hi Poolshark Divisional families -

We will have a brief encouraged (but not required) Zoom tomorrow link HERE (Tuesday) morning from 7 - 7:10 AM (yes it is early but trying to catch everyone before the day gets too busy). 

Meeting ID: 822 0765 3660 Passcode: 3R647p

Lots of information for Wed morning. HERE is the ASA Championship landing page that has pretty much everything (heat sheets, handwriters, directions, etc).

*Address: Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center Aquatic Center, 750 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA.

The heat sheets there will list names for kids on relays, however there are sometimes kids that swim faster tonight at our last dual meet, that earn an A relay spot.  If this happens, I will let both families know that are affected by this by Tuesday AM.  

Every Poolshark will be in 1 or 2 relays at Divisionals - this is not always possible but this year the math was able to work.

Security: this is new in 2026.  The GT security team is VERY strict.  They are implementing a 'clear bag' policy this year.  We dealt with this at high school state and the security folks turned me around for having an empty metal water bottle.  Swimmers & team reps (with bullpen signs etc) should be able to go to stands / deck without security check but all spectators will have to follow the clear bag policy.  This is a loooong meet and the concessions lines are long and stadium priced.  I recommend that any home food / drink / water bottles for parents / swimmers, should be in your childs swim bag (since they will not check swim bags).  

Timeline:

7:40 - coaches, families, swimmers arrive to GT - we'll gather on the grass right outside the pool - we'll go over last moment reminders and hand out volunteer arm bands. You may drop your child off if that is helpful.

7:55 - we walk into pool - ASA staggers arrival times for teams - we are set to walk into the Ga Tech natatorium as a team.

8:00 - parents settle in in the stands (girls are racing in the pool closest to the diving well, boys are racing closest to the pool near the scoreboard). Parents are encouraged to wear Venetian spirit wear and sit with one another - so we can represent both in the stands and the pool, while cheering on and supporting all 128 of our Poolsharks.

8:00 - 8:20 - Get settled in our team area - Poolsharks, coaches, and parent bullpen/relay volunteers can be in stands / on deck. Our team area is in the stands (above diving well, sections 201 & 202).

Being in the stands comes with the challenge of having to walk a LONG way to girls & boys bullpens and the pool.  We were in the stands a couple years ago and it was hard to keep track of our kids and make sure they did not miss their race.  Parents - please do your best to support making sure your child is accounted for at all times (in team area, or with our parent volunteers helping trek kids up and down to the pool deck).  

8:15 - we will walk as a team over to the GIRLS pool (near the diving well) to warmup as a team and do a TEAM CHEER

8:25 - 8:40 - we will all warmup together as a team

8:45 - head back to our team area & get ready to race!!!

9:30 - 1:00 - swim meet (swimmers are welcome to stay when their races are over, to cheer for teammates)

1:00 - 2:30 informal Divisional team lunch at Grindhouse in Decatur

General Meet Info:

*This meet is very well run - it is on time, the meet workers generally help make sure all kids get to swim and not miss their races. At the same time, the meet especially at the beginning with the relays may feel hectic. This is a big environment, the blocks & walls are different, the pool can be hard to get out of, the water and air is cold, and the referees are very strict. Our team goal is for our kids to have a positive, fun, and competitive experience representing the Poolsharks in a championship environment.

*Swimtopia app not working this meet - results will be posted on Meet Mobile which i think is ~ $5 fee. Meet Mobile is the go to results app for club level swimming (this is what all club teams like Dynamo & Dekalb Aquatics use for meet results)

*Awards - The top 30 swimmers will receive awards for each championship session. Medals will be provided for the top 10 individual finishers and top 3 relays in each championship session; ribbons will be provided for all other places. Awards will be stuffed into ribbon boxes on Wed night, ready for pickup Thurs AM. There are always a few missing ribbons each meet (ASA volunteers are stuffing almost 5,000 ribbons/medals into 15 different team boxes, and mistakes happen). These are fixable mistakes - if your child is missing an award, please let me know (do not contact Ga Tech or the league director), and we will can usually find that ribbon/medal.

*Parking passes HERE are sold out right now but there are several Park Mobile & Ga Tech parking garages available within ~ 5 min walk from the pool.

*Thank you to everyone who has volunteered - we did not post jobs as most volunteer roles are specific to age groups / ASA required roles for us to fill.

*Post Meet Lunch - we'd love for age groups to coordinate an informal post meet lunch / get together, our team usually goes to Decatur Grindhouse (I have given the manager a heads up for our crew to be there from ~ 1 - 2:30 pm).

*Relays - we may have a few changes to relays based on times from tonights last dual meet - all parents of kids affected will be contacted - if I do not reach out to you, your child's relays are what it says in the heat sheet / handwriters (posted on ASA's championship page).

*Order of Events for ASA Championship

1. 6 & Under Free Relays - All 6 & Unders should go to the bullpen as soon as they are done swimming their relays to get lined up for their freestyle swim.
2. All Medley Relays
3. 6& Under 25 Free - All 6 & Unders swimming the backstroke should go to the bullpen as soon as they are done swimming freestyle to get lined up for their backstroke swim.
4. All Remaining Freestyle Relay Events
5. 6 & Under Backstroke - After this event the 6 & Unders are done swimming.
6. All Remaining individual events (Short Free, Long Free, Back, IM, Breast, Fly)

The one thing that does remain intact are the actual event numbers used in a regular ASA meet. So event 13 (6 and under girls free) will be followed by event 77 (7-8 girls 100 Free Relay) based on the info above.

With that in mind, I am providing a link to a cheat sheet of sorts. If you click on ASA Divisional Order of Events it will provide you the order of events and the event numbers that go along with it.

The lane numbers at Georgia Tech are from 0 through 9 (not 1 through 10). Lane 0 is located closest to the window side of the pool, lane 9 is located near the spectator seating.

Live Streaming for grandparents/family/friends wanting to watch - coverage of all sessions will be available free of charge. ASA will have a link HERE to the webcast.

*ASA Championship tshirts/hoodies - these will be for sale at prices like you see at music concerts (~ $80 for a hoodie)

*Professional Photos - this company HERE does a great job of taking high res action photos

If you have any questions, please reach out via email or text/phone call (404.630.1440).

Have Fun, Race Hard, Do Your Best, Go Poolsharks!

- Beth

[email protected]