Tip #1 - As you arrive at the pool, you will turn off Baristro Road onto Pavilion Way, which dead ends with a turn-around at the pool's main entrance. Don't enter there. Instead, just before the turn-around is a square parking lot on the right. It has a circle where passengers can be dropped off. That's where you want to enter. The sidewalk leads into a courtyard between two buildings, and eventually to the pool. Enter at the green arrow, not the red arrow.
Tip #2 - The restrooms on the far east end of the pool (red star on map) are open air with stainless steel toilets, and the lows will be in the 40's ... catch my drift? Luckily, a more modern set of restrooms are located by the courtyard (green star), although they typically don't open them until Saturday morning ... go figure.
Tip #3 - Parking can suck. It will be worse Saturday and Sunday mornings than Friday evening, and worse yet after noon, when the second session swimmers arrive before the first session swimmers leave. If a softball tournament, at one of the ball fields in the area, happens to pick the same weekend, it can make things much worse. In that case, get there early or be prepared to park 1/2 mile away ... you have been warned.
Tip #4 - Eat at the pool. The host team cooks all day and offers some pretty good food. If you leave to go get food, don't expect to find a convenient parking spot when you return (see tip #3). They use a ticket system to pay for food. You can buy tickets at one of the tables (usually by where they have the raffle items) and redeem them for food in 25 cent increments.
Tip #5 - Your swimmers must check-in each day when they arrive to let the host team know they are present. They will be scratched from the session (not allowed to swim) if they fail to check in. A table will be set up, usually in the courtyard (look for the long lines), for checking in.
Tip #6 - Parents are allowed to gather on the turn end of pool and that's the best place to cheer on your swimmer(s). Also, pictures are not allowed from behind the blocks but are allowed on the turn end. It gets crowded down there and sometimes people are slow to vacate when their swimmer finishes, blocking you from getting close to see your swimmer. You sometimes need to be a bit assertive to make your way through the people.
Tip #7 - Consider buying a meet T-Shirt, as they customize it for your team (DART) and your swimmer. They transfer the names of several team's swimmers onto the back, ensuring DART is one of the teams, then they place a star beside the swimmer of your choice. Its a cool idea that the kids seem to like a lot.
Tip #8 - Bring chairs. The facility has a large deck and quite a bit of grassy area, but provides no seating. You will need a chair for everyone attending.
Tip #9 - It can get cold in the mornings and in the evenings, especially for the swimmers. Swim parkas, sweatshirts/pants will be needed ... and don't forget their feet!
Tip #10 - Swimmers who practice inside (like DART swimmers) often struggle with backstroke events in outdoor pools, as there is no overhead reference to help steer them and the sun can be brutal. One way to help them is to bring dark tinted goggles. The meet always has a vendor onsite if you don't have some already.
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