Swim Meet Checklist for Parents

All New Jersey sanctioned meets are posted on www.njswim.org ; you will find start times, order of events, and directions to the facility by clicking on “Meet information”. You can always cross-reference with Mapquest or Yahoo maps. Information about our in-house meets and dual meets is posted on our website. Furthermore, information regarding location and meet time is always written on the sheets posted at Berkeley which list the events each swimmer is competing in; again, from this you can use your favorite search engine to figure out how to get there. Dual meets are not posted on www.njswim.org , but you can always look up practice site information on the host club here. If you are still unsure of where to go, talk to your team rep or your child's coach; NEVER contact the other team for information.

Do leave extra time to get to your meet. Berkeley always posts check-in times: the kids MUST check-in with their coaches upon arrival and before warm-up, or they will be scratched. This is the swimmer's responsibility.

Pack for an outing. Swim meets can last 4 hours, plus the hour for warm-up…you get the idea. You will need reading material, work, or Sudoku for yourself, playing cards, i-pods, or books for the kids, and of course, FOOD. The food available for purchase at many swim meets is not always… exactly what you'd like to see your kid eating. It's good to pack a little cooler with water and/or Gatorade, maybe a sandwich or a bagel, and some other healthy snacks like nuts or bananas (for both of you!)

Dress in layers. The wind may be howling outside but many of these meets feel like a sauna. The swimmers should bring sweatshirts and pants to keep their muscles warm between races, especially if they're hanging out in a gym.

Have your swimmer pack at least two towels, since they will be getting out of the pool multiple times. Also, they might want to pack a blanket, and you may want to take collapsible chairs, if you're going to be camping out in a gym somewhere between races.

Be prepared with good humor. Sometimes, a meet can be postponed due to thunder in the area. This will inevitably be the day that your child is swimming in the last heat of the final event, after a two hour thunder delay. Smile and cheer them on; they're tired too, but they've worked hard and deserve your encouragement!

If you are working:

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Most meets last around 4 hours, but they can be shorter, or they can run longer!!

Bring your own stopwatch if you are timing for a meet hosted by another club. Not all clubs supply these.

It may be a good idea to bring a second pair of dry shoes to change into to go home in. As the kids get bigger, so does the splash on the dive. Many a timer has gotten drenched as the teenage boys start a race! Remember, if you're timing, to start a race, you need to be able to see the starter and his light; you do not need to be in the splash zone at the edge of the pool. Forewarned is forearmed!

You may want to keep a water bottle with you to stay hydrated (in the sauna)! The Berkeley Hospitality committee that works at our major meets is wonderful, bringing water and even trail mix and cookies to its volunteers. However, this is not the norm at most swim meets!

Make sure you know who the back-up timer is. If you need to run to the restroom, this person comes in handy.

	Thought for the Day It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever -- the one who recognizes the challenges and does something about it.~ Vince Lombardi (1913-1970, American football coach)
	Blue Streak Aquatic, Inc., the parents' support organization of Berkeley Aquatic Club, is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that supports the Berkeley Aquatic Club's competitive swim teams. The club is run by a volunteer Board of Directors elected from the membership. For more information, visit our Parent's Handbook
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