Preparing for Swim Meets

Swim meets are the highlight of being on a summer swim team! All of your hard work and practice lead you to this day. Prepping for your first swim meet starts the night before.

Info for the Swimmer

Swimmers need to make sure to eat a good dinner Friday night that is high in carbohydrates. Also, drink plenty of water. Get into bed early to ensure a good night's sleep. Your wake up call will come early Saturday morning! When packing your bag, make sure you include your cap, goggles and towel just like at practice. In addition to those things, you should pack an extra towel and change of clothes to keep dry. It is advised to bring a water bottle, snack and an activity to do between events.

When arriving at the meet, check in with a coach at the main gate to the pool. PLEASE do this first before you do anything else—even before warm ups!

Info for the Parents

Please note arrival times for each meet. They are different for home meets and away meets. You may want to consider bringing a tent to set up for the swimmers to stay out of the sun. There is not much shade at any meet so this is the norm. Bring sunscreen, extra water, and snacks. Concessions will be available at most meets. You may also want to bring activities for the swimmers (or swimmers’ siblings) to do while waiting for their events, such as books, card games, coloring books, etc.

Also, it is a good idea to bring a Sharpie to write your child’s event, heat, and lane numbers on his/her hand (for example, 4/5/2 = event 4, heat 5, lane 2). Coaches will also be helping swimmers write down events by the fence where the line-up is posted. Check your e-mail Friday night for the heat sheet. During the meet, many teams use the app MeetMobile for up-to-date swim results. Parents can see swimmer results (past and present) once the meet file is uploaded to TeamUnify (TU) later that day. Parents can view these times through OnDeck app or through TU website.

At the meets, there will be “Shepherds” who will be calling out event numbers and seating the swimmers at the Clerk of Course. Swimmers move up in their assigned lane until it is time for their event. Please be sure to follow the event numbers throughout the morning. The starter will not stop the meet if your child does not show up for his/her event and there will not be another chance to swim it. The first half volunteers generally work until approximately 10:15 a.m. There will be an announcement that calls for second half timers, helpers, etc. The faster you show up and relieve the first half timers, the faster the meet will run. Second half workers will work until the meet is over, usually around 12:30 p.m.

The first meet can be overwhelming for the swimmers and parents. Please ask friends or board members if you have any worries or uncertainties. You will be pros by mid-season!

Quick Notes:

• After each heat, swimmers should remain in the pool until the last swimmer finishes the race. If possible, shake the hand of the swimmer next to you and tell them “good swim.” It is very courteous to do this and promotes good sportsmanship.
• After your race, ask the timers for your time and go find the coaches and tell them what your time was. We will give you some feedback on how well you did and what we can help you with the next time you swim that event. This is a very important part of our coaching work! (Parents of young swimmers are welcome to collect your child at the end of the pool and walk them over to the coaches, provided you do not get in the timers’ or officials’ ways.)
• When you are not swimming, cheer on your fellow teammates and congratulate them when they are finished with their races.
• Please do not leave the meet when your races are completed without first checking in with the coaches. Sometimes things happen and we need to find someone to fill in for a relay leg at the end of the meet.
• We must leave the host pools in the same condition we found them, so everyone must pitch in at the end of meets to clean up the team area and all trash.

Volunteering:

Each family is required to volunteer for three, half meets to honor the volunteer requirements. Failure to do so will result in the cashing of the $250 volunteer check. To sign up for the meets, see information on following page.

Renatte English or Carrie Payne, our volunteer coordinators, can answer any questions and can be reached at [email protected]

Swim Meet Checklist

• Sunscreen! Reapply it as needed.
• Water to stay hydrated (Always rehydrate after you get out of the water. Never rehydrate with soda.)
• Two towels—one to dry off with and one to sit on (or a blanket to sit on).
• Team suit and cap if you have them.
• Goggles. You should have a pair to wear each practice and meet. It's a good idea to have an extra pair, in case they break or get misplaced right before your event. They should fit snuggly, with the straps up on the main part of the back of your head, not low on your neck. A good idea for wearing them is to put them on, and then put your swim cap over top of the straps, to try to prevent the goggles from coming off when you dive in.
• Sharpie to write your events on your hand or arms.
• Activities to keep you busy while you are waiting to swim, like a book, a hand held game, board game, cards, etc. Do not bring valuables, since they can be lost or, unfortunately, stolen. There is a lot of “down time” at swim meets while you wait for your events. This is also great time for the kids to socialize or cheer on their fellow swimmers!
• Healthy snacks for after your swims.
• Shade if you can provide it. There will be a designated area for pop up tents. Parents, you will want to dress for the weather, too. The meets can be long and hot. Parents, grandparents, and younger siblings will need to stay hydrated and lathered up with sunscreen also. There are usually concession stands at swim meets, so bring food for lunch at meets and/or money to buy food.
• Dry change of clothes for after the meet.

*Label everything with your name. Team suits and caps all look the same, and we won't be able to tell what belongs to whom if there is something unlabeled left behind.