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Meet survival guide
We hope the
following tips will help prepare you and your child for a more
enjoyable meet experience. Meets are the first official
recording of swim times. It is through the competition of a
swim meet that many learn the value of sportsmanship. Swimmers
will be applying techniques learned in practice to a competition
with other swimmers of similar skill and ability. When
competing for the first time, the swimmers need to focus on
completing their races, completing them legally, and doing things
right. It is FCAT’s philosophy that each athlete
competes against the clock as much as they compete with the others
swimmers, developing a love for the sport and the pride that comes
from self improvement.
How do
I enter my swimmer in a challenge
meet?
FCAT Coaches will
evaluate which meets will be appropriate for the swimmers. We
require all meet fees to be paid in advance. The coaches will
let you know how much the entry fees are. It is the
responsibility of the swimmer and their family to ensure payment is
placed in the Dues Folder at the Farmington Aquatic Center or
payment is made online by the deadline if they intend to attend the
meet.
When
should I arrive?
The coach will
give the swimmers instruction on arrival time before the day of the
meet. Please have your child make sure they know what time the
coaches expect them to be ready for warm-ups. The warm up
time is usually an hour prior to the beginning of the meet. By
arriving early, you’ll be able to find a good parking spot,
and a good seat for the meet. Plus the swimmers will need time
to change and get their gear together.
What
do I do at the away meet?
First, at away
meets FCAT parents and swimmers are required to sit together as a
group. This will give families a perfect opportunity to get to
know each other. The swimmers will have the opportunity to
build camaraderie. If you participate in a portable hobby,
bring it along. There will be quite a lot of
“down” time between events. Reading, knitting,
water-proof games (several companies now sell water-proof playing
cards), etc are all great suggestions for keeping
occupied. Occasionally, other teams may ask for help to run
the meet.
What
do I do at the home meets?
At home meets, all
parents will need to volunteer to help where needed. Signup
sheets are usually available a few weeks prior to the
meet. One of the best positions is as a timer, since you are
sitting right at the starting blocks. Other positions include
gear sales, concessions, hospitality, and relief
workers. Signing up early is a good idea, since you can choose
from a variety of jobs. Each family must work a total of at
least 4 hours. Failure to work these hours will result in a
charge of $10.00 per hour for the 4 hour period. Each family
need only work four hours even if they have multiple
swimmers. However, both parents often team up to fill open
positions. Anyone who is 12 years old or over is eligible to
work. Some families with small children often have the swimmer
donate time.
One of the
absolute best positions is as an official. Officials get
refreshments and breaks. Please ask a member of the board if
you are interested in becoming an official.
What
should my swimmer do when they are not
swimming?
While swimmers are
not swimming, they should rest and sit with their
team. It’s important that they are not wandering the
facility, as they risk missing their swimming event. The
events will proceed whether the swimmer is present or not. And
the swimmer is charged, whether they compete or not. So
it’s important for them to be nearby and ready when their
event time arrives. Parents will need to keep track of the
events and make sure their child is ready at the right
time. The team will have swimmers competing in practically
every event, therefore the coaches remain on the side of the pool
during the meet to support and encourage those swimmers currently
in the water. The coaches cannot track down
swimmers.
There is usually a
concession stand with snacks for the swimmers. Eating light is
recommended and sticking with healthy snacks will help the swimmers
perform at their best. Some families will pack their own water
and snacks.
Swimmers can pass
the time with MP3 players, games, homework, reading,
etc. Resting in between events is strongly
recommended. Please do not leave any valuables unattended, as
it is possible that they might be lost, stolen, or
damaged.
I want
to be a supportive swim parent. How do I talk to my swimmer
at a meet if they don’t swim
well?
Encourage your
swimmer by letting them know they did their best, and that you are
proud of them regardless of a win or a loss. Also, other
swimmers will often support each other, sharing stories of their
worst swim. Inevitably there are new swimmers who DQ
(disqualify) in every event! It happens. Don’t
criticize their performance, since everyone has a bad
day. Never yell or humiliate your swimmer. Give them a
hug and let them know they will do better next
time.
What
else do I need to know?
Dress
cool! Yes, even in
the winter. Indoor pools are often kept warm, and will be even
warmer with the presence of more people.
Bring a
highlighter.
You’ll be able to buy a program which shows all the events
for the meet. In the program, there will be a listing of the
swimmer, which heat they are in, and what lane they are swimming
in. Having a highlighter helps to distinguish which events
your swimmer is competing in.
Make sure
your swimmer brings extra clothes and towels. Extra towels are a must. After
every event your swimmer will be wet and need to dry
off. Generally, it’s a good idea to have a least one
towel for every 2 events. Having sweats or similar clothing to
wear over the swimsuit is also helpful.
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