Survival Tips for New Swimmers

Like every sport, swimming has its own set of rules, traditions, and idiosyncrasies. Here are some tips to help first-time parents navigate the murky waters of swim practices and meets.

Befriend some families who have participated in swim team for some time. They will help you figure out all the dos and don'ts.

Get to practice on time. Bring your own towel. And pack a nutritious snack for your swimmer.

Label everything -- swimsuit, sweats, towels, goggles and cap. Try a white-out pencil for goggles and cap.

Check your family file at least once a week. All notices about parties, practices, and swim meets are put in those files.

Be positive and enthusiastic but not overbearing. Your child will stick with swim team only if it is rewarding and fun.

If you are going to miss a swim meet, write your swimmer's name in the sign-out book (located in the family file) at least eight days before the meet. This information is essential for the coaches as they put together relay teams, etc.

The night before a meet, check the list of swimmers posted on the swim team bulletin board. It will tell you what events your child is swimming in. Don't wait until the meet to figure it out.

Not every swimmer swims every event in his or her age group. If you have questions, talk to the coaches before or after -- not during -- swim meets.

Get familiar with the structure of meets. Hint: every race has the same number in every meet. Girls' events have even numbers; boys' events have odd numbers.

Arrive early for swim meets. Park in the designated areas only, to prevent towing. At home meets, parking attendants will show you where to park.

Long-haired swimmers prefer silicone caps, which don't pull hair.

Remember to check in at meets, both at the registration desk and with the ready area parent. Otherwise, your child may be scratched from a race.

Bring a pen to meets. Use it to write your child's race numbers, heat numbers, and lane numbers on his/her hand. You may want to write it on your hand too. It really helps everyone keep track of things.

At meets, pretend you are going camping. Bring lots of extra sweats and towels (even sleeping bags) to keep your children warm in the early morning. And bring lots of sunscreen, hats (even tents) to protect them from the hot afternoon sun. Folding chairs are also a good idea; the ground gets pretty hard after several hours.

Bring extra food and drinks to meets (but don't forget to frequent the snack bar). Bring extra suits and goggles, too, just in case.

At meets, younger children get restless between their races. Bring coloring books, electronic games, cards, Legos, board games, etc. to keep them occupied.

Parents also get restless at meets. Bring a book, newspaper, crossword puzzle and the like. Plan on being there for 4 to 7 hours.

Cheer for all the kids. Good sportsmanship begins at home. Set a good example.

Feed the coaches occasionally. It makes them happy!