|
How to survive
a swim meet
Plan on
arriving at least 15 minutes BEFORE warm up starts: to check in,
find the team, to stake a claim on a piece of real estate for
yourself, check the line ups and see a coach to write events on
your child’s arm.
Your Athlete’s Swim Bag
should contain: (label everything: bags, goggles, towels, etc. look
alike)
•
TEAM SUIT: Bring your swimmer’s
competition suit and, if possible, a spare.
•
TEAM CAP: Bring a competition swim cap
plus an extra (they tear easy and are easily
misplaced!)
•
GOGGLES: Bring two pairs! Have your
child "break in" a new pair of goggles in the warm-up pool prior to
an event to make sure they are adjusted properly! Prior to an
event, make sure the goggles fit snugly or they will end up around
your swimmer’s neck!
•
DECK SANDALS: Make sure your swimmer
wears deck sandals for protection.
•
TOWELS: Bring one towel per event plus
two extra (for warm-up and showers after the meet).
•
WARM CLOTHING: Pack your
swimmer’s bags with at least a couple pairs of sweat
pants/shirts, socks.
It is cold in the gym!
•
WATER: Even though they are immersed
in water, swimmers dehydrate easily!
•
FOOD: Bring plenty of nutritious
snacks: Ritz bits w/ peanut butter, goldfish, fruit, jerky, power
bars, cheese sticks, yogurt, dry cereal in Ziploc bags,
etc.
•
MISCELLANEOUS: A black sharpie (for
marking events, heat and lane numbers on your swimmer’s arm;
Swim shampoo/conditioner, hairbrush, comb, toiletries, deck of
cards, board games, game boys, etc.
• INHALERS: If your child is
asthmatic, this is the most important thing they own. Different
environments have different triggers that can set off an attack. Be
sure to tell the coach(es) if your child has
asthma!
Other
necessary items:
•
Blankets (to sit on in the
gym)
•
Sleeping bags are a good
way to keep bodies warm in-between events.
•
Lawn chairs (parents need
to be comfortable, too!)
What to do when you arrive at the
meet?
1. Positively check-in
with a coach! As soon as your swimmer has checked
in, have them find their coach to tell them they are there and
ready to swim. Depending on the meet venue, they will either begin
warm-ups immediately or wait until a designated time. Have your
swimmer ready to go with cap, goggles and towel.
Your role as a
parent:
Parental
Guidance: Cheer them on, congratulate, and console if necessary.
Remind your child that their behavior reflects on their team: they
must behave like a champion with grace and humility and a smile on
their face no matter the outcome of any one race. After their
event, make sure they check back in with their coach for tips to
improve their next race.
BE A VOLUNTEER!
Remember that all parents have a responsibility to help out at any
meet at which their child is swimming by volunteering for a few
hours. There are a variety of different jobs to do, so try out a
few! If you are unsure about how to perform a job, see the
volunteer coordinator.
RELAX! Swim
meets are not known for their brevity. If you’ve done your
duty as a timer, bring something to occupy your time while you wait
for your swimmer to swim again. Sit with other parents and get to
know each other. Some of the best relationships are cultivated at
swim meets!
Volunteer
positions
1.
Each family is asked to provide volunteer help at every meet that
your child swims.
2. A
volunteer sheet for each meet will be posted on the website a few
days before the meet so you can check your assignment. 3. We will be counting on your help to make our meets run
efficiently. Thank you in advance for all your help this
season
|
