The Lacombe Dolphin Big Splash Swim Meet is scheduled for June 8.  Check back for more details as we get closer to the date.  

 

LACOMBE DOLPHIN SWIM MEET GUIDE

When going to a swim meet, it may look like your packing for a month out of town, but in fact, there are a lot of things that need to be at the swim meet to make sure that your swimmer is as successful as possible. This is a list of items, needed to be completely prepared and ready for a long day of swimming.

The swimmer should on the day before:

  • Avoid any strenuous activities, or anything that is going to make the swimmer sore the next day

  • Eat lots of healthy food

  • Drink plenty of water to get hydrated

  • Eat a good, healthy dinner. Carbohydrates have been known to be good pre-swim meet meals

  • Be packed and ready to go the night before

  • Get lots of sleep


What to pack to keep warm:

  • 7 towels- This may seem like an extreme amount, but with 6 events and warm up, your swimmer will be wet and in the water 7 different times, and the towels are unable to dry by the time they need them. This way, the swimmer can stay warm, and get dry quickly.

  • 2 pairs of goggles and 2 swim caps- The goggles and cap are really important to the little swimmers race, and if the goggles snap or the cap breaks, it is nice to have an extra pair to be able to rely on.

  • 4 pairs of warm clothes- When the swimmers hop out, and wrap up in a towel, they need something to put on to stay warm while they are waiting. Sometimes, that can be T-shirts, or that can be big comfortable hoodies. They also need pants, or shorts. When at a swim meet, it is all about ensuring they keep warm, as well as their muscles keep warm, so they are ready to swim, and can swim as quickly as they can.

  • Entertainment- In between races, there is plenty of down time for the swimmers. To keep them entertained and alert, it is always a good idea to bring a deck of cards, coloring, or anything of that nature that would keep them occupied and having fun

  • A camp set up- At a swim meet there are swimmer camps where you can hang out in between races. Some people like to bring sleeping bags, a tent, or an air mattress. I also recommend for the parents, that they bring a lawn chair as well, so they don’t have to be sitting on the floor or the hard bleachers all day

  • Highlighter and a sharpie- At a swim meet, we have heat sheets that keep us organized, and let us know when your swimmer will be racing. It is all organized by numbers, so it is best to highlight the number in the heat sheet, and then use the sharpie to write it somewhere on their body, so that when they are busy having fun, they do not forget about their race

  • Sunscreen and a hat-For those outdoor meets, sunscreen and a hat is a must! We don’t want to be burnt, or get sick from the sunshine.



What to pack for lunch:

  • Water-Water is the most important thing for them to be drinking. After every race, they should be drinking a bottle of water, and continuously until their next event. Gatorade or any electrolyte drink can be helpful, but cannot be used as a substitute to water. Energy drinks are absolutely not a good idea for the swimmer, and will not help them in their racing.

  • Healthy snacks-Make sure you pack some healthy snacks for the swimmer, so they are never hungry through the day. Please note that junk food is also not a good idea for the swimmer, and should not be eaten at the swim meet. Please save all treats for after the meet.

  • Lunch- There is always a 30 minute to an hour lunch break for the swimmers to eat, and it is important for them to avoid the junk food and have a healthy meal to keep them going through their long day.


​PLEASE ALSO BRING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE- swim meets are long days, but keeping positive with the coaches, officials and other parents can make the day run much smoother, and easier. As we are a DOLPHIN FAMILY it is nice to see swimmers and parents encouraging every child, and ensuring that everyone can have a fun, and enjoyable swim season.
The first swim meet is always a little confusing and difficult to navigate, but if you forget to pack something, or if you have any questions on how things run, please don’t hesitate to ask a coach, or another family member. Good luck and most importantly HAVE FUN!