Our first swim meet is this Saturday, June 20th here at Riverside 7:30 am for warm-ups and 8 am meet start. We will have the sign-ups at practice on Friday during practice. I know we have many first timers, so the following is basically how the meet will run:
- Each swimmer is allowed to swim up to 3 individual events. If your swimmer is brand-new and nervous, free and back are good ones to start with. There are 2 relays for each age group. We will announce during the meet for any interested swimmers to come over to form a relay. Sometimes there are not enough spots for all interested kids because of the number of kids in a relay and who is able to do the strokes legally. We'll do our best to include all those who would like to participate in a relay.
- When you arrive, check in with our coaches at the front desk to pick up your cards. You can also pick up a meet schedule. There will be someone announcing events, but it's always good to use that to follow up on where we are at. Your child should report to the bullpen with the card for the event they are coming over to swim (have them leave the rest of their cards with you). Once you have them to the bullpen, we will get them to their heat and lane. Then your job is to cheer for them. There are meet officials and stroke judges around the lanes. Please stay out of their way as you are cheering. We will do our best of Friday and in the bull-pen to remind swimmers of the rules. If your child gets disqualified, please help them look at it as a learning experience and not let them get too frustrated. Everyone gets disqualified at least once during their years swimming.
- The meet will last about 2.5-3 hours. Plan on bringing a few towels, snacks, water, and something for your kids to do if they get bored. We do our best to keep things rolling. There will be a small concessions stand that we use as a team fundraiser to buy some of our extra equipment. If you are willing to donate items for this, please bring them when you come Saturday. Things that sell well are donuts, muffins, gatorade, water, chips, candy, fruit, things like that. If you would email me what you are planning on bringing that would help me to know what else I should go buy.
- One last thing, swimmers will get their ribbons from the meet on Monday during practice. As you see swimmers finish a race, please note that the awards are given for the fastest times. We will look at the fastest in the entire age group, not just your child's heat. Every year we have disappointed kids who are convinced they got first place, because they did win their heat, but didn't realize there were 3 or 4 heats of their age group. You are welcome to ask your child's timer for their time, but please don't bother the ribbon table to find out the place. It slows them down. I will post the results on the blog a few days after the meet.
- Sorry for the long post. I want everyone to understand how these meets work.
Thank you so much for all of this great info! One question: Will their coaches be at the bullpen to help them find their lanes and what do the kiddos do after they race? Hang out with their coaches/team or with us as parents? #Newbies! :)
ReplyDeleteI will be running the bullpen. All you need to do is get them there. After their events, they hang out with families until their next event. Coaches will be all over the place at this meet to help if you have any questions. Ask as many as you want. We are happy to help.
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