Down with Friendswood!!

Avast, lads and lassies, we are getting’ ready to show our stuff to them scallywags, FAST from the land of Friendswood.

This one will be an Away Meet at Stevenson Park behind Friendswood City Hall as we flog them, so all hands on deck.  Click here for some bits of info like events (entries up by end of day Thursday or early Friday), directions, and other stuff.  You best observe all parking signs.  If you are going to be a no show, you best be letting me Clerk of Course know immediately, or else.  If it is before 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, you can be sendin’ Jo Ann one of them new-fangled e-mails (jo_annsprague@hotmail.com).  After 5:30 a.m., call her on the horn at 832-264-0589 (and be prepared to leave a message with your child’s name, age and your lily-livered excuses).  Please do not call this number for any other reason, unless you be wantin’ to walk the plank.

Bring your doubloons for grub and grog.  They may be scallywags, but they lay out a good spread.  Or you can be bringin’ your own stuff since this is not our ship.

If comfort is what you’re after, you yellow-bellied blaggard, then bring tents, blankets, sleeping bags, air mattresses, pillows, two towels, goggles, swim cap, change of clothes, and entertainment.  We will be settin’ up outside, but a little sun never hurt a Pirate, especially if they have sunscreen & hats!  And you best be bringin’ your Pirate Spirit . . . and that includes your team suit and team cap.

We will begin check-in at 6:45 a.m.  We will end check-in at 7:15 a.m.  Don’t be late or you will be keelhauled and scratched.  To check in, look for the junior cap’n.  They will be in place to circle your name, give you your event stickers, and write your event numbers on your arm.  Don’t even think about gettin’ all cozy in your spot before you get those lads and lassies checked in.

We throw the lads and lassies into the pool around 7:20 a.m.  Those that don’t sink we pull out to race the bilge-suckin’ FAST. 

And now for some bad news or as I like to call it . . . crew entertainment . . .  If you sign up for a meet and you fail to attend without informing the Clerk, your swimmer will be penalized by sitting out one meet and the parents will be swabbing decks.  If you sign up for a meet, attend the meet and leave before your events are finished without letting the Clerk know, then your swimmer will be penalized two meets, and the parents will be kissing the gunner’s daughter.  I hate to punish the lads and lassies, but I loves me a good floggin’.

Remember you are responsible for getting your child to the Ready Area in time for their events by keeping track of me official event board by the pool.  As a courtesy, we try to help you do this by announcing what races are lining up and by updating the white erase board in our area.  However, it is ultimately you and your swimmer’s responsibility.  Me Matey might be comin’ ‘round with a bullhorn to get your attention.  You best be givin’ it to him.  And I don’t have just one Matey with a bullhorn; I have two Mateys with a bullhorn.  They are both a bit addled, so you best behave.

If you are assigned a task on me ship, you best be showing up, or me Mateys will feed you to the fish.  If you are unable to make your commitment, you will need to be in contact with your Chairperson.  If your child gets sick and you call into the Clerk to let her know, you will still need to contact your Chair to let them know.

Time to set sail, Pirates!  Fair winds and God speed, me hearties!

On Behalf of Your Cap’n,

Bosun Genine

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My apologies to those who don’t speak fluent Pirate.  The above message has been translated below in the Queen’s English.

It’s time for us to show our stuff to Friendswood this weekend.  It will be an Away Meet at Stevenson Park ( Behind Friendswood City Hall ).  Please observe all parking signs. Click here to see what events your swimmer will be in (posted on Thursday or Friday), directions to the meet, and some useful information regarding the meet.  If your swimmer is unable to swim in his or her event(s), you must let the Clerk of Course know immediately.  If it is before 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, you can send Jo Ann an e-mail (jo_annsprague@hotmail.com).  After 5:30 a.m., call her at 832-264-0589 (and be prepared to leave a clear message with your child’s name and age and brief reason for missing).  Please do not call this number for any other reason or at any other time.

We will be setting up outdoors.  Please bring tents, sunscreen, hats, blankets, sleeping bags, air mattresses and pillows.  The spectator area pool-side has some seating, but we ask that, as a courtesy, parents only go in there to watch their kids swim and then return to their tents.  Concessions will be available or you may bring your own food and drinks.  Bring plenty of water for your kids.

We will begin check-in at 6:45 a.m.  We will end check-in at 7:15 a.m.  We will not allow any swimmer to check in after 7:15 a.m.  Please do not be late.  We will begin our warm-ups at 7:20 a.m.  To check in, look for the junior coaches around the area where we will be setting up our tent city.  They will be in place to circle your name, give you your event stickers, and write your event numbers on your arm.  Make sure you are aware of where the pool is before Saturday morning.  The directions are on the website.  Give yourself at least 30 minutes to get there and park.

We will begin our warm-ups at 7:20 a.m.  Please have your child poolside by this time with their swim caps and goggles on.  You will also need to have someone nearby to give them a towel when they get out.

If you sign up for a meet and you fail to attend, your swimmer will be penalized by sitting out one meet.  If you sign up for a meet, attend the meet, and leave before your events are finished without letting the Clerk know, then your swimmer will be penalized two meets.

Remember you are responsible for getting your child to the Ready Area in time for their events by keeping track of the official event board by the pool.  As a courtesy, we try to help you do this by announcing what races are lining up and by updating the white erase board in our area.  However, it is ultimately you and your swimmer’s responsibility.

If you are volunteering during this meet, please show up to your assigned spot before your time.  If you are unable to make your commitment, you will need to be in contact with your Chairperson.  If your child gets sick and you call into the Clerk to let her know, you will still need to contact your Chair to let them know.

Thanks for all you are doing for the Pearland Swim Team.  We are very blessed to have such a great group of swimmers and volunteers!