ADVICE ABOUT MEETS FOR NOVICE SWIMMERS AND THEIR PARENTS

1. Have fun and enjoy your (first) meet!

2. The night before

• Ensure you know which sessions the races you have entered are in.  Warm-up times for each session are sent out by the organisers a few days before the meet and we publish them on our club’s website Events Calendar page.
• Pack the bag you will take poolside with you, including:
  • costume (and possibly a spare)
  • club hat (preferably two - order spares from club.kit@swimchepstow.co.uk)
  • goggles (and spare)
  • black club t-shirt
  • flip flops (optional)
  • two towels
  • healthy lunch and snacks 
  • enough drinks for the competition (squash or water, no fizzy drinks)
• Get plenty of sleep. Make sure you have planned your route and arrive early.

3. Arrival - Wear comfortable clothes to and from the pool. Arrive at least 15 minutes before warm up, change in the changing rooms, then go poolside and make yourself known to your coach.  Look out for all the black t-shirts!  All swimmers must then stay with the coaches and the swimming team whilst the meet is in progress.  Swimmers are not allowed to stay with parents outside the allocated swimmers’ seating area. Parents are not allowed to go in the changing rooms or poolside.

4. Warm-Up - Warm-up is essential to your performance.  It is the opportunity get familiar with the diving blocks, depth and water temperature, positioning of the 5m flags and the feel for the end of wall. These sessions are strictly organised as they are extremely busy. Swimmers must always follow instruction from their swimming coach or the poolside officials. Once warm-up has finished, dry off and put on your club top. It’s essential that you keep warm. Swimmers are required to stay poolside with their team mates throughout the meet. Parents, meanwhile, remain in the seating area provided for them! Swimmers from time to time may be allowed to go and see their parents/guardians but must at all times check first with the coach on poolside.

5. Off to Marshalling - Swimmers will be called to marshalling ahead of their race. It is important that you listen carefully to instructions from your coaches; this will help your performance in the race. Once in marshalling, give your name to the marshal in charge and you will be directed to the relevant seat. Marshals organise swimmers into the correct heats and lanes and tell them when to go to the officials on the relevant lane.  It is important that all swimmers follow marshalling instructions at all times; failure to do so may result in you missing your race.

6. Starts for Beginners 

• It’s a good idea to put your hats and goggles on just before the marshals send you over to the blocks.
• Leave your t-shirts etc. on until just before you go up to the starting blocks. The officials for your lane will check your name again. This is a good time to remove the last of your warm clothes and put them in the box by the block.
• The referee blows a short series of whistles to signal that swimmers should stand behind their starting block. 
• When the referee blows a long blast on the whistle you should: stand on the block, or stand at the edge of the pool if you are starting in the water, or jump into the pool if it is a backstroke start.
• When the starter gives the command “Take your marks” take up your position and remain completely still until the start signal is given.
• If a swimmer moves on the block or dives too soon it will be deemed a false start, resulting in a Disqualification, as most meets use the “one start rule” which means the swimmer will not have another chance.

7. Disqualification - there are a number of reasons a swimmer can be disqualified including:

• making a false start
• delaying the start
• faulty stroke
• faulty turn
• faulty finish.

See FINA STROKE RULES on notice board.

Don't worry! Disqualification is very common and happens to everyone when they are starting out. The best thing a swimmer can do is not to get upset but learn from your mistake. Try to find out why you were disqualified.

8. At the end of the Race

• wait for the request to clear the pool at the end of the race
• pick up your top from the box where you left it
• return to your coach for feedback about your swim
• take a shower and/or dry off and put your warm clothes on
• make sure you always have a drink at the end of a race.

Advice for Novice Parents

• Remind yourself of your swimmer's races and check which sessions they are in.
• Check the time of the warm-ups for these sessions against the schedule (available on our club’s website Events Calendar page).
• Get everything possible ready the night before (costumes, goggles, towels etc). Preparation is the key. Many parents take a cool bag with food and drink as venues differ vastly with what they provide and the cafes get very busy. 
• Bring the record you made of your swimmer's races and a pen to mark down your child’s times on the programme. A highlighter is ideal if they are swimming in more than one race.
• Bring something to keep you occupied as there can be a long time between events. Wear something cool even if it’s snowing outside – poolsides are very hot!