GOVERNOR'S RANCH GATORS SWIM TEAM

• Goggles (2 pair is best in case one breaks)
• Swim cap (if desired)
• Gators team swim suit and t-shirt (if have them)
• Towels
• Sunscreen
• Clothes/Coverup to wear between events to keep warm
• Shade (umbrellas, canopies to set up for yourself or a group)
• Newspaper, magazine, book and/or electronic devices to pass the time between your swimmer's events, NOTE: Items will get wet!
• Highlighter and/or Sharpie
• Cooler with water and sports drinks +/- water bottles to keep hydrated
• Healthy snacks, sandwiches, fruit for your swimmers or plan to visit our concessions to support the home team
• Chairs (for swimmers and adults)
• Camera
• Games or balls
• Mister bottle
• Good cheering voice. Swimmers can hear in the water. The louder the crowd, the more exciting their swim!

• Use the Heat Sheets to find your child's events.
• Sharpie your child's events on his/her forearm or back of hand using this format, E H L [E=event, H=heat, L=lane]. It's best to do this before sun screening your swimmer - sharpie doesn't write well on sun screened skin.
• - FR = Freestyle
  - BA = Back Stroke
  - BR = Breast Stroke
  - FLY = Butterfly
  - IM = Individual Medley
  - FRR = Free Relay (All swimmers swim freestyle)
  - MR = Medley Relay (Each swimmer swims a different stroke: 1st = back, 2nd=breast, 3rd=fly, 4th=free)

Swim meets are a great family experience and social event! Included are some very in-depth guidelines to help you through your first couple of swim meets. If you have any questions, please ask a coach, a junior coach or a member of the Board.

Before the Meet Starts:

1. The coaching staff will inform each swimmer of his/her events at practice the day before the meet.
2. Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. This time is listed on the meet schedule on page 5 of this handbook.
3. 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 and/or the Gator tent.
4. Find the location where the Gator event entry sheet is posted; check for any last minute schedule/event changes.
5. Bring an ink pen. Write each event number, heat number, and lane number on your swimmer’s hand or arm in ink. This helps them remember what events they are swimming and for what event number(s) to listen. The parent may also want to write these numbers on their hand as a quick reminder of their swimmer’s events.
6. Your swimmer now gets his/her cap and goggles and reports to the coach for warm-up instructions. All swimmers should warm-up with the team. Swimmers bodies are just like cars on a cold day—they need to get the engine going and warmed up before they can go all out.
7. After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to the area where their belongings have been placed and sit there until their first event is called. This is a good time to make sure they go to the bathroom if necessary, get a drink, get settled in and stay warm.
8. The meet will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are over.

After the Meet Starts:

1. All swimmers should know what event numbers they are swimming (again, they should have event numbers written on their hand). They may swim right away after warm-ups, in the first event or first relay, or they may have to wait a while.
2. A swimmer’s event number will be called, usually over the loudspeaker, and the swimmer will be asked to report to the heating area. Swimmers should report with their cap and goggles. Generally girls’ events are odd-numbered and boys’ events are even-numbered. Example: “Event #18, 9 & 10 Boys, 50 freestyle, report to Heating.”
3. The staff at the heating area will place each of the swimmers in a heat and a lane for that event.
4. The heating staff will usually line up all the swimmers and take them to the pool behind the starting blocks in their correct order.
5. You can expect larger heats in the open events (defined in the Glossary).
6. The swimmer swims the race.
7. After each swim:
   1. The swimmer should ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) their time.
   2. The swimmer should go immediately to the coaching staff. The coach will ask his/her time and discuss the swim with each swimmer.
   3. Generally, the coaching staff will provide positive comments and suggestions for improvement when discussing the swims.
8. Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:
   
   1. Tell your child how great he/she did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique/skills/times with them. You need to tell your child how proud you are of him/her.
   2. Take your child back to the tent area and relax until his/her next event.
   3. This is another good time to go to the bathroom, get a drink or have something light to eat.
   4. The swimmer now waits until his/her next event is called and starts the procedure again at the heating area.
9. When swimmers have completed all of their events, they may go home, but should try to stay and cheer on their teammates! Make sure to check with the coach before leaving to confirm that your swimmer is not included in a freestyle relay scheduled at the end of the meet. Last minute substitutes are not always available. Other swimmers who have stayed to swim the relay are relying on your swimmer to participate. The coaches, other swimmers, and parents can get easily frustrated on this issue. Failure to participate in scheduled relay events may result in exclusion from relay events in subsequent meets.