the

Bear Bulletin
04 May 2014
News for the Week
!"#$%&'' )*+,- *, .$//,/+01 &2 3+"4*-5 67 8*- '+&9 :%7 ;<9<
="9/ =+"*>1 &2 .*,?+4*-5 @6 8*-A B/ ,C/+/ D- EF66 *<9<
G/'?24 )&>"#- " #$ %&'( )*+,,-( ./) /00-12-2 3&&4+- 5/,6
/127&( 6(/80+8- /12 ./) 2-8+2-2 1&0 0& 8&10+1'- *+0. 0.-
0-/,9 (-$'12) &$ 0.- $':: /,&'10 6/+2 :-)) ;<= *+:: >- ?+@-1
'10+: A(+2/%9 BC D/%E
H& ;+*#,"#/ &2 3+"4*-5 @I 8*- '&+ "24"J"4?*> *24 ,/*9
;"#,?+/1 KL%:FM6 ;<9<N *24 ;/; +*>>- KI%O ;<9<N<
B E A R B R A N C H S W I M T E A M
Upcoming Events
5/9 Kick-off Party at Skeeters 5p
5/10 Time Trials
5/16 NO PRACTICE
5/16 Individual & Team Photos
from 4-5:30p
5/16 Pep Rally at Pool 6-8p
5/17 BBST vs. Fall Creek
5/19-22 Stroke Clinic ($10 per stroke)
5/24 Kings River vs. BBST
5/26 NO PRACTICE
5/31 Trailwood vs. BBST
6/6 NO PRACTICE
6/7 BBST vs. Woodland Hills
6/9 Morning Practice Begins
6/14 Pep Rally
6/15 BBST vs. Walden
www.BearBranchSwimTeam.com
Parking in the parking lot of the Bear
Branch pool during a home meet is not
allowed EXCEPT for those who display
the correct Parking Pass and for the
handicapped.
T h a n k y o u !
Unless you are handicapped,
please, please, please DO
NOT PARK in the
handicapped parking spots at
the Bear Branch pool.


2
THE BEAR BULLETIN 04 MAY 2014

FOOD FRIENDS FUNDS


K i c k - o f f P a r t y
a t S k e e t e r s

F r i d a y , 0 9 M a y
5 - 9 p . m .
How to Sign Up to Receive BBST Text Msgs
If you would like to receive text messages regarding important BBST
announcements, please following these steps:
1. On the BBST website, sign in and click My Account on the left-hand
pane. More choices will display underneath the heading.
2. Click on My Account. The Billing Account Configuration window displays.
3. Under the Account Info tab, click the Add SMS button. A New Text
Messaging Device pop-up window displays.
4. Enter your Cell Number into the field.
5. Select your Cell Carrier from the drop-down box.
6. Click the Send button. A Verify New Text Messaging Address pop-up window displays with
instructions.
7. Enter the Verification Code that you received as a text message into the field.
8. Click the Verify button. Your phone number now appears in the list as verified.
Practice
Schedule on
Friday, 09 May is
as follows:
6 & under
3:45-4:15p
7 & 8
4:15-5p
9 & up
5-5:45p


3
THE BEAR BULLETIN 04 MAY 2014
We need beverage
donations to sell at
the meets! Please
donate Coke
products and
Gatorade (12 oz.
only). THANKS!
STROKE CLINIC
7:15-7:45p
Mon., 19 May Free/Back
Tues., 20 May - Breast
Wed., 21 May - Fly
Thur., 22 May Starts/Turns

There is a $10 fee
PER STROKE.
MASTER YOUR FORM
OPEN Board Positions
Please consider serving on the BBST
Board next year. The following
positions will be open:
President
1
st
Vice President
2
nd
Vice President
Treasurer
If you are interested in running for one
of those positions, contact Patty
Livingston or Paul Maxey.
Hey there, Bears!

Wow--what an awesome
first week! I am so
impressed with the fantastic
job that all of our Bears are
doing. Don't forget:
Kick-off party is this Friday at Skeeter's! The
coaches will be there as soon as practice is over.
It will be a great time!
Time trials will be this Saturday. PLEASE be
there if possible. Our swimmers must have
times to be entered in the dual meets. Every
swimmer that is not there takes away from our
space and time in practice.
Finally, I want to remind everyone (well in
advance) that our championship
meet, DIVISIONALS, will be held on 21 June!
It is VERY, VERY, VERY important that ALL of
our Bears are present for that meet! Everyone
swims at Divisionals!
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or
concerns, please feel free to contact me. See you at
the pool! Coach Emily


4
THE BEAR BULLETIN 04 MAY 2014
2014 BBST Meet Schedule
17 May: BBST vs. Fall Creek
31 May: Trailwood vs. BBST

07 June: BBST vs. Woodland Hills

08 June: Summer Champs (10 & Under)
24 May: Kings River vs. BBST
!"# %&''() *+,-&(. /0 1&( 2+34 056# &7 78" 99 !33'
!"#$# &'(( )# *+ ,$*+-# .$/0" 1"/--'+- 1234#5'5'2+
678 52 #+5#$9 *+: 4';;* <2$ 7= * 0('1#>
21 June: Divisionals
28-29 June: All-Stars & Ponderosa
Other Important Dates
Kick-Off Party at Skeeters
Fri., 09 May from 5-9p
Swim-a-Thon
Wed., 11 June from 7-10:30a
Bonding Events
Thurs., 12 June Bowling (10 & Under)
Tues., 17 June Scavenger Hunt (11 & Up)
Banquet
Sun., 22 June 5-8p
Breakfast of Champions
Fri., 27 June 8:30p
!"# %&''() *+,-&(. :0 ;<=" 2+34 056# &7 78" 99 >&?"@3
!"#$# &'(( )# '1# 1$#*3 0*+:&'1"#0 *+: ?2/ 1*+ 4'# *
12*1" <2$ 78 * 4'#@
Cream the
Competition
!"#$% '%(
!)*+(', ', )-
14 June: Mills Branch vs. BBST
09 June: Summer Champs (11 & Up)


5
THE BEAR BULLETIN 04 MAY 2014
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a team swimsuit?
No, however, an appropriate swimsuit is required. Last
year!s suit will do, but if you need a new one, be sure to
attend the Suit Fitting Sale on Tuesday, 29 April at the
pool. We will have suits available, as well as goggles and
caps. Don!t forget your checkbook!

Do Bears swim in the rain?
You bet! Unless there is thunder or lightning, practice will
be held. Always check the website for updates on
practices. We will also send an email or text if you have
verified your cell number on the website.

When can I talk to a coach?
Please refrain from talking with the coaches during
practices. Often your questions can be answered by
Regina Ives, Sandra Trotti, or another veteran parent.
Our coaches are happy to talk with you after practice, or
send them an email, and they!ll get back to you ASAP.




What are Time Trials?
We run a practice meet early in the season so that
swimmers (and parents) can see how everything works
and experience our system. Every 12 and Under swimmer
participating will be asked to swim 4 events at Time Trials
(freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly), following
the order of events in a real meet. 10 and Under swim 1
length of each stroke (25 meters); 11 and Over swim 2
lengths of each stroke (50 meters). 9 and Over also swim
the 100 IM. If your swimmer is new at some of the strokes,
just encourage them to try it and do their best. This also
allows the coaches to assess the individual swimmers in
order to plan the line up for our first league meet.

How do I sign up for a meet?
You must declare your swimmer EVERY week by
Tuesday! Sign into the BBST website. On the home page
toward the bottom is a section called Events. Find the meet
you want to attend and click Attend/Decline or Edit
Commitment. Select your swimmer under the Member
Name column, and select Yes or No from the Declaration
drop-down. Click Save Changes. You have now declared
your swimmer.

How do I sign up for Service Hours?
Sign into the BBST website. On the home page toward the
bottom is a section called Events. Click Job Signup next to
the event for which you want to volunteer and follow the
instructions on the page. Please refer to the BBST website
to review the Service Hour Requirements.

Make sure that you sign in as soon as you get to the meet
at the Service Hours sign-in table so we know you have
arrived. This is the best way to ensure you get credit for
your shift.

BBST Board Members Contact Information
Parents, we ask that you stay off the
pool deck during practice. PLEASE do
not sit in the lounge or deck chairs or at
the tables around the pool. Remain
outside the gate during practices,
PLEASE! This is for the safety of our
swimmers.
President Regina Ives
ives@kingwoodcable.net
1
st
Vice President Sandy Trotti
sdtrotti@kingwoodcable.net
2
nd
Vice President Todd Marler
Todd.marler@ge.com
NWAL Rep Suzy Karash
littleBearCorner@live.com
Coach Liaison Emily James
Emilyb25@hotmail.com
Secretary Julie Crump
juliecrump@cebridge.net
Treasurer Amanda Bass
Amandabass3@gmail.com
Website:
www.BearBranchSwimTeam.com


6
THE BEAR BULLETIN 04 MAY 2014
How Parents Can Help Their Swimmer
1. Get to the meet on time. On time means be on deck in
swimsuit, cap, and goggles no less than 15 minutes
before warm-ups begin. This is very important, since
your swimmer needs to be warmed up to get the
maximum effort from their muscles and to prevent
injury. We also want the team to warm-up together. It
is nearly impossible to do a separate warm-up for your
swimmer when they are late.
2. Make sure you and your swimmer check in when
you arrive at the meet. Check-in sheets will be posted
in a common location at the meet. Either highlight or
circle your swimmers name and check all posted
sheets, as sometimes names are listed on more than
one form. If you are running behind or cannot find the
facility PHONE A FRIEND so we can check your
swimmer in before they take the sign-in sheets down.
3. Have your swimmer relax between events. Do not
allow your swimmer to run around in between events,
as this will tire your swimmer out and they will not be
ready for the next event. Bring something to keep
them occupied and rested (i.e., books, games, cards,
hand held games). Supervision of your child is your
responsibility at all times unless they are on
deck with the coach.
4. Food and drink is also an important staple at
the swim meet. Bring plenty of high-
carbohydrate type foods. Yogurt, fruits,
crackers, pretzels, cheese, and breakfast bars are
just some of the suggested foods to pack. A
sports drink or plain water is suggested for
hydration.
5. Do not leave the meet before it is over
without checking with your swimmers coach.
Your swimmer may be needed on a relay.
6. Bring chairs and blankets for you and your
swimmer to sit on.
7. If, at any time, you have questions regarding
your swimmers event, please talk to the coach.
Feel free to network with other parents, ask
questions, and share information. Above all,
relax and enjoy your swimmers performance.
8. Attend the Pep Rallies!
If your swimmer is not
signed in by 7:30 a.m. the
day of the meet, you will
be removed from all
events.


7
THE BEAR BULLETIN 04 MAY 2014

Thanks to Our 2014 Business Sponsors