GETTING READY FOR THE BIG MEET
 

ARRIVAL AND SET UP

Swimmers will arrive 15-20 minutes before session start and will find their coaches/team on the pool deck.  Coaches and swimmers will have a designated spot at the side of the pool which will be their "base" for the day. We encourage our swimmers to hang out with their team and stay in one area for the duration of the meet. If your swimmer isn’t in the team area and is about to race, we may not be able to get them to their event on time.  There is a specator area at all swim meets.  Some are larger than others, but all will be warm, so dress appropriately.   PARENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE POOL DECK AT ANY TIME!
 

BETWEEN WARM UP AND FIRST RACE

The team will activate together on deck, and we will have a team meeting before hopping into the water to warm up. After the warmup, the swimmers’ job will be to keep warm, refuel and prepare for their races. Heat Sheets are available on an app called Meet Mobile – those are the schedule of all races for the day.  Coaches will have the heat sheets and will inform the swimmers when their races are. Most swimmers write their Event/Heat/Lane schedule on their arm or leg so they know when they swim. Note: Coaches are the only ones who will receive changes to heat sheets or the event schedule once the meet starts. Swimmers (and parents) ultimately need to rely on the information provided to them by their coaches. 
 

DURING EVENTS

Cheer for our swimmers! The more supported they feel, the better they will feel about their experience. There is usually a score board in the pool area which will have a display showing what event and heat is currently in the water, which will give you an idea of when they race. 

Your swimmer is likely going to be hungry and snacky throughout the meet, so make sure to bring a plethora of light, healthy snacks! Swim meets are not the time to try out new foods, so we’d recommend packing snacks your swimmer has had before, likes and will eat. Hydration is also essential during swim meets, especially as the deck environment can be pretty warm. Water fountains are often found on the pool deck, but sport drinks like Gatorade are okay too – preferably watered down.  

The Meet Mobile Swim app provides real-time updates from your favorite swimmers (and team). It's a great way to track results at a swim meet. It is priced well but there is no family sharing plan.  (Each subscription is about $15/year).

Sometimes a swimmer will miss a race (NS) or get disqualified (DQ) for a stroke or turn infraction. This happens to almost every swimmer at some point - even the seniors! While we obviously try to avoid them, when they do happen we treat NS or DQ's as learning opportunities, and a chance to improve next time. If your swimmer is struggling as a result of one of these, please have them come talk to their coach. 
 

HEATS AND FINALS

It is extra important to read the meet package for heats and finals, as every meet is a little bit different. Generally, heats are swum in the morning with swimmers attempting to qualify for finals, which are held in the afternoon/evening. Relays are often swum during finals.

Finals are usually top 8 or top 16 depending on the event, plus 2 alternate spots. Results are posted on meet mobile. The Head Coach will also let your swimmer know if they will be competing in any relays or if they qualifed for finals.  However, It is ultimately your swimmer's responsiblity to confirm that they will be swimming in an afternoon/evening session.  
 

SWIM MEET BACKPACK CHECKLIST

• Towels – they are going to get very wet, we’d suggest bringing more than one. 
• Pants or Shorts to wear on deck. 
• Triton Swimming T-Shirt and/or Sweatshirt.  - It's good to bring layering options.  
• Swim Parka (Parka's aren't a necessary item but some swimmers get quite cold on the pool deck and these are well insulated and keep them warm throughout the day).
• Goggles – Two pairs if possible. The straps tend to break at the most inconvenient of times! 
• Triton Swimming Cap (x2) The club provides one cap with registration but if your child plans to compete in meets, we highly recommend purchasing a second one to have in their bag. 
• Swim Suit (If your swimmer has more than one pick the tightest one).  Racing suits are only recommened for our higher level swimmers. If you're unsure if that applies to your swimmer, talk to the Head Coach before ordering one. 
•  Activities – meets can be long and having things to do during downtime is always a great idea, but do not pack anything that you’ll be upset if it gets wet, lost or stolen. 
•  Healthy Snacks & Reusable water bottle.  (bananas, goldfish, fruit snacks, cheese and crackers, granola bars, anything that provides energy in small, easily digestable sizes!)