Columbia Swim Club

Published by The American Swimming Coaches Association

5101 NW 21 Ave., Suite 200

Fort Lauderdale FL 33309

We participate in a variety of swim meets ranging from the most basic novice
level dual meet to statewide and regional championship meets.  Many meets
are low key and designed to be learning experiences.  Winning means
improving start, stroke, turns, pace, and time.  Racing, the ability to
race, and the strategies in racing are a close second priority.  Beating
someone else is a bonus but not overly emphasized except for higher levels
of competition.  We try to attend invitational meets about every 4 to six
weeks.  We may hold novice level meets more frequently, sometimes weekly, at
our home pool.

Coaches will ask parents for permission to enter their children in swim
meets.  Usually there is about a two to a four week advanced notice of
meets.  Once approval is made the coaches will enter the swimmers in
appropriate events and times.  In general, we swim all strokes in meets and
aim toward the more challenging events.

Swim meets are preceded by a warm up period of 60 to ninety minutes.  The
coaches will tell parents what time swimmers are expected to be at the meet.
Once at the meet, the coach will manage all the warm-up swimming, speak with
swimmers before each swim, and review the swim with the swimmer immediately
after.  Parents should find a comfortable place to view the meet away from
the immediate side of the pool.  (Most of our swim parents sit together.)
Parents are not to engage in coaching their children at the meets.  However,
parents are welcome to speak with coaches at appropriate times during the
meet.

Mini-Meets - Information for New Swim Parents
There are several objectives we strive to accomplish in our Mini-Meets.  The
primary focus is on teaching young swimmers what to do, where to be, and
what to think about at a swimming meet.  It is also a good opportunity for
new swim parents to find out what a swim meet is all about.

What a thrill to watch your child swim!  We ask that you sit in the
bleachers and stay clear of the sides of the pool.  (Unless, you would like
to be a timer - no experience required and the best seats in the house!)
Your child will be under the care of the coaching staff during the whole
time.  All the swimmers will be in the same general area waiting for their
next event.  It is very important that children speak with their coach
before their event and immediately afterwards in order to provide reminders
and then to provide feedback.  After children speak to the coach about their
event they may visit with their parents but will need to return to the team
fairly shortly if they have another event to prepare for.  When you visit
with your children tell them how much you love them and how proud you are of
them.  Please refrain from providing critical comments on your child's
performance as this is the role of the coaching staff.

What's going on?

Children should first find their coach who will conduct a warm-up prior to
the start of the meet.  The purpose of the warm-up is to loosed up muscles
and tendons, get the capillaries opened up for improved blood flow, and to
review skills.  The amount of warm-up varies depending on training
background.  After warm-up the children will gather in an area with the
coaching staff.  A good role for parents at this point is to be sure their
children have a warm towel.  The general order of events is younger swimmers
first, and girls before boys.  Age groups are 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, and 13
and over.  There may be several "heats" of one event.  For example, there
may be fifteen 9-10 girls so we would run several heats of 5 or 6 girls at a
time.  In each heat there may be swimmers much faster or much slower than
your child.

It is natural for parents to want their child to win the heat.  There are
three things coaches look for and at this level winning the race is the
LEAST important.  The first thing we look at is technique -- starts, stroke,
turns, pace, and finish.  The second thing we look at is their time.  Is it
a best time?  Finally we look at "racing."  Racing means being competitive
WITH other swimmers.  Perhaps the race is for 5th place or perhaps it is for
1st place.  In any case we like the swimmers to have fun racing.  Losing is
not a big deal - effort is.

We hope you have a good meet experience along with your children.  Please
visit with the coach if you have any questions.