When you arrive:
Be on time! Better yet, arrive early. The parking lot might be full and
you may have to unload your car and go park down the street. Allow yourself 8-10
minutes to unload your car and walk to the pool area.
First stop. Find the check-in place. Swimmers need to check in and
write their event numbers on their hand or arm with ink (use a permanent marker.) This
helps swimmers remember what events he/she is swimming in and what event number to listen or watch for.
Then report to the team area. The team usually sits in one place together, so look for some familiar faces and the
ESC banner.
Next, make sure your swimmer
checks in with Coach John! He will announce the warm-up time.
Warm-up is mandatory for all
swimmers. Warm-up generally takes place between 7:30am
and 8:30am for a Saturday / Sunday meet. Swimmers need to report to warm-up on time
with their caps and goggles on. This is the time for swimmers to get ready for
their races, get their muscles warmed up, and get used to the pool they are swimming in. It gives swimmers the opportunity
to try out the starting blocks, see how the pool feels with all the flags and people milling around.
Following warm-up Coach John
will hold a team meeting and all swimmers need to be present.
After the team meeting, your
swimmer will go back to the area where our team is sitting and wait there until his/her first event is called. This
is a good time to make sure he/she goes to the bathroom if necessary, gets a drink, or just gets settled in. The meet
will usually start 10 – 15 minutes after the team meeting.
Parents! A good time to purchase a program or look at somebody else’s program is while your swimmer is at
warm-up. The program will show your child’s approximate position in the
event. It is very helpful to highlight your swimmer’s events in the program. Exact
heat and lane assignments will be posted after check-in is completed. Swimmers
are heated by their entry times, ensuring that they will be swimming against others of approximately the same ability. Within each event, there are usually several “heats” as there are more
swimmers than lanes. Within each heat, there are lane assignments. A short time after check-in is completed, the meet sponsors will post heat and lane assignments. Coach John or one of the team parents will indicate the posting location.
It is your swimmer’s responsibility to confirm their heat and lane for all their events. At large swim meets heat and lane postings will occur in blocks (not all at one time), so the swimmer will
have to check periodically throughout the day. Swimmers need to report their
heat and lane assignments to Coach John.
Meet Job Assignments for Parents!
Parent volunteers run swim meets,
thus parent participation is expected. At away meets, parents can help by timing
races – a sign-up sheet will be circulated among the parents and each family is expected to commit a minimum of half
an hour to an hour of their time.
During the meet:
Swim meets are very fast-paced
with events quickly following one another. Each event begins with the youngest
age group and works up to the oldest, alternating boys and girls. The current
event number is usually posted on a board by the Announcer. Additionally, the
Announcer will usually announce (a) the current event number and (b) the “on deck” (up next) event. Listen, watch, and always be aware of the events, as you should have your swimmer report directly to his/her
lane for competition a number of heats before he/she actually swims.
Throughout the day have your
swimmer check the posted line-up for their heat and lane.
Swimmers need to report to the
coach for warm-up before each event.
Swimmers need to check in with
the coach and give the coach their heat & lane so the coach is prepared to watch them swim.
Swimmers need to report to his/her
lane with plenty of time before their event.
Immediately after the race, swimmers
can ask for their times.
Swimmers need to see the coach
after each race; he will evaluate the race and offer suggestions.
Swimmers need to warm down after
each race.
When your swimmer has completed
all of his/her events, please 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.
Once your child’s events
are done, and you have finished your meet job assignment for the day, you may leave the meet!
Please be considerate of the pool and clean up any trash that you may see around your area.
This will all become routine
after you have attended one or two meets. Please do not hesitate to ask any other
parent for help or information!
Meet results are posted on the
website and on the bulletin board after the meet. Any ribbons or medals earned will be placed in family folders and
all swimmers that earn individual best times will receive a card showing their results. Please retain these cards since
once a swimmer has earned 10 individual best times, the cards should be turned into the Coach in exchange for a medal.
What to bring to a meet:
Team swimsuit/Swim cap/Goggles
(spare pair too)
2 towels (or one for each event)
Team Parka, sweatpants and sweatshirt/t-shirt
Ice chest with nutritious snacks
and/or snack bar money
Water bottles
Permanent markers, highlighters,
and pens
Waterproof sunscreen and sunglasses
Blankets and beach chairs to
sit on
Toys or games that encourage
“quiet” play and keep your kids occupied between events
Good attitude ready to do your
best in the water and cheering your teammates! Everyone performs better when they see supporters at the end of their lane.
