Grant Ranch Swim Team

Listed below are some general guidelines geared to help you through your first couple of swim meets. It may seem a little overwhelming, but after your first two meets you will be a pro! If you have any questions, please ask your coach or team reps.

BEFORE THE MEET STARTS

1. Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes BEFORE the scheduled warm-up time begins. This time will be listed with the meet information and emailed out as well.

2. Upon arrival, your swimmer should go to the team area. The Barracudas sit in one place together, so look for the pop-up tents or some familiar faces.

3. Your swimmer should now gets his/her cap and goggles on and report to the coaches for warm-up instructions. Warm-up times/lanes can vary by meet so it is important to always check with a coach. All swimmers are expected to warm-up with the team.

4. After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to the team area and wait there until his/her first event is called. This is a good time to go to the bathroom if necessary, get a drink, and get settled in. SJSL meets start with 200 m freestyle events followed by medley relays.

5. The meet will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are over.

6. Download the SwimTopia app for information regarding the event, heat and lane your swimmer is swimming in. When the team entry is sent in, each swimmer and his/her previous best time in that event is listed. If the swimmer is swimming an event for the first time, he/she will be entered as a "no-time" or "NT". A "no-time" swimmer will most likely swim in one of the first heats of the event.

DURING THE MEET

1. It is important for any swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming. He/she may swim right away after warm-up or they may have to wait awhile. Most of our swimmer’s will write the heat/event/lane numbers on their forearm for reference during the meet.

2. Every meet has a First-Call/Last-Call Heating Board on display. When your swimmer’s event number shows up in the First-Call side, swimmers should report to the heating area with cap and goggles and ready to swim.

   • There are parent volunteers who manage the heating area and organize swimmers into the current heat and lane assignment. We request parents who are not volunteering to stay out of this area as it makes it very difficult to move around and locate swimmers when this are is overcrowded and loud.

3. The swimmer competes in his or her race.

4. After each swim:

   • The swimmer should always look to shake hands with the swimmer/opponent on each side of their lane.

   • He/she may ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time.

   • The swimmer should then go immediately to his or her coach. The coach will discuss the swim with each swimmer.

5. Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims:

   • Positive comments or praise

   • Suggestions for improvement

   • Positive comments

6. Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:

   • Tell her or him how great she/he did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique. You only need to share how proud you are.

   • Swimmer should then return to the team area and relax.

7. The swimmer now waits until the next event is called on the Heating board and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of her/his events, she and her parents get to go home. However, please be sure you as a parent, check with the coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed to swim on a relay where your swimmer is expect­ed to be a member and he/she is not there. Please confirm before leaving!

8. Results are usually posted in the SwimTopia app prior to being emailed out on Sundays or Mondays. Ribbons are gathered for the team and delivered during the next week. Ribbons are then filed by name in the ribbon box and can be retrieved before or after practices the following week after Wednesday.