Welcome Families to the Greenfield Gremlins Swim Team
What to Expect at Your Swim Team Meet

ITEMS NEEDED FOR A SWIM MEET-(please remember these are just suggestions)

SWIM BAG:

• Team Swimsuit (red, black or a combo of red and black)
• Cap (team has some w/ Gremlins logo, or use your own)
• Goggles (good idea to have an extra pair for backup)
• Towels (2)
• Sharpie 
• Sunscreen
• Flip Flops
• Change of Clothes

SEATING

• Chairs such as camping or beach chairs
• Picnic Blanket or Sleeping bag that is open for kids to play games on it.

ENTERTAINMENT DURING MEET FOR SWIMMERS AND NON-SWIMMERS (SUGGESTIONS)

• Travel games
• Coloring books
• Tablet 
• Books

FOOD AND WATER

• Please keep your swimmer hydrated.  It will get very hot.
• There is usually a snack stand at the meets but a lot of people bring their own food.  

WHEN TO ARRIVE AND WHAT TO EXPECT

• Arrive at the pool at least 20 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins.  Warm-up times are listed in the swim meet email and remind (text) messages.   They are also listed on the schedule page 
• Find a place to put your swimmer’s “stuff.”  The team usually sits together on one side of the pool.  Get there early…space is usually limited.
• CHECK WITH YOUR COACH IMMEDIATELY: Help your swimmer find the coaches on the pool deck.
• Parents and older swimmers look at the heat sheets and use your Sharpie to write their events, heat numbers and lanes on their arm so they can read it. 

WARMUPS

• Swimmers report to the pool and/or coach for warmups.
• 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.
• Warm-up lasts approximately 20 minutes.  We will also have a team spirit activity.

WHAT DO I DO DURING THE MEET

• Know what events your swimmer is competing in. (remember to write it in sharpie on your swimmer)
• Upcoming events are usually announced over the loudspeakers, asking swimmers to report to the heating.  Example of what may be said, ‘Events 20-26, first call’
• Swimmers need to report to heating with cap and goggles.  Children 8 and under will have a volunteer helper looking for them.
• When your child moves to the blocks after heating there will be someone there to take their card and make sure they are in order and swimming in the right event.
• Cheer on all of the kids with positive encouragement when you are poolside.

AFTER YOUR CHILD’S RACE…WHAT’S NEXT?

• Tell your swimmer how great they did!  The coaches will be sure to discuss stroke techniques with them.  Let your child’s coach be the coach and you are the positive parent.  You just need to tell your swimmer how proud you are of their effort.  Take your swimmer back to your area to relax, find something to eat, and wait for the next event to be called.
• Those with children 8 and under will be finished in the first half of the meet as long as they aren’t in a relay in the second half of the meet.
• BUT those with children 8 and over, please don’t leave after your swimmer is done.  WE NEED HELP with cleaning up at the end of the meet!

If during any of this you feel lost or confused, be sure to ask other parents for help!  There is a lot of experience on the team and everyone is very willing to 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.