Canebrake Crocs

Arrival

Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to warm-ups. This will give you and your swimmer an opportunity to locate the team tent and get settled before getting in the pool. It is fine if you want to drop your swimmer off at the pool entrance and then go park. At Canebrake, the team tent is on the on the tennis courts. At other pools, it varies. 

Volunteer Check-In

If you are volunteering during the 1st half of the meet, please go check in at the volunteer check-in station about 15-20 minutes before the meet begins. The volunteer coordinator needs to know you arrived. If you are volunteering during the 2nd half, you will need to check-in before the 2nd half begins, which is event 41. The announcer will call all 2nd half officials when it's time.

Patience!

There are a total of 80 events in a single swim meet! Each event may have multiple heats. Girls and boys events are swum separately. So, have patience! Also, remain aware of what the current event number is, because the meet will move quickly, and you could easily miss your child's event. Your child will swim up to 3 individual events and 2 relays. Total swim meet time can vary greatly (especially if there are weather delays), but a good estimate is 3 hours.

The order of events is as follows:1-10 Medley Relay, 11-20 Short Free, 21-30 Individual Medley, 31-40 Breast Stroke, 41-50 Long Free, 51-60 Back Stroke, 61-70 Butterfly, 71-80 Free Relay,

Weather

Make sure you have signed up to receive Canebrake Swim texts (see the QR code on the Home page for instructions on how to sign up). This is how we will communicate weather delays.

If there is concern on a meet day, we will pass along information to you as soon as we have it. Do not assume meets will be cancelled. Often times, meets will be temporarily delayed until the bad weather passes. Please note if there is just rain and no thunder or lightning, practices and meets will often continue. If the meet is delayed due to weather, everyone will have to leave the deck and go to the tents or cars and wait. We will also use text to let everyone know when to return to the deck to continue the meet. Please do not leave unless we notify you that the meet has been cancelled.

What a swimmer should bring to a swim meet:

• Swim bag (labeled with name) for your belongings
• Swim Cap (not mandatory but suggested)
• Goggles - an extra pair is suggested because goggle straps tend to break at the worst times!
• Folding chair (labeled with name) to sit under the team tent
• Towel, and at least one extra towel in case one gets too wet
• Healthy snacks (NO NUTS!)
• Water or Gatorade 
• Money to buy snacks at concessions
• Sunscreen based on your judgment
• Sweatshirt/sweatpants in case you get cold in between events. Even summer evenings can get a tad chilly in a wet bathing suit.
• Something to keep busy during events (books, games, electronics, etc.)
• … and lots of patience!

What a parent should bring to the meet:

• Your swimmer(s) on time for warm-ups
• Cash for concessions
• Folding chair for sitting in the tent between your child's events. Keep in mind that when you are volunteering at the meet, you do not sit. 
• A printed heat sheet (if you prefer paper) or your phone if you'd rather use the swimtopia app.
• A highlighter to highlight your swimmer's events on your heat sheet
• A Sharpie marker to write your swimmer's events on their arm
• Snacks and dinner for yourself and swimmer if you do not want to buy concessions.
• Rain jacket and/or umbrella - these can be kept in your car just in case. Remember that if there is rain, but no thunder or lightning, the meet will probably continue unless it is raining too hard to see the bottom of the pool.  If you are volunteering, you will be wet, but the rain jacket will help.
• A loud voice and positive attitude for team cheering
• Willingness to help and pitch in wherever needed. Our team cannot function without contributions from all parents.
• ...and lots of patience!

Ask Questions!

Please ask anyone at the meet if you don’t understand something or want to know more. Parents are always willing to help!