Swimmer and volunteer check in

• When you arrive at the meet, proceed to the designated team area (the Gator Swamp) where kids should leave their bags and towels.  At our pool this is the grassy area in front of the snack bar.  For away meets, the home team will let us know where to congregate. We will have two volunteers assigned to oversee this area at all meets.
• Check in with a coach so they know your kids are there.
• If you are volunteering, check in with one of the swim team parent-coordinators.  
• At 6:15 pm there will be a meeting for all volunteer meet officials from both teams (starter, scorers, timers, place judges, runners, and stroke and turn judges). There will be an announcement, typically around 6 pm, letting officials know where to meet.

Good to know

• Coaches will often write their events on a swimmer's forearm in permanent marker so the kids don't forget what they are swimming.
• Events are often combined if there are only one or two swimmers in those events.
• Coaches and volunteers line swimmers up for their events and walk them to the lanes. Swimmers should stay near the Swamp so they can be easily located. 
• At our pool, swimmers start in the water due to the pool's shallow depth.  At other pools swimmers may start in the water, dive from starting blocks or from the side depending on the event, coach approval and the swimmer's comfort level.
• Parents who are not timers or runners may not be in the start or finish areas, and should cheer from the side of the pool. The start/finish areas tend to be crowded and busy with swimmers, coaches and meet officials. 

What to bring (and what not to bring):

• Snacks are always a good idea. Home meets will have a bake sale, and the snack bar is open for a portion of the meet. Away meets generally offer a bake sale/snack bar as well. Please help make sure we leave all facilities looking as good or better than we found them.
• Summer swim meets are not excessively long, generally lasting about 90 minutes. When they aren't swimming, most kids hang out and cheer their teammates.  We encourage kids to leave valuables such as screens at home.