Dam West Dolphins

HOME MEETS: Arrive by 6:15am - Warm ups at 6:30am - Meet begins @ 7:30am 

AWAY MEETS: Arrive by 6:45am - Warm ups at 7:20am - Meet begins @ 8:00am   (This applies to most, but not ALL teams.  Please read emails for specific times!)

Illness/Emergency: In case of illness ALWAYS NOTIFY Coach Emilie by calling her cell prior to 6:15am the day of meet or tell her at the meet. 

Incorrect Event: If a swimmer is signed up for an event(s) that is not correct please notify Coach Emilie immediately. Check the Individual Entries listing that is sent out the night before and call her. DO NOT wait until the start of the meet! 

Leaving Early: If, for some reason, you must leave early or know in advance that you cannot stay PLEASE let Coach Emilie know. DO NOT rely on telling another parent or assistant coach because the information can be lost. Coach Emilie sets the relays based on the roster she has. 

Stay Until the End: All swimmers are REQUIRED to stay until the end of the meet (may run until 1 pm.) *** If you leave early it changes the relays and effects the heating as well as whether your swimmer’s teammates will be able to swim the relay.

*** VOLUNTEERS *** If you cannot fulfill your volunteer position PLEASE let Volunteer Coordinators know ASAP so they can find a substitute. [email protected].

Check the Schedule:  Please read all of the meet instructions and check the Meet Program and Individual Entry List the night before.  All of the documents and maps will be posted under the Sign-Up Calendar tab. (It will also be sent via email.) Having all this info helps you and your swimmer know what events they are in and identify their heat and lane assignment.

Mark Your Swimmer:  All swimmers should arrive with their name on their upper back and their events on their arm or thigh written in sharpie. (See “Marking Your Swimmer” for details.)

• Team swimsuit (if you have one.)
• Extra goggles.
• Towels (2-3.  Extras help!)
• Sweats or warm clothing for cold mornings.
• "Wearable blankets" (ex: the Comfy Jr) are great for keeping the little ones warm.
• Plenty of snacks and water and/or money for concessions for you and your kids. (Many pools only take cash.)
• Something to entertain your swimmers while they wait for their events.  
• Folding chairs or blankets.  (No lounge chairs please.)
• Canopy or tent for shade if you have it. 
• Sunglasses and/or visors or hats.
• Meet Program (Heating Sheets) & Individual Entry List printed out and a black sharpie marker for marking up your child. (See "Heating Sheet" page for details on how to read it.)
• Lots of sunscreen........ Did you know that the combination of sunscreen and chlorine can be harmful? If you have spray sunscreen please put it on your child away from the blocks and pool because it floats on the water which the swimmers can ingest and it can oil up their goggles so they don’t adhere properly.

Goggles: Always have 2 pair of goggles at every meet. When your swimmer is not wearing them have them around your swimmer's neck - that way they don't get misplaced.

Swim Caps: Remove your swimmer's cap between events!  Heat can build up beneath their caps on sunny days making your swimmer sluggish and overly warm. Plus it can be a bit shocking when they enter the water which can cause a slower performance.

Shammies: Buy a swimmer's shammy towel to dry off your swimmer after a swim and THEN wrap them in a DRY towel!  No more soggy towels and a much warmer swimmer on a chilly day.  Shammies and caps can be purchased from us at the pool during practices, at concessions during home meets or at any sporting goods store.

Sweats: Always bring sweats to meets in case it turns cold.

Sunscreen: Sunscreen is a must but NEVER spray sunscreen by the pool.  The chemicals get into the water and the swimmers swallow it!  Also, please be polite when spraying and make sure that others around you are not affected by the overspray.  And NO sunscreen where the goggles are.   It makes them slide right off!

Parking 

Because our parking lot is very small, families may park along the street or drop off and then park at Polton Elementary School. We have had issues with unhappy neighbors so PLEASE be courteous. There is ABSOLUTELY NO parking by the entryway island - cars will be ticketed.

Arrival & Check-In 

For Home Meets please arrive by 6:15 am. This gives you time to park, unload, settle in and have your swimmer in the pool at 6:30 am for warm ups. Check in with the DWD volunteers at the front gate. They will check to see if you have your swimmer’s information on them in sharpie and check off that they have arrived (the coaches need this info.) 

Where to Sit 

Our team sits inside of the fence on the north side of the pool. You can set up in the grass area.  The tree provides some shade but the rest of the area will need tents for shade.  If your child is not in the heating area for their scheduled event this is where we will look for them. NO children should ever be left unsupervised on the playground!

Baby Pool

For health and safety reasons absolutely NO swimming in the baby pool. 

Results

Results will be posted on a white board hanging on the north fence, facing the pool.

Clean-Up

We are ALL eager to leave at the end of a meet but please be respectful of the Dam West neighbors and your fellow DWD parents and teammates and ALWAYS clean the area where you and your swimmers were seated. This includes picking up all of the trash that you see. Thank you!  Any help in breaking things down and putting them away is always greatly appreciated!

Parking

Always check the meet documents on the website for any specific instructions having to do with the away team’s parking. 

Arrival & Check-In

Arrive NO LATER than 6:45 am. (Earlier if they start at 7:30am.)  Factor in driving time and finding parking, unloading and walking. Warm ups are usually at 7:20 am. Check in with the DWD volunteers at either the entry point. (Will differ by pool.) They will check to see if you have your swimmer’s information on them in sharpie and check off that they have arrived.  (The coaches need this info.) 

WARM UPS ARE ESSENTIAL! 

Other pools may be meter pools and have different starting blocks. It is ESSENTIAL that your swimmer be in the pool for warm ups to familiarize themselves with the pool. 

Where to Sit

Please always sit ONLY in the area where the Dam West team has been assigned. If your child is not in the heating area for their scheduled event this is where we will look for them. If your child isn’t in heating or this area they may miss their event. Never have your swimmers using the outside playgrounds during the meets because they are unsupervised. NO children should ever be left unattended. 

Volunteers 

Listen for meeting times at other pools. They will be announced over the PA system.

Clean-Up

Before leaving the meet, please be respectful of the hosting team and ALWAYS clean the area where you and your swimmers were seated. Thank you!

Officials: Starter and Stroke & Turn Judges will meet with the Meet Referee at announced time near the lifeguard stand in the Officials Area.

Timers: ALL Timers (both shifts!) are required to attend a meeting prior to the start of the meet usually around 7:10 am - listen for the announcement. 2nd shift timers must be there too. At Home Meets we meet behind the dive blocks..

The shift change usually happens at the end of backstroke. Please listen for the announcement!!  

New timers: Prior to the meet, it may be helpful to review the “Timer Instructions.” 

Heating : All heating area volunteers will have a meeting at 7:10 am in the heating area with the Clerk of Course.  2nd Shift volunteers should be there too.

Scoring &Scribe: Meet at the scoring table near the bathrooms to set up assignments. 

Water Runner: Check in with volunteer coordinator to let them know you are there.  Then check with Concessions Manager and she can set you up with the cups, tray, water, lemonade and snacks to take around to Timers and Officials.

Concessions: Check in with Volunteer Coordinator so they know you're there.  Then report to the concession stand for your assignments prior to meet start.  The Concessions Manager will help you get started. Find her with any questions or problems.

All volunteers should check in the Volunteer Coordinators so that they know you're there.  They will give you instructions on where to go.

Timers, Officials and Heating Volunteers should check-in with the volunteer coordinator and then LISTEN TO THE ANNOUNCER for instructions on when and where your meetings will take place.

The Dam West Dolphins do Fly-Overs at our HOME meets.  Not all pools will do them. 

What is a Fly-Over?

1)  Fly-Overs are used to conserve time during a meet and keep it moving.

2)  Fly-Overs are only used during specific individual events:

• Freestyle
• IM
• Butterfly
• Breaststroke

3)  Fly-Overs are NOT used for:

• Backstroke
• Relays

4)  As swimmers finish their race:

a)  They MUST stay in the water and close to the wall, unless otherwise instructed by the Referee. This includes swimmers with no one on the block above them.

b)  They should remain quiet and still so as not to distract the swimmers on the blocks.

c)  Once the next event’s swimmers have entered the pool, they should get out quickly.

5)  For swimmers in the next heat:

a)  They will come to the blocks by the normal whistle protocol (series of short whistle blasts) when the last swimmer in the current heat passes beneath the backstroke flags.

b)  The swimmers will be stepped up onto the blocks (long whistle) when the last swimmer in the current heat touches the wall at the finish.