The Fields Club Swim Team

Preparing for the Meet

• Meet Entries and Information: The morning of a meet day, events that your swimmer will be swimming (entries) will be posted at the pool near the restrooms. Additional information about the meet such as location, warm up times and any special instructions (i.e. parking, check-in, where to sit, etc.) will be sent via an email before the meet.
• What is a Heat Sheet? This is the meet listing that includes the order of events and what events swimmers will compete in. It also defines the swimmer's heat and lane assignment for each event. The heat sheet will be attached to the pre-meet info email and can be used to mark your swimmers BEFORE they arrive.
• Marking your Swimmer: It is very important to mark your swimmers BEFORE the meet!  **For instructions on how to mark your swimmer, please refer to "Marking Your Swimmer" under the "Swim Meets" tab. 
• Swimmer's bag:  It's always a good idea to have 2 towels, team shirt/sweatshirt, swim cap, 2 sets of goggles, water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray in your child's swim bag to bring to the meet.

• Inclement Weather: Please download the Swimtopia app prior to our first meet. Make sure that you have the notifications turned on for this app. Be sure you check the website and monitor your emails and text messages to make sure the meet hasn’t been delayed or canceled due to inclement weather. In case of any last-minute changes, we will do our best to notify everyone via email and/or posts to the website. If inclement weather arises DURING a swim meet, you do NOT go home. Swimmers and spectators must clear the pool deck wait in their cars in the parking lot. We will use the Swimtopia app text/email to keep everyone informed. 

Arrival and Check- in

• Swimmer Check-In Table - ***Please arrive 15 minutes before warmups: Checking-in your swimmer lets the coaches and volunteers know that the swimmer is present at the meet. This is especially important if your swimmer is part of a relay team. Check-in your swimmer at the Fields Club check-in table (directly inside the pool gate for home meets and near our bullpens for away meets). Swimmers will then make their way to the team bullpen area. They will wait under their corresponding age group tent until they are called for warm-ups by the coaches. They should have their cap and goggles out of their bag and on before you leave them. It is important that swimmers remain in their age designated area throughout the entire meet.    
• Volunteer Check-In: All volunteers should plan to arrive with your swimmer before warm-ups and check-in at the check-in table (same table as swimmer check-in). Checking-in lets the volunteer coordinator know that you are at the meet and ready to fulfill your volunteer duties. Listen closely on the overhead speaker for any specific instructions related to your job.
• Warm-Ups: Warm-ups are important because it prepares the body for greater effort and reduces the risk of injury. All swimmers should plan to attend warm-ups before a meet.

During the Meet

• The Announcer/Starter: Will announce each event and heat. There will also be an event board on deck near the announcer that will show the current event number that is swimming. Individual swimmer and team results can be found near the pool restrooms throughout the meet.
  
• Disqualifications (DQs): DQs are a normal part of the learning process in swimming competitions. Even the most seasoned swimmers get DQ’d from time to time. A DQ signifies that there is something the swimmer needs to fix in the technique of their start, stroke, turn or finish. DQs should always be handled positively and with lots of empathy and support. If you have questions about a DQ, please send coach an email.
• Be a Good Swim Parent: Be Enthusiastic and Supportive! Show good sportsmanship at all times toward coaches, officials, opponents and teammates. Let the Coach do the Coaching! Your role is to be a cheerleader - to provide love and support regardless of outcome. Encourage your child’s efforts and point out the positive. Let the coach be the one to critique your swimmer’s performance and technique. Have Fun! Let your child see you enjoy the camaraderie of the team.

After the Meet

• All Parents and swimmers are asked to help with clean up after the meet. 
• Please ask your child to pick up garbage and help clean their bullpen area before leaving.
• Fun Friday - the Friday following a swim meet in June (optional). Fun Fridays are for those swimmers who participated in the meet the night before to celebrate their accomplishments and to enjoy an hour of fun/games/music and open swim. No siblings may be in the pool unless there is a lifeguard on duty. (baby pool is closed during this time) 
• Meet ribbons can be picked up on Friday after 11am in your family ribbon folder located on the clubhouse deck, near the restrooms.