Swim Meet Checklist + Some Basic Rules and Procedures

Hello Swim Families!

Our first swim meet of the season is this weekend! For those new to the team, I’d like to share with you a checklist of items to bring to the pool.

Basic Equipment

• Swimsuit
• Swim cap (and extras!)
• Goggles (and extras!)
• Towels… multiple towels
• Warm clothing… robe, sweatshirt, sweatpants, hoodie, pajamas, Snuggie, parka, socks, tennis shoes (Crocs can work too, I guess)
• A blanket or two
• A change of clothes
• Swim bag

Nutritional Things

• Water and/or Gatorade/Powerade/Pedialite
• Dried fruit
• Fresh fruit
• String cheese
• Jerky
• Bagels
• Mixed nuts
• Granola bars

Other Items

• iPad or music player
• A book
• A seatback or cushion
• A Sharpie and a highlighter

When you get to the meet, buy a heat sheet! It will also benefit you to download the Meet Mobile app for your phone. It costs about $5 per year—it’s worth it!

Your swimmer needs to come see Coach Reid before and after every race!

We have a lot of swimmers at the meet, and I will be watching every race. That said, swimmers and parents need to be cognizant of when they are supposed to swim—that is why it is important to buy a heat sheet!

If you are in the 500 and/or 1000 freestyle, you will need to have both a counter and a timer ready to help. Most of the swimmers can find other swimmers to count for one another, though timing is usually a responsibility for the parents (sometimes the host team provides timers, but not often). Coach Reid will be on the side of the pool taking splits and keeping track of swimmers’ paces.

Unless a parent is timing for their child during a distance event (or working volunteering as an official), parents are not allowed on the pool deck! This is a USA Swimming rule and Missouri Valley officials will enforce it

Coach Reid will be stationed at a table on the south side of the pool--that's the side with the scoreboard and the diving boards--likely alongside the coaches from the host teams, the Topeka Swim Association and the Lawrence Aquahawks.

If a swimmer breaks, forgets, or loses their goggles, I do not have backups for them to use. Same goes for towels and, of course, swimsuits. I will have extra caps, but they will cost $5 each if a swimmer needs one.

Well that about covers it. I hope you’re all excited for this weekend, it’s going to be a great meet!

See you at the pool!

-Coach Reid