New Swim Parent

Swim Meet Guide*

By Charlotte, veteran swim parent

April 2013

*aka- A Quick Start Guide to your 1st swim meet

By now you maybe are wondering what you’ve gotten yourself and your child into! Your primary objective at this point is to survive your first swim meet. Follow this Quick Start Guide in order to successfully navigate your first meet experience. If this first paragraph has scared you please skip to #5 at the bottom and read.

# 1 Do Not sign up to work at the 1st meet! Your job is to get your child in place to swim his/her events

and monitor your child between events.

Exception to this rule: there are 2 adults.

See a board member or your swim team mentor if you made this mistake and signed up to work.

# 2Packing list:

  • swim suit
  • goggles (2 pair)
  • cap (optional)
  • ample supply of dry towels (2-3 per swimmer)
  • sweats to put over suit between events
  • dry clothes, including socks & underwear to put on after meet (**Put in separate bag or Ziploc bag. Everything gets wet in a swim bag at a meet!)
  • flip flops/sandals/Crocs (Locker room floors are gross!)
  • water bottles
  • $ for concession stand purchases if concessions are available (None at “home” meets.)
  • cooler with healthy snacks (Great snacks for swimmers: bananas & “Power Bars”. Also include crackers w/ cheese or peanut butter, fruit, bagels, nuts, yogurt, veggies & dip.)
  • chairs for yourself
  • toys for kids, none for you. You’ll be too busy figuring out this meet thing!
  • Sharpie permanent marker or ink pen for writing events on your child’s arm.
  • Blanket/ sleeping bag
  • Camera
  • Sometimes we go out to eat after a meet. Bring funds if you think that you want to eat at 9:15 at night.

# 3Glue yourself to a veteran parent mentor. We have all been there. There are not stupid questions!!

FYI

1. Swim meets last for approximately 3 hours. Yes, it’s true! You are in for the long haul but you will have fun socializing with other swim parent after your 1st meet. Swim parents are a special group. It is not abnormal to feel overwhelmed during the 1st meet. If you followed #3 above you will be less over whelmed! You can leave when your child is finished swimming as long as the coach knows. Double check and confirm with the coach that your child will not be needed for a relay.

2. Finger nail polish remover cleans permanent Sharpie marker off of skin. 

3. Read “Swim Meet Survival Guide” after you have made it through your first couple of meets and you’ve regained your sense of humor.

4. There’s a reason soccer, t-ball and dance do not have survival guides!

5. I’ve been doing this for 10 years including 9 years of year ‘round swimming, and I’m still reasonably sane.

I hope that your kids enjoy and get as much out of swimming as mine have.  My oldest will begin his 1st year on a college swim team this coming year! Charlotte