|
What to Expect at Your First Swim
Meet:
A Guide for Swim
Florida Parents
Swim
meets are a great opportunity for the whole family to spend time
together as well as with
all the other families on the team. Below are some guidelines
geared to help you through
your first couple of swim meets.
What To Take To A Swim
Meet
1.Swimsuit, Swim Florida cap, and goggles. Having
an extra suit, cap, and pair of goggles
2. Towels – wet
bodies everywhere so pack at least two.
3.Old blanket, or chair. Something comfy for you and your swimmer to sit on in
the crash area.
4. Need to stay warm between events and there is nothing worse
than pulling on cold, soggy sweatpants. Several
changes of clothes such as sweatpants, sweatshirts, and
t-shirts.
5. Ipods, Gameboys, etc. Especially important if you are
bringing youngsters who are not swimming! Parents often bring
newspapers, books, laptops, sewing, anything to pass
the time!
6. Small cooler of healthy snacks and drinks.
Suggestions for items to bring: Water, Hi-C, fruit juice, Gatorade, granola
bars, fruit, yogurt, cereal, trail mix,
sandwiches.
7. Sharpie marker, pen, highlighter.
Entertainment for the whole family such as
travel games, cards, coloring books, books,
*Special Parents’ Note
The pool
area is usually very warm. Make sure you
dress appropriately. Nothing is worse
than being hot at a swim meet. It makes
the time pass very slowly!
Before the Meet
Starts
1. before the scheduled warm-up time begins.
Arrive at the pool at least 15
minutes
Warm-up
times are listed in the meet information posted on the website. Often coaches announce or post exact warm-up times several days before
a meet as well.
2. Find a place to
put your swimmer’s
“stuff.”
The team
usually sits together in an area, so look
for some familiar faces and then set up
camp.
3. Help your swimmer
find the coaches. Look for coaches on
deck to let them know you are at the meet.
4. Find a
heat sheet to purchase, or share with another
parent.
Heat
sheets are usually available for sale in the lobby or concession
area of the pool and generally
sell for $5-$10. Often a group of parents splits the cost and
shares a heat sheet. It lists
all swimmers in each event in order of “seed time”.
This is where you will find what heat and lane your swimmer is in for each
event.
5. Write on
your swimmer.
Write
each event number, heat, and lane on your swimmer’s arm in
“permanent” (i.e., waterproof) marker, like a Sharpie. This helps your swimmer
remember what events he or she
is swimming, what event number to listen for, and what lane to get
lined up behind. This step is
sometimes saved until after the swimmers are done with warm-ups.
6. Swimmers
report to the pool
It is very
important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team.
Swimmers’ bodies are just like cars on a cold day; they need
to get the engine going and warmed-up before being able to go all
out. This is a good time for parents to get a cup of coffee and a
donut while the kids are busy!
7. Swimmers
return to Swim Florida area after
warm-ups.
Time
to dry off, put on warm clothes, go to the bathroom, and write
events on the arm if this wasn’t done
earlier.
8. The meet
will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are
over.
The
Meet Starts
1. Know what
events your swimmer is competing in.
It is
important for swimmer to know what event numbers he is swimming.
Again, a heat sheet and sharpie are a swim parent’s best
friends!
2. Listen
for event announcements.
Upcoming events are usually announced over the loudspeaker,
asking swimmers to report to the starting blocks or to the
“bullpen, “ a staging area used at very large meets or
for swimmers 8 years and younger. Swimmers should report with cap
and goggles. Example: “Event #26, 10-Under Boys, 50
freestyle, first call to report to the starting
blocks.”
3. Check in
with the coaches.
Coaches will ask their swimmers to check in with them
before each race. This is when coaches give last minute reminders
and encouragement to the swimmers about their upcoming race.
Swimmers should allow enough time when reporting to the blocks for
this important step!
4. Report to
the blocks.
The
timers behind the starting blocks often check to make sure that
swimmers are lined up in the right order. However, it is always a
good idea to have your swimmer check in with the lane timers to
make sure they are in the right lane and
heat.
5. Parents,
find a seat.
According to USA Swimming rules, parents are not allowed on
deck unless they are serving in an official capacity. Parents must
sit in the spectator area, usually bleachers on the side of the
pool.
6.
Swimmers, swim your race.
Time
to see how all that hard work in practice is going to pay
off!
After
each race, your swimmer should go immediately to their coach.
Generally, the coaches follow these guidelines after a
race:
a)
Positive comments or praise
b)
Suggestions for improvement
7. Check in
with parents.
Parents should follow these guidelines after your
swimmer’s race:
a)
Tell your swimmer how great they did! The coaching staff will be
sure to discuss stroke technique with them. You just need to tell
your swimmer how proud you are of their
effort.
b)
Take your swimmer back to the Swim Florida area and relax, find
something to eat, and wait for next event to be
called.
8.
Repeat above steps until all events have been
completed.
9.
Final check in with the coaches before heading
home.
When
a swimmer has completed all of his events for the day, he/she is
able to go home. Be sure, however, to 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 he/she is not
there.
10.
Ask for help!
If
during any of this you feel lost or confused, be sure to ask other
parents for help! We have all had our “first meets” and
know it can be overwhelming. Once you have attended one or two
meets, it will all become very routine and
enjoyable.
Congratulations! You
are now ready!
|
