Parents: Please be sure to share all meet information with any guests or extended family members who will be responsible for your child during the meet. Let’s represent the Willow Wahoos with pride by kindly and respectfully follow all facility protocols. We’re also grateful for access to a beautiful indoor pool, which allows us to continue regardless of weather. We understand that spectating is a little more challenging than at the Willow pool, and we appreciate your patience.

*Spectators are NOT allowed on pool deck*

West U Rec Center: 4210 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77025. This is an 8 lane, 25-yard, indoor pool. Times will be faster because the pool is shorter.

6 and under Prelims: There is no stroke judge for this age group

• 4:30 Check-in
• 4:50 - 5:10 Warm-up (lanes 1-4)
• 5:15 - 6:30 Meet (Willow will be staffing lanes 1 & 2)

11 and up Prelims: We will have stroke judges for this age group

• 6:30 Check in 6:30
• 6:50 - 7:10 Warm up (lanes 1-4)
• 7:15 - 9:00 Meet (Willow will be staffing lanes 4 & 5)

PRELIM NOTES

• West U hosts ALL teams for this Prelim. Each team has a designated location around the pool so please avoid setting up chairs in a team's location (see picture below).
• Swimmers will only compete in their best 3 strokes. There are no relays. Relay teams for Finals will be picked by Coach.
• There are no ribbons since Prelims are about individual times across all heats.
• You must have participated in at least one dual meet in order to participate in Prelims.
• Please do not participate in Prelims if you are not able to attend Finals.
• Each lane will have 3 timers to ensure the most accurate time.
• After each event, the results will be posted in a common area so swimmers will immediately know who advanced to Finals.
• Practices will continue through Prelims and Finals.

QUALIFY FOR FINALS

• 12 & Unders - The top 12 times plus 2 alternates for each event
• 13 & Aboves - The top 6 times plus 2 alternates for each event

VOLUNTEERS

Thank you for making Prelims a success! Please check in with the Volunteer Coordinators in the Willow tent on the fields. 

PARKING

• Parking is available west of the soccer fields, near the train tracks — just a short walk from the pool.
• With so many swimmers competing, the Rec Center car park will fill up quickly. Car pool if possible, or park on side streets if needed.
• Please note there is to be no carpool drop-off or pick-up; all families will need to park and walk in. Car pool queues can block other cars trying to get in and out of their spaces, and slow down traffic.
• Please do not block resident driveways or the fire lanes, as cars will be towed.

PLEASE NO PARENTS ON THE DECK, or around the lifeguards table on deck. We need to keep things open to make it safe and clear for swimmers, coaches and volunteers.

PARENT VIEWING

• Most parents set up chairs outside along the north side of the playground in the shade.
• Bleacher seating on deck - please rotate off after your child’s heat, no camping for the whole meet as there will be a lot of parents needing a seat.
• Upstairs and downstairs lobbies inside the Rec Center

FACILITY

• No glass, food, or gum on the deck.
• Restrooms are located on the ground floor - accessible from the pool area for swimmers, and from the entrance hallway for parents.

RAIN/ THUNDER PLAN: Meet will go on!

Willow swimmers & coaches will be inside on a racquetball court until their races. Please make sure they wear flip flops or pool shoes to avoid slipping inside the Rec Center.

The pool garage doors will open 30 minutes after the last lightning is recorded. Unfortunately when the pool garage doors are down, there is no access to the viewing bleachers on the pool deck. Parents will be able to drop off their swimmers at the designated rooms, but then need to wait in the upstairs lobby or downstairs viewing room. If lightning is still active, the garage doors will stay closed - so we ask for their patience while we wait it out (either inside the Rec. Center or sadly in their car).

PARENT ASSISTANCE

Prelims are for all teams at the same time. Yes, it will be busy!

We kindly ask for your patience with the process, our coaches, and our Board members. Please stay off the pool deck at all times. 

FOOD

Chick-Fil-A, Coffee Q & Kona Ice will be in the parking lot. There are also vending machines within the West U Rec Center.