We are quickly approaching the first swim meets of the season. For our new swimmers this will be a new experience, which can be a little overwhelming. All of our Mustang swimmers are encouraged to participate in the meets. Meets give meaning to all of the lessons taught by the coaches and hours put into training. If swimmers or parents ever have any questions concerning which meets or events to enter, please ask the swimmer’s coach. The following are some frequently asked questions about the meet experience.

1. What time should the swimmer arrive at the swim meet?

The entry meet information lists a warmup time for the swim meet. This is the time the swimmer should be ready to swim at the pool. Warmup is a time to acquaint yourself with a new pool, loosen muscles to avoid cramping while racing, and to work away pre-race jitters. Coaches will also try to put together relays at most meets, so it is important to be on time and to check in with the coach as soon as you get to the meet.

2. How does a swimmer prepare for the swim meet?

The best preparation for a swim meet is to attend swim practice as often as possible and not just a week before the swim meet! The coach will be working with the swimmer to prepare him/her adequately for the meet. Parents can help the swimmers get adequate rest and healthy nutrition.

3. Do I need to write a check for the entry fee to submit with the entry?

No, every swimmer should have funded a meet account. If you do not remember establishing such an account, you need to check with Coach Doug Moyse. When you enter meets, the entry fee is automatically deducted from your meet account. You may want to keep copies of your entry forms so you can verify the amounts deducted from your meet account. Although you will be billed if you deplete your meet account, when you know your meet account is running low, you should deposit more money into it so you always have sufficient funds for meet entry fees. Checks for this purpose can be left in the appropriate basket/folder at each workout location. Always note what the check is for in the memo space so that it can be applied to the appropriate account.

4. What should a swimmer bring to a meet?

First, the swimmer should check that they have two swim suits (in case of an unfortunate tear), two swim caps, and two well-fitting pairs of goggles. Mustangs should always try to wear a team suit, and if a cap is worn, it needs to be a team cap at meets. Winter meets can be very cold, especially for young ones, so always bring a t-shirt, sweatsuit, or something else in which to keep warm. Even early morning spring meets can be cold. In the summer, still bring a t-shirt and wind or gym shorts. Summer swimming outside requires sunblock and many swimmers like tinted goggles when they are swimming backstroke. Always bring at least two towels. Some swimmers bring sleeping bags or mats to lay on in between events. Parents should always bring folding chairs (just keep it in the trunk of the car) since many pools are short of seating. Seating at pools is usually bleacher seating so parents may also want to bring a stadium seat to support their backs.

5. What does it mean when a meet information form says check-in is required?

Check-in is very important and should be the first thing a swimmer or parent does upon arriving at the meet. Every meet has a different system regarding check-in. Somewhere in the pool area there will be sheets posted on a wall under a sign saying check-in. Sometimes you have to check a swimmer in under each event, sometimes the swimmers names are listed and all that is required is the check the form indicating the swimmer is present. IF CHECK-IN IS REQUIRED, AND THE SWIMMER IS NOT CHECKED IN, THE SWIMMER MAY NOT SWIM THE EVENT. Many swimmers have been disappointed to discover that due to a failure to check-in, they can not swim an event. If a swimmer/parent is unsure whether check-in is required, find the Clerk of Course and ask. This is very important!!!

The Dallas Mustangs Annual Haunted Hat BB/B/C Meet is to be held at Loos on October 16th - 17th. It is a tremendously well attended meet since it is the first one of the season for our region. It requires many volunteers to make the meet run smoothly. Jeff Veazey, Meet Director for the team, has posted volunteer sign-up sheets at all pools. Please make sure you participate. It is fun, it is a great way to learn about the sport of swimming and you are ultimately helping your child by ensuring that the meet runs smoothly. You do not need to work the entire meet however, that sort of offer is NEVER turned down! Any and all portions of time are accepted. Remember that volunteer vouchers are earned when you work our meets. The following "jobs" qualify for volunteer vouchers and most require only "on-the-job-training": Meet Director, Clerk of course, awards, computers, tabs, ready bench, announcer, hospitality (adults only), head timer, heat sheet sales, deck officials, safety marshal and timing equipment operations. To receive a voucher, volunteers must sign in and check in and out with the area chairman. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the Board members.

On the last page of this newsletter, is a copy of a Dallas Mustangs Ad contract. Please use this to obtain ads to be published in the heat sheets for the Haunted Hat meet. Ads can be business or spirit ads (encouraging statements to a swimmer or the team) and can be either a quarter, half or full page. This is a great way to support the team, the sport of swimming and for businesses to advertise to a captive audience! Ad contracts should be submitted to Jeff Veazey at Highland Park Pool or put in the box at Loos marked "Highland Park".

We have another coach who has joined our team! Ann Tracewell is coaching the Red Group at CFB Natatorium, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. Ann is a graduate of RL Turner High School and was a Dallas Mustang swimmer. She recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Psychology. Besides coaching with the Mustangs, Ann substitute teaches with the CFBISD with the goal to return back to academics in several years.

Please welcome Ann to the team when you see her on the deck and at team functions.

Each year, prior to the Haunted Hat Meet, the Dallas Mustangs hold a "mock meet" or intersquad meet. This year the meet will be held at Loos on Tuesday, October 5^th at 5:30 p.m. in lieu of practices at all pools. It is strongly encouraged that all swimmers participate, especially those of you who are new to the team. The purpose of the meet is to familiarize the new swimmers with swim meet formats, to introduce and welcome new swimmers, to boost team spirit, practice the team cheers and to just have some fun! Typically, the team is divided into eight groups and each group competes for the title of the most "spirited" group. There are, of course, prizes! So come prepared to have fun and show your Mustang spirit.

John Bannon, aged 10, swims with the Silver Group at Highland Park Pool. He recently received the President’s Award for Academic Achievement for 4^th grade. This award is given to students who maintain a high A average and meet other academic criteria. Congratulations John!

D&J Sports will be at Loos October 5^th during the Intersquad Meet. They will be selling practice suits and be available to fill orders for other swimming needs.

We’re back at Loos! Just as a reminder the workout schedule for each pool is as follows:

Red & Blue Groups – 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (M-Th)

Bronze – 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (M-F)

Silver – 6:45 – 8:15 p.m. (M-TH)

4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Fridays only

Gold – 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (M-F)

 Loos:

Bronze 1 – 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (M-F)

Bronze 2 –6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (M-F)

Silver – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (M-F)

Gold – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (M-F)

National – 5:45 – 7:00 a.m. (M, W, F)

By now, most swimmers should have received a meet account statement. Adele Wherry has been managing the accounts for the team however, she will be turning this job over to Doug Moyse, our Head Age Group Coach. If there are any questions regarding your swimmer’s statement, please call Doug at 214-356-5028.

There seems to be some confusion periodically regarding the different accounts that exist for the swimmers. Hopefully the following information will clear matters up.

All swimmers must maintain a current and up to date meet entry account, which works much like a checking account. You will pay a minimum $25.00 deposit (it should be closer to $40.00 or $50.00 for "A" and above swimmers). When you enter a meet, the entry fee will be subtracted from your account. When your account reaches $5.00 or less, you will be billed to replenish the account. Upper level swimmers who are going to a lot of meets, should keep around $50.00 in their account, so they do not have to be billed after each meet. Meet account checks should be separate from your dues/supply checks. All checks for your meet entry account should be made payable to Dallas Mustangs, and marked Meet Account with the swimmer's name in the memo section. Meet account checks may be dropped in the meet entry box at either pool.

Just a reminder that the Dallas Mustangs is registered with Tom Thumb in its Good Neighbor Program. Attach our Good Neighbor Number (cut it out and bring it to the store) to your Reward Card and Tom Thumb will donate a percentage of the member’s total grocery purchases back to the Dallas Mustangs every time your Reward Card is used! Painless and potentially profitable for our team!

OUR TOM THUMB NUMBER IS 7648

It’s time for all the parents on the team to get together and become acquainted! Barb and Jack Knott have once again, graciously offered to host this affair at their home on November 13^th at 7 p.m. Last year’s adult social was great fun and it allowed many swimming parents to meet under circumstances that were much more comfortable than the bleachers at a swim meet! Please bring an hors d’ouvres to share. Dress is casual. RSVP to Barb by November 10^th at 972-733-3256. The Knott’s live at 5436 Edgehollow Place, Dallas (just east of the Tollway off of Frankford Rd.) See you there!

Thanks to volunteers Melanie Brown and Lori Bannon, Highland Park Pool’s storeroom will be open on a regular basis on Tuesday & Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. and Fridays from 4:30 – 6 p.m.

If you were unable to be present at the orientation meetings and would like a handbook, please pick one up at CFB, Loos or Highland Park Pools. It contains information on our team, coaches, and other helpful facts about swimming.

Each year the team produces a directory for all registered swimmers. This year it should be ready for distribution by the end of October. Each swimming family will receive a directory and it will be placed in the folders at the swimmer’s home pool. If there are any recent changes to telephone numbers, addresses or other swimmer information, please let Wendy Begg know (972-307-3128) so that the corrections may be made.

WHO ARE THE DALLAS MUSTANGS? The Dallas Mustangs is a USA Swimming non-profit swim club with more than 300 local members, making it one of the largest swim teams in the Southwest. The award winning Mustangs include swimmers ranging in age from 6 to 18 who compete year round up to the national level.

HOW DO ADVERTISERS BENEFIT? Advertisers are able to promote their business via our program/heat sheets at a nominal cost, and reach active consumers throughout the Metroplex and surrounding area. Ads purchased qualify as a legitimate business expense for advertisers.

AD SIZES/PRICES: Full Page: $145 Half Page: $75 Quarter Page: $40

(8 ½ X 11) (8 ½ X 5 ½ ) (5 ½ X 4 ¼ )

AD SPECIFICATIONS: Camera-ready black and white artwork requested.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Veazey at 214-340-6233.

Date received: Ad Salesperson: Phone: