Swim Meet June 21 at Riverside

I've had a lot of questions about this first meet, so I will do my best to explain how these meets work...

All swimmers who would like to participate are welcome to.  If your child is nervous, home meets are the best place to try it out because it will be staffed by Riverside and I will be able to help answer questions and such.  Each swimmer is allowed to swim up to 3 individual events and up to 2 relays. The individual events are free, butterfly, backstroke, individual medley, and breaststroke.  The distances vary depending on your child's age.  Sign-ups will take place at practice TOMORROW, Friday June 20th.  If your child will not be at practice, you can sign up via email.  Your child is allowed to choose their own events.  You are welcome and encouraged to talk to your child's coach for suggestions as well.  Most new swimmers just swim free and backstroke because they are not as technical.

The day of the meet:
You should arrive between 7:30-7:45 and check in with me at the front gate.  I will have green cards to give you for your child.  There will be a card for each of your child's events.  Parents are in charge of the cards until they go to the bullpen.  The card will have the event name as well as an EVENT NUMBER.  Listen for the numbers being called/posted on the white board.  When your child's event is called, send them with their card (just the one for the event they are currently swimming) to the bullpen. (the rows of chairs near the baby pool).  I will be working the bull pen and will get them into a lane and heat.  Once they are there, we will take over and you can go over to the pool to watch them race.
Then they can rest until their next number is called and we repeat the process.

I expect the meet to last around 3 hours.  We always start with the youngest kids and work our way up for each event, with the exception of the 50 free at the beginning of the meet (before the relays).  That event was added to allow high school swimmers that sprint race.  The rest of the free events will be after the relays.

Relays:  If your child wants to be on a relay team, age groups will be called over to the office area, where my coaches will help put together as many relay teams that we can.

What to bring:
Swim suit and goggles of course!  I will pass out swim caps on Friday and Saturday.  If you need an additional cap or lose yours, they cost $5 to replace them.  Bring more than 1 towel, with all the in and outs, it's nice to have a dry towel mid-way through.  We will have a team concessions stand (info in the email), but you may want to bring a few extra snacks.  Swim meets have a tendency to make kids hungry.

Your child is welcome to leave as soon as they are done with their events.  Ribbons for places 1-6 will be passed out at practice on Monday.  All children will get either a place ribbon or a participation ribbon.  Please prep your kids so they understand that even if they won their heat, the times are gathered, and we place according to time.  There are some events that we have 30 kids participate in so it gets pretty complicated.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.  I will be there during practice tomorrow, and would be happy to help you.

Christine 801-368-0779
christinewhatcott@gmail.com