BEFORE THE START OF THE SWIM MEET

  1. Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. If your child needs a bit more time to get ready to get in the water, please take this into account and plan accordingly. Some meets have lots of teams, and swimmers competing and warm-ups can be chaotic and crowded.  The more time your child has to warm up the better their swims will be. This time will be listed in the meet information handed out to all swimmers, emailed by Coach Chris or Coach Ali, as well as posted on the website.
  2. Upon arrival, find a place to put your swimmer's blankets, swim bags and/or sleeping bags. The team usually sits in one place together, so look for some familiar faces. Some meets there is an area set aside in a gymnasium or cafeteria like area, other pools have enough deck/bleacher space for the swimmers gear to stay on deck with them.   Look for the Winona Wizards banner.
  3. Once your swimmer has checked in/found the coaches and found a place for his or her gear.  Swimmers can choose to write or have  each event-number on his or her hand/arm in ink. This helps him/her remember what events he/she is swimming and what event number to listen or watch for.  Coach Chris and Coach Ali will also make sure swimmers are up at the blocks before their event and ready to swim.  Writing the event number is not necessary for swimmers if they/or the parent wish to not have writing on them. 
  4. Your  swimmer now gets his/her cap and goggles and reports to the pool and/or coach for warm-up instructions. It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. A swimmer's body is just like a car on a cold day-he/she needs to get the engine going and warmed-up before he/she can go all out.
  5. After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to the area where his/her team is sitting and wait there until his first event is called. This is a good time to make sure he/she goes to the bathroom if necessary, gets a drink, or just gets settled in.
  6. According to USA Swimming rules (because of insurance purposes), parents are not allowed on deck unless they are serving in an official capacity. Similarly, all questions concerning meet results, an officiating call, or the conduct of a meet, should be referred to a coach. He or she in turn, will pursue the matter through the proper channels.
  7. Psyche Sheet or Heat Sheets. A psyche sheet/program as they are often called is usually available for sale in the lobby or concession area of the pool. It lists all swimmers in each event in order of "seed time". When the team entry is sent in, each swimmer and his/her previous best time (up to the date that the entry was submitted) in that event is listed. If the swimmer is swimming an event for the first time, he/she will be entered as a "no-time" or "NT". A "no-time" swimmer will most likely swim in one of the first heats of the event. A Heat sheet may be available close to the start of the meet that lists the actual heat and lane a swimmer will be competing in.
     

DURING THE MEET
 

  1. It is important for any swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming. He/she may swim right away after warm-up or they may have to wait awhile. Coach Chris and Coach Ali will be there helping swimmers get to the correct lane and for the correct heat of their events. 
  2. Most meets are computerized. There are generally two ways a swimmer gets to his/her lane:
    • A swimmer usually reports directly to his/her lane for competition a number of heats before he/she actually swims. Check with your swimmer's coach for specific instructions.
    • At many meets, the timers of each lane (usually parents of the host swim team) will double and triple check names of swimmers to ensure they are in the correct order.  Coach Chris and Coach Ali will also take any swimmer to their correct lane and make sure they are in the correct lane, order of heats and prepared for their event. 
    • In some novice meets, a swimmer's event number will be called, usually over the loudspeaker, and he/she will be asked to report to the "clerk of course" or “bullpen”. Swimmers should report with his/her cap and goggle.
      • Generally, girls events are odd-numbered and boys events are even-numbered. Example: "Event #26, 10-Under Boys, 50 freestyle, report to Clerk of Course." The "Clerk of Course" or “bullpen” area is usually where all swimmers checked in before the warm-up.
      • The clerk will usually line up all the swimmers and take them down to the pool in correct order. You can expect at least 4-8 heats of each event.
  3. The swimmer swims his or her race.
  4. After each swim:
    • He/she is to ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time, if he/she chooses.  The swimmer can also look at the score board to see the official time from the electronic system. 
    • Depending on the coaches instructions, the swimmer may be asked to do some recovery swimming if a "warm down" pool or lanes are available.
    • The swimmer should then go immediately to his or her coach. The coach will discuss the swim with each swimmer. Some coaches may wish to talk with the swimmer before her recovery swim.
  5. Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims:
    • Positive comments or praise
    • Suggestions for improvement
    • Positive comments
  6. Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:
    • Tell him/her how great he did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique with him. You need to tell him/her how proud you are and what a great job he/she did.
    • Take him/her back to the team area and relax.
    • This is another good time to check out the bathrooms, get a drink or something light to eat.
  7. The swimmer now waits until his/her next event is called and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of her events she/he and her/his parents get to go home. Make sure, however, you, as a parent, check with the coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed to swim on a relay where your swimmer is expected to be a member and she/he is not there.
  8. Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility. Awards are often gathered for a team and given to the coach at the end of the meet. The coach will give the awards to the swimmers at a later time.