What to expect at your first swim meet: A guide for LLL Parents!
What To Take To A Swim Meet:
1. Swimsuit, LLL cap, goggles and flip flops or non-slip shoes. Having an extra suit, cap, and pair of goggles packed is always a good idea. These items seem to rip and break at the most inopportune times!
2. Towels – pack at least two.
3. Something comfy for your swimmer to sit on in the tent area, such as an extra towel, old blanket, or beach chair.
4. Something comfy to sit on in the stands, or a beach chair. Most parents bring beach chairs, stadium chairs or blankets for the stands.
5. Several changes of clothes such as sweatpants, sweatshirts, and t-shirts. Swimmers need to stay warm between events and there is nothing worse than pulling on cold, soggy sweatpants.
6. Entertainment for the whole family such as travel games, cards, coloring books, books, iPods, Gameboys, etc. Especially important if you are bringing youngsters who are not swimming! Parents often bring
newspapers, books, laptops, anything to pass the time!
7. Small cooler of healthy snacks and drinks. Suggestions for items to bring: Water, Gatorade, granola bars, fruit, yogurt, dry cereal, trail mix, sandwiches.
8. Sharpie marker, pen and highlighter
*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. Arrive at the pool at least 20 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. Warm- up times are listed in the meet flier posted on the website. Often coaches announce or post exact warm-up times a couple of days before a meet as well.
2. Find a place to put your swimmer’s “stuff.” The team sits together under the team tent so look for some familiar faces and then set up camp. The tent is for swimmers only, parents can sit in the bleachers or bring their own chair for the “parents section”
3. Help your swimmer find the LLL coaches. Look for coaches on deck to let them know you are at the meet.
4. Find the heat sheet. Heat sheets are available on the team website for most meets. At some meets they will be printed out and available for sale.
5. Write on your swimmer.
Mark their arm before warm ups with their event information. 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.
6. Swimmers report to the pool and/or coach for warm-ups.
It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. 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 the tent area after warm-ups.
Time to dry off, put warm clothes on over swimsuit. Go to the bathroom if you have plenty of time before the start of the meet or first event. Do not wander around as the
coaches need to know where you are during the meet.
8. The meet will usually start about 10 minutes after warm-ups are over.
The Meet Starts
1. Know what events your swimmer is competing in.
It is important for a swimmer to know what event numbers he is swimming. Again, a meet program and sharpie or highlighter are a swim parent’s best friends!
2. Listen for event announcements.
Swimmers must check programs and pay attention to the meet so that they will know when they swim. Events are usually announced over the loudspeaker or are visible on the timing board. Swimmers should report with cap and goggles.
3. Check in with the coaches.
LLL coaches 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! The coaches will not hunt for swimmers to tell them when to go to their event/ lane.
4. Report to your assigned lane.
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 (or offer to be a timer).
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. If you are not one for crowded stands, volunteer to time!!! All meets typically need lane timers, and it can be a good way to pass the time at a meet if your child doesn’t need you. Plus, timing is a great way to see the meet, be able to watch your child poolside and most of the time the air quality/ temperature is better at pool level than in the viewing area.
6. Check in with the coaches...again!
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 swimmers race:
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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 that you are proud of their effort.
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Send your swimmer back to the tent area to relax, find something to eat and wait for the 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/her 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 they are not there.
10. Ask for help!
If during any of this you feel lost or confused, be sure to ask other LLL 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.
How to check the results:
Before the meet: Download the MeetMobile app for free on your phone or tablet for instant updated results of the meet. Some meets use MeetMobile as a means of providing meet results during the meet, but not all.
