- Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. This time will be listed in the meet information, in the newsletter, and on announcement boards.
- Upon arrival, find a place to put your swimmer’s blankets, swim bags and/or sleeping bags. The team usually sits in one place together, so look for some familiar faces. According to USA Swimming rules (because of insurance purposes), parents are not allowed on deck unless they are serving in an official capacity. If the team space is on the pool deck, send your swimmer to that space.
- Your swimmer should get his/her cap and goggles and report to the coach for warm-up instructions and to have their event numbers written on their hand. It is important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team.
- After warm-up, swimmers return to the team area until the first event is called. This is a good time for your swimmer to go to the bathroom, get a drink, or get settled in. The meet will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are over.
- Event numbers will be called over the loudspeaker, and swimmers will be asked to report to the “clerk of course”. Swimmers should report with his/her cap and goggles. Generally, girls’ events are odd-numbered and boys’ events are even-numbered. Example: “Event #26, 10-Under Boys, 50 freestyle, report to Clerk of Course.”
- The “Clerk of Course” area is where all swimmers check in before their race. The people running the “Clerk of Course” will sit each swimmer in an assigned seat. This seat corresponds to the swimmer’s heat and lane number. The clerk will usually line up all the swimmers and take them down to the pool in correct order so that all swimmers get to the right spot.
- The swimmer swims their race. After each event, swimmers should go immediately to their coach. The coach will discuss the race with each swimmer. When the swimmer is done speaking with the coach, they return to the team area and prepare for their next event.
- After your child swims, tell him/her how great they did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique with them. You need to tell him/her how proud you are.
- When a swimmer has completed all of their events, they and their parents get to go home. Parents: make sure you check with a coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed only to for a relay only to find out their relay teammate left early.
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