Have you RSVPed for this meet? Click RSVP under the West U Meet. 

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 following all meet 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*

Willow vs West U is at the 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. Diving is not allowed in the shallow end of the pool so all relays start in the water.

This is a “tri”-meet format and the order of the events is different. There are 3 separate warm up times and meet start times. (1) 5/6 meet (2) 7/8 and 9/10 meet (3) 11+ meet.

SCHEDULE:

5 and 6s:

• 4:00 - Check in 
• 4:10 - 4:25: Warm-up
• 4:30 - Meet Start (typically finished in 45 minutes)

7/8 and 9/10s:

• 5:00 - Check-in
• 5:15 - 5:30 Estimated warm-up (as soon as 5/6 finishes)
• 5:35 - Meet Start (if we can start sooner, we will)

11+s:

• 7:15 - Check-in
• 7:25 - 7:40 Estimated warm-up (as soon as 7/8 & 9/10 finishes)
• 7:45 - Meet Start (if we can start sooner, we will)

SWIMMER TENT: The team tent for swimmers and coaches is in the grassy area west of the playground. Please check-in at this tent (see picture below). Also, know your child's swimmer number and verify it is correctly written on their body. 

PLAYGROUND: The playground and field are very enticing to the children. It is parents responsibility to make sure your child is at the ready bench. Coaches cannot track down your children for their events. 

RELAYS/ NO DIVING: West University does NOT allow diving in the shallow end of the pool. All relays will start in the water rather than diving.  

VOLUNTEERS: If you want the best view of your swimmer, sign up to volunteer. To check in, look for the volunteer coordinators by the swimmer tent outside near swimmer check-in. Our volunteers staff lanes 1-4 and are responsible for times, card writing and ribbons. We have 2 new volunteer spots. One is a playground monitor and and also swimmer's guide to direct younger children from the pool back to the swimmer tent. 

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.

LANES: West U will swim in lanes 5-8 (bleacher side). Willow will swim in lanes 1-4 (rec center side).

FOOD: Chick Fil A, Coffee Q and Kona ice will be at the meet. The trucks will be parked along the East side of the lot. PARENTS: PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THE “NO PARKING” BARRICADE THAT WILL BE UP- it's for the Food Trucks and to ensure kids can safely get to and from them

RIBBONS: If you have volunteered at the West U meet in the past, you are aware that writing ribbons for 8 lanes in a crowded area is a challenge. The ribbon writers will try their best to select the correct place ribbon and write the age group and event. You are welcome to write the time on the ribbon once the results are emailed. In addition, there will be no ribbons for the 11+ meet.

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

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.

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 in MP1 and the racquetball courts 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). We’re so sorry for the inconvenience. Team tents should not be set up until the lightning has safely passed!

PARENT ASSISTANCE:

Willow and the Piranhas are the largest teams in the league. This is a huge meet - with an estimated 600 swimmers and 1,000 parent/guardians in attendance. Yes, it will be busy and a bit chaotic at times, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun!

We kindly ask for your patience with the process, our coaches, and our Board members - managing a meet of this size is no small feat. Please stay off the pool deck at all times. If every parent stepped onto the deck, even briefly, we wouldn’t be able to run the meet safely or efficiently. We’re grateful to have access to a beautiful indoor pool, though we know it makes spectating a little more challenging than the outdoor pools, so let's do our best!