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How to survive a swim
meet
Plan on arriving at least
10 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.
• 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
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