Team Parent Responsibilities: To keep track of the swimmers so they are goggled & capped and on time for their heats.

Routine:

• Go to Ribbon Table before the start of the Meet (approx. 6:30 A.M.) and obtain:
1. Time Cards for your age group
2. Meet Schedule
3. See our volunteer coordinator, Jay Harris, if you need additional parental help with your age group.
• Separate the Time Cards by heat (they are printed up in numerical order) and place them in your apron pockets.  The team will issue this Home Depot apron once, at beginning of season, you can return it at the last meet.
• Its very important to look at who is in the relays and ensure they are present right away at warmups...if they are not then you need to find a coach and let them tell you who they want to fill that slot.
• Keep the swimmers together in/near the tent (younger swimmers). This is so when their Heat comes up they are easy for you to round up and get into place at the Ready Bench. You need to "listen" or visually check what Heat is going on...so when 3 heats before your swimmers' next heat you can get them & you ready...find/put on caps, goggles and separate Time Cards (especially ensure younger ones have gone to restroom so they don't leave while at the Ready Bench...it moves fast).

At The Ready Bench:

1. Pass out Time Cards to swimmers.
2. Line swimmers up in single file line until the last Ready Bench is available, then position swimmers in order of their Time Card designation for respective Block number.
3. Remind swimmers the Stroke they are doing this Heat (printed on Time Cards) and for newer swimmers have them demonstrate it to you (sometimes it gets a little confusing for them...and us:) and a wrong stroke may disqualify them. Remind them that breast & butterfly require a two-hand touch.
4. For relays you will need to organize them a "special way". This is because the position 2 and 4 (for each Block) must go to the other side of the pool. Two precautions will help:
1. have another person help you by taking position 2 and 4 swimmers to the other side while you track 1,3.
2. ensure the helper knows/keeps the swimmers in correct order and correct Block on the other side (or they can be disqualified); It may help to have the Time Sheet for you & the helper.

Other Tips:

• Help them form good habits of keeping their items (esp. goggles and cap) in their bag when waiting for a later Heat...things often get lost in the tent.
• Bring a permanent marker or two each meet. These are used for labeling belongings and noting the events they're in on their right arm.
• Bring an ink pen to keep in your apron in case a Time Card needs to be changed.
• Bring yourself a chair and water to drink. Also, helpful to bring an old blanket for the swimmers to set towels on so they don't have to be directly on the grass/bugs/dew.

updated: 06/05/2008