Racing Swim - Swim competition?

Swim competition?

i have my first swim meet of the summa today and im kind of nervous. does anyone have any tips on what to bring, how to swim my strokes, preperation, or anything that might help. i just need some tips on what to do and everything. almost anything can help. thanks!

Public Comments

Don't be nervous! Swim meets are so much fun! You'll need to bring your swim suit, goggles, cap, towels, and deck shoes. Being mentally prepared is just as important as being physically fit. Before your event, sit by yourself and concentrate on what you are going to be swimming. Tell yourself that you can do this, you need to have a positive attitude. Also, ask your coach for some inspiration or pep talk before your race. Being your friends on the team is another way to get pumped up for your race. I like to listen to music before my events, certain songs get me ready to race. Don't eat a huge meal before the meet, you don't want to get sick or anything. I hope this helped! Good luck, you'll def have a blast!
I qualified for, and swam in two National AAU championships back in the 60's. What to bring??? Endurance. Strokes?? That depends on the events. If your meet is today, it's kind of late to start preparing now. For future events... if you plan to compete seriously... two-a-day workouts. Work on 50 meter sprints... in and out. That means start, sprint 50, then out. Start, spint 50, then out. Twenty-five 50's. Get a kickboard. First, hold the board in your hands, and kick 50 meters. Twenty-five. Those are called "pushes". then, "pull" twenty-five 50's. Hold the board with your feet and just stroke with your arms.. Then... swim timed laps. Just keep swimming. Have your coach call your times. This kind of gives you a built in mental clock. You'll get to know, without being told, what kind of laps you're swimming, and whether or not you need to "pick it up" a bit. Swimming is a painful sport. Non-swimmers don't realize this. Swimming hurts. That's why endurance is so important. To be a top swimmer, you have to learn to swim through the pain. How to "gut it out". Your stroke will improve with practice, just like your times. Work on your turns. A bad turn can cost you an event. Also... for a couple days before a meet, pack with carbohydrates. Spaghetti... things like that. It's energy. Be calm on the ready bench. At higher levels of the sport, there's a lot of "psych" involved. Don't let the pressure get to you. Finally, learn how to "peak" for a meet. Think about it... a LOT. Get hyped-up. Let the energy from that hype build up. Keep letting it build til when the gun goes off... you just explode off the block. Hope I was of some help.
Tips for Parents and Swimmers: For each meet, you will receive (via your family file folder) a meet entry form indicating the date, time, location of the meet, and events that your child will be swimming. Make sure you write down the events that your child will be swimming (i.e. Event #2--50 Freestyle). You will need this information on the day of the meet. Read the meet invitation (you can find the meet invitation on the AMS web site, www.amswim.org). Most things you need to know are in the meet invitation. Pay attention to specifics like warm-up times, directions, parking information, cost of events and heat sheets. Most meets do not charge admission, and parking is free. Try to arrive at least 15-20 minutes (30 minutes if this is their first meet) prior to warm-ups to allow enough time to buy a heat sheet, get your child set up in the resting area, and to write your child’s events on the back of their hand. Heat sheets are generally sold in the area of the pool entrance and cost $4.00-$5.00. If you do not want to purchase a heat sheet, they are posted on the hallway walls--just ask someone working at the meet where they are posted if you can’t find them quickly. You will know the event # and event name prior to the meet, but you will need the heat sheet to tell you what heat and lane your swimmer will be in. There are generally several heats for each event. Write the Event #, Event name, Heat # and Lane # for each of your child’s events on the back of your child’s hand with black permanent sharpie or pen so they know when to get out on deck and prepare for their events. Ex: E2 50FR H4 L2 This tells your swimmer that they will be swimming in Event number 2, the 50 Freestyle, in the 4th Heat and will be swimming in Lane 2. Please take the time to get this done. If you do not, the coach has to take the time to do this and they cannot be observing the swimmers during warm-ups. Report to your coach at your scheduled warm up time so they know you are there. Make sure you have your cap, goggles and towel. You may take your swim bag on the pool deck. Don’t leave money or valuables unattended at the rest area. When you are in the resting area between your events, be sure to keep an eye on the seeding board. This tells you what events are reporting to the deck. ALWAYS report to your coach prior to and immediately after each of your events so that they can give you feedback. PARENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE POOL DECK. If time permits you may see your parents back at the resting area or in the cafeteria before your next scheduled event. Check with the coach first to see if it’s OK for you to leave the pool deck. Once you leave the pool deck it is your responsibility to make sure you are back for your next event, the coaches must remain on the pool deck for the other swimmers and cannot go looking for the swimmers. Parents, if you can’t locate your child on the pool deck and it’s getting close to their next event, it’s always a good idea to go back to the rest area/cafeteria to make sure your child doesn’t miss their next event. It is very easy for the kids to get involved with their games and other friends, and sometimes they forget! The pool stands are very warm and crowded. You’ll want to have a T-shirt on under your sweaters and coats. Because space is always limited in the stands, it’s a good idea to leave your coats and sweaters in the rest area. Do not bring your child’s swim bags into the stands, try to be courteous to the other spectators and don’t take up space with bags and coats. There is almost always a concession stand selling food and drinks. If you get to the meet and realize you forgot your goggles, cap or suit, don’t panic! There is usually a swimming equipment vendor set up at the meet selling a wide variety of swimming apparel. They usually do not stay for the entire meet, so get your items early. A swim session usually lasts 3 ½ - 4 hours and generally there is a lot of time between your child’s events. Bring a book, the paper, etc. to help you pass the time. Swimming is a very physically and mentally demanding sport. Your swimmer will not improve their times each time they swim, so please be very proud of your swimmer and offer them lots of support and encouragement. Most likely your swimmer will miss an event or be disqualified (DQ’d) at some point in their swimming career (especially the little ones). This is part of the learning process; do not let it upset you or your swimmer. Even the best swimmers have been disqualified or missed their event at least once in their swimming career. When the swimmer’s times are posted on the results board (usually somewhere in the hallway near the pool), write down the new time your swimmer has achieved at the meet. It is a nice idea to keep a record of their times—it gives them encouragement to see how they are improving. Your swimmer’s times will also be posted on the SAAC web site (www.saacswimming.org) approximately one week after the meet What your swimmer will need to have and other tips: Swimsuit plus an extra suit. The kids usually put their suits on at home and then wear a sweat suit over the swimsuit--this will save you time! It’s always a good idea to bring an extra suit just in case the first one gets a tear in it. Swim cap and a spare cap—caps can and do rip. Goggles—at least 2 pair—the straps do break! Towel for drying off after your event—usually two will do. Swim sandals or flip flops to wear between events and in the showers. Something to sit on in the resting areas (usually the school gymnasium or cafeteria). Some people use a big towel, old blanket or sleeping bag. Team T-Shirt and shorts to wear over swimsuit after your event. It is usually very warm in the pool area, so the sweat suit you wore to the meet may be too warm to wear when you are on deck. Games, cards, books and other activities. There is often a lot of time between events. Some kids like to bring their portable CD players (with headphones) to listen to music before they swim. Just remember—whatever kids take on deck may get wet! Food is sold at most swim meets, or you can pack your own snacks and drinks. Miscellaneous swim bag items: dry underclothes to change into after the meet, brush, comb, shampoo, etc =]
HI! Congratulations on making it to your first swim meet! In your bag bring 2 caps and 2 pair of goggles. Pack an extra towel, sweats, deck shoes (flips flops or crocs). You will want entertainment for when you have to wait. Try bringing cards, ipod, and, or books. Bring a healthy food like water, Gatorade, pasta, and granola bars. Swim your strokes as best you can fast off the walls, try not to breath a lot, make your strokes long, if you are doing 50s fast off the turn. Don't breath right off the turn. Before your event stretch warm up well don't goof off during warm up because it is very important to warm your body up so you can go all out. Some other tips try to arrive at the pool 15 minutes before your warm up, eat a good meal with carbs 2-3 hours before you go to the meet, right when you get to the pool in your team area and put your stuff down, if you have to go to the rest room during your meet ask your coach so you don't miss your event, ask your time after an event, report to your coach right after your event so they can tell you what you did well and what you didn't, make sure your goggles fit well or else you will be swimming with them around your neck. That's all I have. Have fun, Good luck! Here is a site with more tips http://www.saacswimming.org/html/swim_meet_tips.html
take a good towel to dry off and an extra one to stay warm. take extra goggles and cap. take an extra suit for practice to wear as drag. do long strong strokes and pull as hard as you kick. dont over eat it wont help. have fun and keep ur starts and flips and turns SHARP!!!! that is KEY! oh and take music so you can listen and relax