Meet prep & Day of checklists

Apply sunscreen before leaving the house. This will give it time to dry before writing the swimmer’s events on their arm and name and ID# on their back.

Print a copy of the heat sheet or access it on a smart phone.

Be on time! Warm-ups begin well before the meet start time.

At the pool, look for other folks with Traceside shirts.

Stake out deck space for seating. At home meets, Traceside parents/spectators sit on the deck area in front or to the left of the pool house (the grass areas next to the baby pool is for the visiting team).

After finding a spot, check in with the Head Coach so they know the swimmer is present.

Write the swimmer’s last name on the back of their shoulder along with their 3-digit Swimmingly ID# below (See Figure 1). It’s helpful, but not necessary, to write the Swimmingly ID# on one or both arms, below the shoulder (See Figure 2).

Write the swimmer’s events on their arm (See Figure 3). E stands for event number, H stands for Heat, and L stands for lane. You will find this information from the Heat Sheet and the Line Up by Swimmer.

Participate in warm-ups when called. Coaches will give instructions regarding warm-ups. Swimmers will share the lanes with other Traceside swimmers and usually do a couple laps of each stroke. Swimmers may also practice a couple of starts.

After warm-ups, join the team to do the Traceside cheer!

Try to stay in the designated area when not swimming or cheering on teammates.

About 15 minutes before their event, the swimmer’s name will be called, usually by a Traceside volunteer, to go to the Clerk of Course area. This is the waiting/staging area where they line swimmers up for the next 3-5 events. Make sure to have goggles and cap.

When they are ready for you, they will ask you to sit in the last row in the seat that corresponds with your lane number (e.g., Lane 3 sits in the seated labeled 3)

Swimmers will be asked to move up rows until they’re in the first row.

When it’s time for their event or heat, volunteers will walk the swimmers over to the starting area and line everyone up in the corresponding lane.

The starter will announce the event/heat. Then they will say, “Swimmers, take your mark.” The next horn will mark the start of the race.

Swim, swim, swim! Swimmers should keep going even if they are behind in case another swimmer is disqualified.

Once the swimmer finishes their race, they should wait in the pool until all of the other swimmers have finished. Congratulate the other swimmers for a good race.

Have a snack/drink in between events.

Listen for the swimmer’s name for their next event.

In between events, cheer on all Traceside teammates. Everyone loves to hear folks cheering for them!

At the end of the meet, pack up all of your stuff and throw away any trash.

Congratulate your teammates for a good meet!