Swim Meet Routine

This becomes important as a swimmer. It is establishing the routine during the early years, so that they learn what is expected as they get older. This routine needs to become the responsibility of the swimmer. If guided and walked through all the time they never take ownership of their own preparation, and become dependent on parents or coaches to be prepared. Discipline to abide by the rules and routine creates discipline in other aspects such as practice and their own training.

My son/daughter is too young to do it on their own. I have had 8 year olds check their own heat and lane assignments, check in with their coach, warm-up, show up to their block, race, cool down, and report to the coach again all on their without the assistance of a parent. These kids did get meet experience at age 7, where the parent did help them, but 2 - 3 meets in they began to do part of the routine without the parent, and then 3 - 5 meets they are able to do it on their own. Yes, early on they may miss a race, but it becomes a learning experience when dealt with properly. (Not getting mad about them missing the race, but more disappointed that they missed an opportunity to swim).

Early Morning warm-ups. Do young kids actually need to warm-up early in the morning to be ready to swim fast? No. But what we are doing is creating a routine. If you allow them to show up late, you create a mentality that warm-up is not important, and it becomes a battle to teach them when it does become important. We develop team by warming up together. No one is special, and special treatment is not given to any swimmer despite what time their first event is. This in theory is the way it should be. We bend on this last part because we want to appease parents, but it is not in the best interest of the swimmer in the long run. It's about routine and not believing in special treatment.

Swim Meet Routine is different for coaches. I like to go over swim meet routine in September, but I do go over it once in awhile throughout the year. Why check in before the race? To let the coach know heat and lane. We try to organize our time based on knowing heat and lane. We have a lot of swimmers, and we can't watch every time a heat goes up, as we may need to talk to a few swimmers who have been patiently waiting. I give quick notes, similar to my quick notes in the middle of sets. Repeated phrases that hopefully mean something to the swimmer as they are repeated at practice as well. Check in after races for constructive criticism. The coach will be critical, but typically they will add a positive aspect to any swim as long as the swimmer put forth visible effort. We will be critical and sometimes mean if it becomes too redundant. Due to this critical analysis from the coach; this is why there should not be critical analysis from the parent. The swimmer doesn't need to be attacked from both sides of the triangle of communication. Swim Analysis from coach only helps with the emphasis from the coach and no confusion on who to listen to (especially younger swimmers as they tend to listen to their parents more than the coach if criticism comes from both sides).

Just as a side note: Ever wonder why coaches stay in one place at meets most of the time? We have to watch so many races, and talk to so many kids. Staying in one place allows the swimmer to easily find the coach, and the communication for the routine can go by fast, as they know exactly where the coach will be (Please excuse the coach though, sometimes restroom breaks and walks to grab a snack or drink are needed for a long meet.) Coaches will typically set up shop on the edge of the pool as we need quick access to the officials, as we are the only ones that are supposed to address an official, and so that we can view every race where the swimmer is expecting some kind of feedback. Do we miss races? Yes, but if everyone follows the routine, it becomes less likely that a coach misses a swimmers race, but it does happen.

Discipline and responsibility are developed through our swim meet routine. It is important to emphasize to your swimmer the importance of these processes, as it does benefit them later in their career as they have learned these skills before they get to the age of adolescence where it is very hard to develop in them.

Exception to this: If you are in a meet where events are very close to each other, a swimmer may skip a check-in for post race analysis, but should try to let the coach know with a quick walk by that they aren't avoiding them. There is no good time not to talk to the coach; good race or bad.