Many of your children will be participating in NVSL Divisional meets this summer. The order of events are typically backstroke, breaststoke, butterfly, I.M., and freestyle. There are usually two heats (sometimes three) in each event. Normally there will be a warm-up break between each event. The events are usually run on a clock schedule…meaning each specific event will begin at a specified time. This allows parents to arrive on time for their child’s particular event.
Planning arrival times and what to do before and between events is paramount to a swimmer’s success. Divisionals, as most of you know, is a LONG event. Add to this a hot day, and it can spell disaster for an otherwise successful season. My suggestions are:
- Plan out your meet…arrive in time for your child’s first event warm-up but DON’T try to watch the whole meet.
- Plan on a LOT of sun…wherever possible try to find shade or someplace cool if your child is swimming more than one event. Some teams actually rent air-conditioned busses. Some parents have their children stay in an air-conditioned car between events. Anything to KEEP COOL.
- Have the children drink water…lots of it if it is hot. Stay away from too many “sports drinks”.
- If possible, find a quiet spot away from the ‘hussle and bussle’ of the meet. This ties up a lot of your child’s needed emotional energy. Your child will need it for “the race”.
- Keep the pre-divisional visit to the pool very brief. Again, the day before the meet must be a quiet day to store up energy. Swimming should be kept to a minimum.
- If your child wears a cap, be sure to take TWO. Also TWO pair of FITTED goggles.
- Swimmers SHOULD wear something on their feet at the meet…they should NOT run around in their bare feet.