Please read carefully.  This email has a lot of information for the upcoming champs meet.  I will resend all the info again the week prior to champs.  But here is a heads up of what is to come!  Also I am opening up Volunteering for Champs today.  Due 7/4.

2023 Valley Cabana Swim League Championships On Saturday, July 15th we have the 2023 Championships at Morgan Hill Aquatics Center. This is a very fun and exciting day for our swimmers. They will swim against all of the teams in the league, we have over 700 swimmers coming to the meet. Where? Morgan Hill Aquatics Center (MHAC), 16200 Condit Rd., Morgan Hill, 95037.Directions from Oaktree: (22 min drive)

Take Hwy 85 South turns into 101 South
Exit on E. Dunne and turn Left onto E. Dunne
Take the 1st Right onto Condit Rd. (second stop light)
Go about 0.7 miles, MHAC will be on your LeftWhat Time? Swimmer check-in is at 6:30AM in our team area, look for the Red Canopy. You MUST be checked in by no later than 7:15AM, PLEASE! You risk being scratched from Champs if you are later than that. In case you have an emergency call Liz at 925-899-4025 or text. Please leave a message if I am unable to answer. Where do we sit? We have been given a designated team area at the far end of the windscreen as you walk in (next to the t-shirt vendor) and also a part of the grass area in the back just across the walkway from the t-shirt vendor. This is the same team area as we have sat in many of the past years. We have enough room for everyone, but not enough room for every single family to bring an ez-up. Please share your ez-up with your teammates. Set them up as close together as possible! Facility map is linked here: Champs map You may not set up in the team area on Friday night (only league reps and Set-Up crew can - you know who you are). The facility will open the gates soon after 6:15AM on Saturday morning.You may not set up early. Parking: The parking spots right in front of the Main Entrance are reserved spots, so if you see an orange cone or are told not to park in a certain spot, you may not park there. Parking will be under the solar panels to the far end of the pool. There is a gate to enter from that side. You are all welcome to drop off your swimmer and gear by the main entrance and then move on to an open parking area. We will have parking Marshals directing traffic. We encourage each family to bring only one car or carpool. If you park in one of the businesses across the street be prepared to be towed. Volunteer Info: The Championship Meet begins at 8:30AM. Volunteer Check-in begins at 7:00AM and all volunteers (no matter which shift you are working) must be checked in by 7:30AM. The check-in for parent volunteers will be at the same place as swimmer check-in (team area, Red Canopy). You will check in with our volunteer coordinator, Laura Jackson. You will be given an Oaktree name tag with your shift assignment on it, please wear it. This is the extent of volunteer check-in at Champs. We will know that you are at the meet and ready to work once you have taken your name tag. Please pay attention to when there is a shift change and be at least 5 min. EARLY reporting to your shift. Don't leave your job until someone comes to replace you. If no one replaces you, contact Laura Jackson (773) 607-9571 or Liz Westgate (925) 899-4025. We have had problems in the past with timers NOT paying attention. It is very important for the swimmers to have accurate times, so please PAY ATTENTION! Remember, even a hundredth of a second improvement gives the swimmer the opportunity to help his team earn points. Very Important!  If you were assigned as a CLERK OF THE COURSE or CLERK MARSHALL, then you must attend a MANDATORY meeting (for all shifts). This meeting will take place at the "Clerk of the Course" area at 7:45AM. The STROKE AND TURN JUDGE meeting will start at 7:45AM (see attached map for your meeting spot). There will be NO MARSHALL meeting this year - if you are working as a MARSHALL or PARKING MARSHALL you will receive specific info from me and Chris. If you are a TIMER or RECORDER, your "meeting/instructions" will be given behind the blocks prior to the start of your shift. Please sign up on Swimtopia for a volunteer spot.  RSVP and volunteering will close 7/4. Warm-Ups:Oaktree's warm-ups start at 7:00-7:30AM. We have five (5) Oaktree designated areas in the warm up end of the pool, directly in front of our seating area. NO DIVING without coach supervision! After the meet begins, the warm-down pool will be at the far end of the pool with 2 'buffer lanes' between the competition lanes and warm-down pool (absolutely no swimming in the buffer lanes). This warm-down pool is not a pool to play in, we will have lifeguards and marshals enforcing this rule - please listen to them - they are there to keep you safe.*****SPECIAL NOTE FOR 6 & Under swimmers and some 7/8 swimmers*****Please talk with a coach this week about warm-ups at champs. You are ONLY to warm-up with coach permission as it will be very crowded in the pool. The pool is deep and there will be a lot of swimmers in the lanes, we don't want any swimmers to be hurt or frightened.  MHAC opens to the public at 11:30am. The public will not be using our competition area of the facility, but will be in the adjoining 'water park'. SWIMMERS in Champs, their siblings, friends, etc., are under no circumstances allowed to use or be near the 'water park' or the 25 yard pool on that side of the windscreen. You will have to pass this area to go to the restrooms, which will be fine. We will have marshals patrolling to make sure everyone follows the MHAC rule. Clerk-of-the-Course: The 'bench area' (gathering before event) can be crowded and sometimes chaotic. We ask that only coaches, clerk of the course volunteers and swimmers be in this area. No siblings, friends, or fans of swimmers will be allowed in the bench area. Drop your swimmers off there and go watch them race! The one exception to this is the relays for the 6 & Under, 7/8, as well as 9/10, if you are assigned as a relay escort you may enter this area during relays. Again this year, the meet is pre-seeded so if you buy a program you will know exactly which heat and lane your swimmer will be in. Heat and lane assignments will also be posted in several places throughout the facility, so on Saturday, it is a good idea to write down which heat and lane your swimmer(s) will be in.

Very Important! Please don't send swimmers to the Clerk of the Course too early. Due to crowding, arriving too early can make things just as difficult as coming last minute. We will have an event board near the entrance to the clerk area that will note the event # that needs to report to the clerk area. Please only go to the clerk area when your event # is on the board or being announced. Make sure that towels, sandals, outerwear go with the swimmer to the blocks, they may not be left at the Clerk area because we don't want the added traffic of swimmers returning to pick up left-behind items. 

Whistle Procedure: At Champs we will have a Referee & Starter running the meet. Our swimmers have been practicing this all season and should be very comfortable with the procedure.

What to bring: EZ ups, especially to share. It is always windy in Morgan Hill in the afternoons, so you must bring buckets and bungee cords to secure your shelter. Bring the normal chairs, blankets, towels, hats, sun-screen, and games for the kids. No plastic tarps or tents with bottoms on the grass area. Remember to label all your stuff.

The meet begins at 8:30AM and will probably end with announcements and awards at around 4:00PM. It is a long day so come prepared. We recommend that you make arrangements for younger siblings to stay at home. We expect all families to stay to the end to support our team, and to help with clean-up of our team area. If you are scheduled to 'officially' clean-up, you will have to stay later and clean up the pool deck area. 

Allowed Swimsuits and Caps: If you are not planning on wearing our team suit, then remember that our League follows the USA Swimming guidelines for swimsuits. At Champs you may not wear suits with rubber materials, or suits with zippers. Talk to Eric Perkins before your race if you are not sure if your suit is legal. You will be DQ'd if you are wearing an illegal suit. Wear your team caps only (plain colored or 'shark spirited' caps are ok), no high-school logos or year-round swim team logos are allowed on caps OR suits. We will have Oaktree caps for sale $12.00 each at the meet.

Programs: Programs which show all of the swimmers' heats and lanes (pre-seeded), program ads, Thank You's, and other interesting information are available for $10.00. Sales will take place by the Main Entrance. 

Food: Your meal tickets will be handed out during volunteer check-in. You will take your tickets to the Mr. Pickles truck (by the main entrance) to receive your pre-ordered meals. 

Gear: Don't forget to visit the t-shirt vendor to buy the Commemorative Champs gear.

Watching the Races:  Spectator area is all around the pool deck except for where the coaches' are sitting (only swimmers are allowed by the coaches before and after their races) and behind the blocks. 

Last Minute Thoughts: Please remember that parent volunteers such as YOU run the team and the Valley Cabana Swim League. We have all worked hard to make this day positive and fun for our children. Some of us have been working on the Champs Meet since January. Please keep this in mind if there is any hardship for you or your children during the day please seek direction with understanding and kindness. It is our goal to be helpful. Please emphasize sportsmanship to your children. Treat defeat and victory with the same high dignity. Enjoy this day with your family and teammates. 

Meet Entries and the pool Map will be posted at the pool the week of 7/10. 

HAVE A GREAT CHAMPS MEET, OAKTREE SHARKS!!! 

Top ten (10) placements in each event scores points at Champs, however the way to win Champs will be by improving your times, every swimmer who improves a time scores points for the team! Please let me know if you have any questions! I will resend this info closer to champs as well! 

~ Liz