using last season’s event time or entered with “no time”. There are NO make-up time trials.
    • Who: All competitive age group Sea Dragons Swimmers (Mini Sea Dragons do not swim Time Trials). Mini Sea Dragons are welcome to come (but not required) to come for team photos only.
    • Where: Home - Cary Park Swim Club, 5353 Cary Glen Blvd, Cary, NC 27519
    • Meet Schedule:
      • 6:45 am:
        • All Swimmers report to the pool wearing their team/red/black swimsuits. Swimmers go directly to their age group tent located under the pergola on the far side of the pool to be staged for photos. Parents will remain outside of the pool deck; coaches will direct swimmers on the deck.
        • All Volunteers report to the volunteer check-in table. (Note: Set-up volunteers arrive earlier at 6:30 am to set up the pool deck.)
      • 7:00 am - Team Photo (no caps or goggles)
      • Warm-ups are immediately following Team Photos by age groups (youngest to oldest)
      • 7:30 am - Timers and Clerk of Course meet in the clubhouse for instructions.
      • 8:00 am - Swim Meet Starts
      • Plan for the meet to run until ~11 am (finish no later than noon)
    • What to Wear:
      • Swimmers arrive in swimsuits; no caps or goggles for the team photo
      • Please wear team gear (black, red, team suits, etc.)
      • After photos, swimmers will put on caps and goggles for warm-ups
    • Swimmer Arm Markings:
      • All swimmers’ arms need to be marked with their last name and swimmer number for identification.
      • Please mark swimmers’ arms prior to event arrival.
      • Left Arm: Last Name (written vertically)
      • Right Arm: Swimmer Number (written vertically)
      • Swimmer Numbers will be posted Here.
      • Pro-tip: Use a permanent marker (Sharpie).
    • Swimmer’s Packing List:
      • Goggles and cap
      • Towel and warm clothes
      • Foldable lawn chair
      • Full water bottle and snacks; some cash for concessions
      • Card games/books
      • Sunscreen
      • Do NOT bring valuables that may get lost
    • Parking:
      • Parking is available in the Cary Pool parking lot.
      • If the parking lot fills up, please park on side streets (do NOT park on Cary Glen Blvd.). Do not block intersections or driveways.
      • Walk or carpool, if convenient.
      • Please drive slowly and watch for children in the parking lot.
    • Swimmer Seating:
      • All Swimmers will sit on the pool deck by age group. Age Group tents will be labeled. Swimmers are encouraged to bring folding chairs to sit on (there will not be chairs on the deck).
      • Starting on the far left (near blocks) under the pergola begins the 6&Under tent and then age groups increase along the side of the pool under the pergola and wrap around the corner with the oldest age groups last.
      • Please see the seating diagram: Click Here
    • Spectator Seating:
      • ALL spectators and non-volunteers will be seated OUTSIDE of the pool fence. Please bring a lawn chair to sit in.
      • Only swimmers, coaches, and volunteers are permitted on the pool deck. Swimmers will be supervised by Dragon Tamer volunteers on the pool deck. Parents cannot sit with swimmers on the pool deck.
      • Parents should check swimmers out with Dragon Tamers, especially the younger age groups.
      • The Wade and Slide Pool will be closed to the swim team during the meet.
      • Please see the seating diagram: Click Here
    • Spectator Viewing:
      • To view your swimmer’s event, please enter the pool deck and proceed to the View and Go Lane. This lane is for parents with swimmers’ in the pool or in the next heat, and to give a hug/high-five immediately after swimmers finish their race. Parents then exit the pool deck to make room for other parents to view.
      • The Porch is also not available for spectator viewing; no parents on the porch during team photos.
      • Please see the seating diagram: Click Here
    • Event Order:
      • Swimmers 7 and up will swim all 4 individual events: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, in that order.
      • Swimmers 6 and under will swim 3 individual events: freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke.
      • There are no relays at time trials.
    • How to Read a Heat Sheet:
      • A heat sheet is a document that lists the order of events at the meet and includes the heat and lane assignments for each swimmer. Coaches, parents, and volunteers use a heat sheet to know who is swimming, when, and where.
      • The heat sheet will be made available to families prior to the meet (usually the day prior). With a premium Swimtopia Mobile Subscription, heat sheets are accessible in the app.
      • For instructions on how to read a heat sheet, please Click Here.
    • How to follow Meet Events with Swimtopia Mobile App:
      • Live Event/Heat Indicator - SwimTopia Mobile displays a Live Event/Heat Indicator that keeps you up-to-date on what’s happening in the pool in real time. The Live Indicator is updated with the current event and heat being swum and is invaluable if you can’t see the pool from your volunteer position or spectator seating.
      • Heat Sheets & Estimated Start Times - With a Premium subscription, users can view the meet’s heat sheets in the app, including estimated start times for each event. As the meet progresses the estimated start times will adjust according to the actual progress of the meet for added accuracy, and with Premium, you’ll receive swim reminders for your favorite swimmers.
      • Try the Premium Subscription for FREE for 7 days, then upgrade for Premium access at $2.99/mo or $9.99/yr.
      • Download the Swimtopia Mobile App:
    • Concessions:
      • Coffee, juice, and muffins will be available for purchase.

    SEASON LONG PHOTOS:

    • If you take any good photos during the season that you want to share, please upload them here
    • Shared photos may appear in the end of season slideshow at the award ceremony!

    SEA DRAGONS OF THE WEEK:

    • Each week, coaches highlight two swimmers from each age group for their work ethic, team spirit, personal improvement, and/or overall sportsmanship.
    • Congratulations to our first Sea Dragon Swimmers of the Week!
      • 6&U - Mona Picart, Aarin Patel
      • 7-8 - Eleni Karakos, Harrison Clark
      • 9-10 - Josie White, Mako Patel
      • 11-12 - Cassie Nieman, Raman Yanusheuski
      • 13-14 - Leila Abraham, Liam Ecker
      • 15+ - Trisha Bhatnagar, Ryan Hahn
      • Note, Minis were not swimming this past week, SDOTW starts next week for this group

    REMINDER/REPEAT INFORMATION

    2026 VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS

    • Each registered family is obligated to complete 12 Volunteer Service Points over the summer swim season unless you ONLY have a Mini Sea Dragon (0 points) or you ONLY have a 15+ swimmer (6 points).
    • Please review the Volunteer Policy and Expectations: Click Here.
    • The list of Volunteer Job Descriptions is posted: Click Here.
    • For each job, please note shift start and end times (volunteers need to report for entire duration), points assigned, and any additional requirements/training for the job.
    • Log in with your password to the team website.
    • Under the Meets & Events tab, select "Signup Calendar" to sign up for volunteer jobs.
    • Click the green JOB SIGNUP tab for a meet/social event and sign up for volunteer shifts for that selected event (note one parent may sign up both parents for jobs -- scroll down and you’ll see the other parent listed).
    • Click Save Assignments.
    • Click Back to Signup Calendar.
    • Click on another green JOB SIGNUP tab for a different meet/social event and sign up. Remember to Click Save Assignments.

    2026 TSA VOLUNTEER TRAINING CLINICS

    • TSA Mega Clinics and Stroke and Turn Clinics provide volunteer training for the following specialized meet positions: Stroke and Turn Judges, Starters, Meet Administrators, and Coaches.
    • TSA is offering free Clinics for the 2026 season. No registration is required; please attend and sign in at the clinic to receive credit for certification.
    • All Stroke & Turn Judges, Starters, and Meet Administrators must attend one clinic.
    • Stroke & Turn judges need to be recertified each year.
    • A free TSA Clinic will be held at Cary Park Clubhouse on the morning of Saturday, June 6th. For all TSA Clinic dates, times, and locations: Click Here
    • Please notify the VP of Volunteers ([email protected]) if you attend and are trained for one of these positions.

    PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

    • The 2026 Practice Schedule and Practice Information are posted to the Team Website.
    • 2026 Practice Schedule: Click Here
    • Practice Information including attendance, conduct, and equipment: Click Here

    MEET SCHEDULE:

    • The dates and locations for dual meets are posted: CLICK HERE.
    • Subscribe to the team Google Calendar to add events to your personal calendar. Google Calendar: CLICK HERE Public URL: CLICK HERE

    SWIM LESSONS:

    Reminder, Swim Lesson Information is also posted to the CPSD Team Website: Click Here

    CPSD TEAM STORE:

    • Purchase Spirit Wear - The team store has moved! We have found a better store with more, higher quality options where you can purchase T-shirts and other swag, with 10% of proceeds going to the team. There are lots of cool items (not just t-shirts and caps)! Team Store

    CPSD TEAM CALENDAR:

    • Subscribe to the team Google Calendar to add events to your personal calendar. Google Calendar: CLICK HERE Public URL: CLICK HERE

    2026 SCHEDULES:

    Practice Schedule:

    • June 15: First Day Morning Practice
    • July 4: Independence Day - No Practice
    • July 17: Last Day Practice
    • July 21: Award Ceremony

    Meet Schedule

    • Tues June 9: Home vs. Seven Oaks
    • Tues June 16: Away vs. University Club
    • Tues June 23: Home vs. Scottish Hills
    • Tues June 30: Away vs. Apex
    • Tues July 7: Home vs. Sunset Ridge (Senior Night)
    • Sat July 11: Cary City Meet
    • Tues July 14: Away vs. Cary Swim Club
    • Wed July 15: Mini Meet (tentative)
    • Sun July 19: TSA Championships

    THANK YOU SPONSORS:

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