Swim Meet Parent Survival Guide
MEET INFO
PLAN TO ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 4:45pm for home meets and
5:15pm for away meets. Home team warms up at 5:00pm and visitors at
5:30pm. There will be an officials meeting (for anyone judging, timing,
scoring, or starting) and the meet will officially being at 6:00pm.
Swimmers should wear their team shirt to the meet - please have it
marked inside with your child(ren)’s name. Team suit should be worn and
team cap packed and ready to wear.
When you arrive, take your children to swimmer check-in to get their
swimmer number written and also so coaches know they have arrived.
PLEASE DO NOT PUT SUNSCREEN ON SWIMMERS BEFORE THEY
HAVE THEIR SWIMMER NUMBER. The marker won’t write on top of
sunscreen or it will quickly wash off.
6 AND UNDERS compete in freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke.
These swimmers will be taken to the clerk of course by a parent kidpusher,
one for the boys and one for the girls. Identify who your child’s
kid pusher is as soon as you can. The Coaches will determine the events
and heat in which the swimmers will participate. 6 and Under swimmers
can only compete in two individual “main events” (1st heat) per meet.
7/8’s, 9/10’s, 11/12’s, 13/14’s, and 15-18’s will compete in medley relay,
freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle relay. These
swimmers may only swim in three individual main events (1st heat) per
meet. The Coaches will determine the events and heats in which the
swimmers will participate.
Swimmers aged 5-10 receive a participation ribbon for the freestyle event.
All swimmers not in the first heat of an event receive a participation ribbon.
Swimmers that place in the top 6 of any event will receive a place ribbon
but not on the day of the meet. Place ribbons will be placed in your
Family Folder.
A Swimmer may be DQ’d (disqualified) by a Stroke and Turn judge for
improperly swimming a stroke. This happens to even the best swimmers
at times. Use of lane ropes, pool sides, or bottom of pool and improper
technique can result in a DQ. The stroke and turn judge is NOT to be
approached by a parent, visitor, or coach at the meet under any
circumstance. Please let the coaches address technique with your
swimmer.
The HALFWAY point of the meet is at the beginning of Breaststroke.
Swimmers should stay with the team in their “kid pusher area”. The kid
pushers should not have to play hid and seek to find swimmers when it is
time to line up. Parents please know where the swimmers are at all times.
They must be available for their events.
The Meet will last until at least 9:30-10:00pm, depending on the size of the
other team and number of lanes available for us to use. At home meets
we have the concession stand to provide food and drinks at a reasonable
cost. Most other teams also have some sort of concession stand. It is a
good idea to pack water and healthy snacks/sandwiches, though, to get
you and your gang through the meet.
Gather your things before it gets dark. Once the sun goes down it is hard
to find things in the dark. Please, please, please help pick up trash and
keep the area clean.
Bring lawn chairs to sit in.
If it is necessary to clear the deck due to inclement weather, DO NOT
LEAVE, but please clear the deck swiftly and safely. The best thing to do
is usually go sit in the safety of your car unless the pool facility has enough
indoor space to accommodate the team.
A Swim Meet Checklist (in order of priority)
DECLARE your swimmer(s) attendance (yes/no) prior to the communicated deadline cutoff (Saturday preceding the Tuesday meet)
GOGGLES – Might want to consider bringing two pairs, in case of a last-minute emergency occurs.
SWIMSUITS – Ensure your swimmers are wearing this year’s team swimsuit.
SWIM CAP - Caps are not required for summer swimming, though many swimmers (boys and girls) use them. Because it can rip trying to put it on, it helps to have a second one in your bag.
TOWELS - At least two towels per swimmer. It is summer and it is hot, but getting out of the water can be chilly, especially later in the evening. If the weather is calling for rain, add at least 1 towel per swimmer.
SUNSCREEN - Although swim meets don’t officially kick off until 6:pm, the first warm-ups begin at 4:30 or 4:45 when the sun is still baking. Many pools don’t have lots of shaded areas and you and your swimmer will be out in the sun. [See note below about Sharpies and sunscreen lotion.]
WATERBOTTLE - Filled with water, Gatorade, etc. It's very important to avoid dehydration.
ENTERTAINMENT - There are times when the swimmers have a lot of time between races, it helps to have books, crayons/paper, cards, dolls and trucks, or other quiet games that the kids can play - and that you don’t mind getting wet. LABEL EVERYTHING!!
SHARPIE - You can write your child’s event numbers on his/her hand and with the heat sheet you can add heat and lane information, too. Nail polish remover, sunscreen, or baby oil will take off the ink easily post-meet. Sharpies and sunscreen don’t mix. If you write your swimmer’s events on their hand and then spray them with sunscreen, the writing will come off. Sunscreen is a perfect ink remover at the end of the night, though.
CHAIRS - Bring something to sit on. Most pools don't have enough seating space.
SNACKS - Most venues have a snack bar or food table, but you may want to bring granola bars, fruit, yogurt, bagels, or similar food to snack on between races. Avoid candy bars, donuts chips etc.
SWEATS, T-SHIRTS - Try to bring an extra sweatshirt, t-shirt, shorts to keep you warm between your races. Spirit wear is great for this purpose.
RAIN GEAR - A poncho, raincoat, or water-repellent clothing are good to have in the event of rain. If there is a storm, the meet will be paused, but if it is just raining the meet can go on ... which means you may be standing poolside in a rain.
INSECT REPELLENT - Sometimes our team area is in the grass and as the evening goes on, the mosquitoes and other bugs come out.
SWIMSUITS - It never hurts to have a backup suit in case one rips or straps break, etc. HELPFUL THINGS TO KNOW AND REMEMBER
Wetting your head before you put on a swim cap can help it go on easier - it also minimizes the amount of chlorine your hair absorbs.
Because of the potential for evening showers or storms, packaging items in Zip-top bags can be a lifesaver. o Regular sizes can keep wallets, phones, and electronics dry; and pens, sunscreen lotion, snacks, etc. organized. o Extra-large ones can ensure you've got at least one dry towel even if it rains.
Make sure swimmers are on time for warm-up
Check in with the Volunteer Coordinator to confirm your work position for the meet (both home and away). Please be alert for announcements, including timers’ meetings, etc.
Don’t let the kids eat anything too heavy right before a race.
Make sure you know when your child is swimming and that they are listening for the Clerk to call them to the staging area.
