Helpful Hints for Swim Families

This information is provided to assist those of you new to competitive swimming, I am sure we have not included everything, but here are a few tips!

Meet information will be posted on the bulletin board and on the website www.sealions.us.  Always check the warm up time for your swimmer, your escrow balance, directions to the pool, and hotel reservations if needed!  Now you are ready for a fun swimming experience.

Your athlete should wear his/her swimsuit to the meet: do not plan on time to change at the facility!  If the meet is outdoors, before you suit-up put on sunscreen.  Plan on arriving at least 10 minutes BEFORE warm ups start: to check in, to stake a claim on a piece of real estate for yourself and your cooler, buy a heat sheet and check out the concessions.

Your Athlete’s Swim Bag should contain: (label everything, bags, goggles, towels, etc, most equipment suits and caps will look the same!)

• Team Suit: also include a spare suit (suits get thin after repeated use!)
• Team Swim Cap: (Again bring a spare they tear easily)
• Goggles-2 pair (minimum-straps do break!); always alternate two pair during practice, NEVER wear untested goggles at a meet.
• Deck sandals(ever hear of plantar wart or athlete’s foot?) MAKE them wear sandals on EVERY pool deck-inside or outside-even ours! Their primary means of propulsions is the feet!
• Towels-Minimum of two per day; if the meet is a two day meet that would be four!
• Something warm: warm up suit, sweats, swim parka, polar fleece, etc.
• Sunscreen: for outdoor meets.
• Ear drops: Mix ½ vinegar with ½ alcohol and use after every practice and meet to prevent swimmer’s ear. This will not cure an ear infection or swimmer’s once your athlete has those problems please see a doctor!
• Water-Swimmers dehydrate easily, go figure!  They do not realize they are sweating!
• A black sharpie marker (we will explain)
• A highlighter for marking their race on the heat sheet.
• A pen for recording that important time achieved.
• Snacks:  Healthy snacks such as raisins, trail mix, fruit, veggies, pasta salad, string cheese, Power Bars, etc.
• Baby Powder: (sample size is plenty)- lightly dust the inside of the swim cap after drying and they will resist sticking together.
• Shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, comb, contact solution, inhaler for asthmatic swimmers, girls-only stuff, deodorant, and other toiletries.
• A DRY change of clothes for after the meet (to remain dry in a swim bag they should be in a separate compartment or Ziploc bag!

Now that you are packed and have arrived:

• Check in with your coach. Coaches will hold roll call prior to the warm-ups. All PSL swimmers should stay on or near the pool deck and together, during the swim meet.  Meets are the best place for the team to really get to know each other.  Tell you athlete to head over to the rest of the team and have fun swimming!  Some swimmers bring gameboys, homework, (really!), cards, etc for filling in some of the wait time.
• Parents get ready for your important role at any meet: CHEER them on, congratulate, console if necessary but NEVER coach (unless of course you own the world record in the 200 IM). Our coaches require that each athlete come directly to them after they finish their race so that they can tell them how to improve, congratulate them, scold them, whatever is necessary. THAT is what we pay them for.  The main thing is that your athlete realizes that they are there to beat their own times and if in doing that they also beat other athletes, well then!  What an achievement!  But pouting, getting angry, scowling, crying and worst of all bragging is unsportsmanlike conduct and parents must avoid it at all costs!  Try to teach your swimmer to be a good sport and congratulate the swimmer who wins. Someday it will be your child’s turn to be the one congratulated!  Remind you athlete that their behavior reflects on their team: they must behave like a champion- with grace and humility no matter the outcome of any one race.
• Be A Timer: Consider serving for an hour or two as a timer. This is a simple job with minimal training required. If you can operate a stopwatch, this is the job for you!
• Facility Information: We attend many meets in indoor facilities, however, they do not all have bleachers.  Anniston, Birmingham, Montgomery and Prattville meets require that you provide your own seating.  Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Pensacola are University Pools with bleachers seating. (You can still bring chairs and set up outside weather permitting).
• Purchase a Heat Sheet: At each meet there will be a published schedule of the events.  This is a heat sheet and you should buy one! In a heat sheet events are listed in the order they will occur and the athletes participating in each event are listed in descending order according to the time they are entered with. Heat sheets costs between $5.00-$10.00 per meet.  Now use your highlighter to mark your swimmer’s events. Then, use the black sharpie on the swimmer’s dry skin to list their events in order. Write small and carefully so your swimmer can read it!  For example is Abby is in Event 27, 100 Breaststroke, Heat 5, Lane 6 then I would write on her arm like so:
  
  

  E H L   27 5 6 100 Breast

  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Swim meets are not known for their brevity. Bring something to occupy the time while you wait for your swimmer to compete.   (Of course at home meets all of our parents will be volunteering this time occupying thing is strictly for away meets!)  Play cards, read the paper, write your mother, address Christmas card, file your nails, etc.  Sit with other PSL parents and make new friends!