Stardust Swim Team

Going to a swim meet is almost like taking a trip to the local pool.  You'll want to consider bringing the same type of items.  However, there are a few more things you'll want to consider.  Included below is some guidance on what your swimmer should bring to make their experience the most comfortable and successful possible: 

1. Swim Gear:
   • Swimsuit: Only one swimsuit is required but consider bringing an extra one in case one gets damaged or uncomfortable during the meet. It is recommended to wear a competitive, tight-fitting suit for better performance.
   • Goggles: Choose a pair that fits well and provides a clear vision underwater. It is advisable to have an extra pair in case of breakage or leakage.
   • Swim Cap: This is optional for our recreational league but some swimmers like wearing them to keep their hair dry and it makes them faster (or so they think). 
   • Towels: Pack a towel or two.  One to dry off between races and to keep warm during breaks. Consider bringing a separate towel to put on the ground so your swimmer can rest.  Some pool decks can get hot. 
2. Footwear:
   • Flip Flops/Sandals: Your swimmer will want to wear these to protect their feet from wet and slippery surfaces around the pool area.
3. Other Items:
   • Water Bottle: Stay hydrated throughout the meet by bringing a reusable water bottle. It is crucial to drink plenty of fluids to maintain peak performance.
   • Snacks: Pack nutritious snacks such as energy bars, fruits, or nuts to fuel your body during breaks. Avoid heavy or greasy foods that may cause discomfort during swimming.
   • Black permanent marker: This is used to mark up a swimmers arm to indicate their assigned events, heats, lanes and stroke.  You can use sunscreen to remove it afterwards.
   • Sunscreen and Bug Spray
   • Money for snack stand!

This content can be easily deleted as you create your own content: go to Manage Site > Edit Page Content and click on the pencil icon in the upper right corner of each snippet. You may rename, move, or delete this page by going to Manage Site > Edit Navigation; for more information, see our Help Center article here.

Arrival

Upon arriving at the meet, Check in with the Coaches to be counted for attendance. This should the first thing your swimmer does.

After checking in, your swimmer should find the Heat Sheet and note their Events. We recommend drawing a table/grid on the back of their hand (or forearm) to note their Event Number, Heat, Lane, Swim. 

See below for an example of what this grid would look like on your swimmer’s arm:

E   H  L S

12  1  4 25 Free

22  3  1 50 Fly

48  2  6 100 Free Relay

Once your swimmer knows what they are swimming, they should report to the team’s sitting area to leave their belongings and prepare for warm-ups.

Warm Up:

▪ At approximately 8:00am for Saturday meets, and 5:00pm for Wednesday meets, swimmers will report to assigned lanes for warm ups.

▪ Warm ups are vital to success in swimming. If your child doesn’t warm up, this puts them at a disadvantage for the meet.

▪ If your child is not present by the conclusion of warm ups, and you haven’t communicated with the coaches previously, your child will be marked as a no-show for the meet and they will be taken out of the meet sheet.

During the Meet:

For the majority of the meet, your child will be sitting in the team area waiting for their events to be marshalled. When their event is marshalled, your swimmer should report to the marshalling area with their cap, goggles, towel, water or whatever else they might need immediately before, during, and after their race and find their designated lane.

At the lane, a lane marshal will help your swimmer determine where in line they should stand.

Once your swimmer is marshalled and placed in line, they must not leave the lane area without letting the lane marshal or the timer know.

After their race, your swimmer should retrieve their belongings and report back to the seating area to await their next race.

Relays

Your swimmer should connect with their relay teammates as soon as possible so they can visually establish who they are and make sure everyone is together when the relay is marshalling.

 At the conclusion of the meet the team will gather for closing remarks by the coaches, followed by a sportsmanlike closing cheer.

Post Meet:

After the concluding remarks and cheer, swimmers should collect their belongings, dispose of their trash, find their parents, and leave the meet. No sign-out is necessary when a swimmer is leaving the meet.