What to Expect at Your First Swim Meet
A Guide for City of Sunderland ASC Parents
Swim meets are a great opportunity for the whole family to spend time together as well as with all the other athletes on the team.
Below are some guidelines geared to help you through your first couple of swim meets.
What To Take To A Swim Meet
Towels wet bodies are everywhere so pack at least two. Small cooler bag of healthy snacks and drinks – suggestions for items to bring: Plenty of Water, granola bars, fruit, yogurt, dry cereal, trail mix, sandwiches.
Several changes of clothes – such as track suit bottoms, hoodies, track suits, and t-shirts. A pair of pool side shoes to keep your toes protected. Swimmers need to stay warm between events and there is nothing worse than pulling on cold, soggy clothes.
Equipment required – We advise that you allow for breakages therefore always carry with you 2 pairs or googles, 2 swim caps and 2 costumes. No other swim kit is required at a meet except your kick board for warm up.
Before the Meet Starts
Arrive at the pool at least 30 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins – Warm-up times are listed in the meet conditions posted on the website. Often coaches will email exact warm-up times a couple of days before a meet too.
Find a place to put your swim stuff. – The team sits together in a group or common area so look for some familiar faces and then set up camp.
Help your swimmer find the COSASC coaches and team managers – Look for coaches on deck or area to let them know you are at the meet.
At some meets for spectators tickets may have to be purchased in advance of the event online others will be a pay on the door at the time of the event.
Start Lists may also be available for sale or on-line. This is where you will find what heat and lane your swimmer is in for each event Swimmers report to the pool and/or coach for warm-ups.
It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. Swimmers bodies are just like cars on a cold day; they need to get the engine going and warmed-up before being able to go all out. This is a good time for parents to get a cup of coffee while the kids are busy!
Swimmers return to team 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 and team managers need to know where you are during the meet. The meet will usually start about 10 minutes after warm-ups are over.
The Meet Starts
Know what events your swimmer is competing in
It is important for a swimmer to know what event they are swimming in. Again a programme or start sheet is the swimmers best friend. Mark up your swimmers events with a highlighter pen.
Listen for event announcements.
Swimmers must check start sheets and pay attention to the meet so they will know when they swim. Events are usually announced over loudspeaker or are visible on the electronic timing boards. Swimmers should report to marshalling area with cap goggles and water bottle.
Report to COSASC coaches
COSASC coaches ask their swimmers to check in with them before each race at certain events. This is when the coaches can give last minute reminders and encouragement to the swimmers about their upcoming race. Swimmers should allow enough time for this when reporting to marshalling. The coaches/team managers will not hunt for athletes after sending them to marshalling.
Report to your assigned lane
The time keepers 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.
Parents, find a seat (or offer to be a time keeper).
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, volunteering is a good idea. All meets typically need many officials, and it can be a good way to pass the time at a meet. Plus, it is a great way to see the meet, be able to watch your child poolside and most of the air quality/ temperature is better at pool level than in the viewing area!
Swimmers, swim your race
Time to see how all that hard work in practice is going to pay off!
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:
Athlete feedback opportunity first followed by –
a.) Positive comments or praise
b.) Suggestions for improvement
Check in with parents
Parents should follow these guidelines after your swimmers race – Wait until the end of sessions rather than encouraging your child to come to you after every race. This will allow the athlete a far better experience and understanding of how the team operates. At the interval try to follow these points: a.) 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 how proud you are of their effort b.) Send your swimmer back to the team area and relax, find something to eat, and wait for next session to be called
Please note that all athletes are the responsibility of the parents / guardians at the lunch break to allow a break for the coaches and team managers.
Repeat above steps until all events have been completed
Final check in with team managers before heading home
When a swimmer has completed all of there events for the day, they are able to go home. Be sure, however, to check with the coaches / Team managers before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay / finals. 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 is not there. Please note that at multi day meets where finals are in operation, if COSASC have athletes represented, ALL athletes are expected to be in attendance in club kit.
Ask for help!
If during any of this you feel lost or confused, be sure to ask other COSASC parents for help! We have all had our first meet and know it can be overwhelming. Once you have attended one or two meets, it will all become very routine and enjoyable.
Congratulations! You are now ready to be a COSASC swim parent!
How to check the results?
Before the meet: Check the City of Sunderland ASC Facebook page as most meets will have access to a live results page to see the event results.
At the meet: Whether or not Live Results is being used, paper results are always posted for each event, as the meet progresses. Ask a parent volunteer from the meet host team where the results are posted. You will find your swimmers time and place.