Greetings from the pool deck,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The holidays are here and we have reached the halfway point in the short course season. Mid-season meets are happening this month at all levels, and our swimmers are looking really great. This month, we have meets three weeks in row, leading up to Christmas. In order, we have the COR Classic meet in Rockwall, our BB & Under meet at Grapevine, and a senior trip to Oklahoma for the AESC Pro Elite meet. It’s a busy month for everyone.

The Christmas holidays are also a time when we are in our heaviest training period, especially for the senior swimmers. With the added volume and intensity of training, nutrition and sleep become even more critical. The holidays are at time when many of us eat and party more, sometimes forgetting about what our bodies really need. Please take a pause and think before you eat that fourth helping of holiday treats while staying up to 2am with your cousins. The holiday practices are super important not to miss. Try and include swim practice in your holiday scheduling.

Over the Christmas break we have an altered schedule at some pools. Please keep in touch with your coach or pool supervisor to know if your practices are different. For instance, the TCC SE campus shuts down from Dec 14-Jan 2. TCC swimmers will need to go to one of our other locations for practice those days. Coach Eric is making up a modified schedule for that pool.

Our Annual Board Game Donation to Mission Arlington is in it’s second week. I hope you have found some board games to donate. We are accepting your donations through Wednesday, Dec 5th at all locations. The Mission Arlington Christmas Store opens on the 8th. Even if you have fulfilled your service hour commitment, please consider a donation.

Speaking of service hours, we are hosting our last meet of the year Dec 7-9 at Grapevine. We need your help. Please consider signing up for a job or two. In 2019, we have meets Jan 11-13 at Grapevine, May 17-19 at UTA, the Bill Nixon meet June 13-16 in Lewisville, and a Dec BB & Under meet at Grapevine. We will also host a couple inter squad meets, in April and Sept, dates TBD.

Finally, your coaching staff has a Christmas present for all of our swimmers. Over the next few weeks, each swimmer will be receiving a new MARS practice cap. This special edition cap is to be worn at practice, not at meets. I hope everyone likes the new fun design for this practice cap. You can save your team cap for meets. If you’re looking for last-minute Christmas gifts, look no further than D&J Sports, our Speedo distributor. D&J has a store in Dallas, or a great on-line catalog. Sign in through our website to place you in the MARS Store at D&J. Please always consider Speedo products first when making swim-related purchases. We have been a Speedo sponsored team for a very long time.

Have a great holiday!

Coach Brian

Q: How many service hours will we need for 2019?

A: We will each need 18 service hours for families in Bronze and above for 2019. Please keep in mind this is per calendar year.

Q: What is OnDeck Parent application and why do I need it?

A: OnDeck Parent is an IPhone or Android application which allows you as a swim parent to manage your MAR's account and follow your swimmer's accomplishments. See these web sites for more information about the application and download instructions. iPhone or Android

Once you download and install the application on your device you can login by filling in the following entries:

Username - Is your email address that you used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Password - Is your password used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Team alias - ntsmars

Q: Do I have to have 18 service hours if we joined MARS this Fall?

A:

New family service hours from Summer through December

· Hours for June & July – 12 hours

· Hours for August & September – 8 hours

· Hours for October & November – 6 hours

· November & December – 2 hours

Q: My son is a novice swimmer and I am a novice swim parent. We are going to our first swim meet. How do we get ready for our first swim meet?

A: We have a wonderful document created by the original Super Parent Rebecca Dark.

Your First Swim Meet Guide.

Q: I just swam my first swim meet, where are results displayed?

A: You can get event/meet results from the following locations:

• Usually the event results are displayed on some wall at the natatorium. (not always)
  
• Events will be posted within the 10 days after the meet has completed at this web site: http://www.ntswim.org Events-->Meet Results
• Most swim meets utilize "Meet Mobile". This is a fee based smart phone application which allows the user to see live results of the swim meet and other cool options.

Q: How can I see how many service hours I owe?

A: Login to the Mars Team Web Site.

Select My Account on the right.

Select $My Invoice/Payments.

Select the Service Hours tab.

If your number shows a positive value, then that is what you owe.

Q: Why do we have to volunteer at our meets?

A: In order for us to host a successful and safe meet, we need our MARSian families to be part of every meet we host. We all lead very busy lives. However, I can promise you that your swimmer will feel even more supported seeing you as a timer, head timer, meet runner and/or working concessions or hospitality room. Everyone is good at something which means everyone has something to offer. Please be on the lookout for upcoming dates for training classes for each of our volunteer positions. ***Each person will receive volunteer points for attending the training class. ***Please Note: You will receive the points once you put that training into action at our hosted meets. In addition to the points you will receive for your volunteer work at the meet.

Q: Do the service hours start over in January?

A: Yes, service hours are per calendar year (January 1st through December 31st).

Q: What is OnDeck Parent application and why do I need it?

A: OnDeck Parent is an IPhone or Android application which allows you as a swim parent to manage your MAR's account and follow your swimmer's accomplishments. See these web sites for more information about the application and download instructions. iPhone or Android

Once you download and install the application on your device you can login by filling in the following entries:

Username - Is your email address that you used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Password - Is your password used to login to the MAR's (TeamUnify) web site.

Team alias - ntsmars

Q: How do I set up the SMS messaging?

A: How to set up and receive SMS from your coach's about pool updates or quick important info.

1- log-in to your account

2- Click on My Account then under the drop down click on My account again

3- Add up to two SMS number and the Carrier and click save

4- Then go to click on Not Verified and you will receive a code via text message that then you type in and hit verify.

5- Set to start getting text from the team when a pool is closed or we need to get you fast information.

Do you have a question for the MARSian parent? Email at askmarsparent@gmail.com

Lauren McCreary, Tyler Hammonds, Asaya Matsumoto, Matisse Matsumoto, Nathan Hung, Lillian Millner, Connor Davidson, Victoria Czapp, Samuel Tjio, Kennedy Evans, Ronald Paul, Suzanne Dangelmaier, Megan Howard, Giada Picinic, Carson Jane Cozad, Tenley Heugatter, Jaidan Shah, Ryan Olatunji, Carlin Ortiz, Abigail Carlson, Zora Lahlou, Savarok Aquino-Uzelac, Christopher Fabrassen, Cohen Bohl, Jaxyn Garcia, Jillian Davis, Loraine Jaetzold, Emily Anderson, Daniel Miller, Brianna Scoggins, Quinn Scoggins, Teah Silliman, Trinidad Little, Nelson Le, Megan Orler, Daniel Orr, Antonina Gorna, Dani Rubio, Madeline Gifford