Help for Parents

This page is intended as a guide to help you the parents understand what is expected on the swim team and how you can help.It is by no means complete.

How can you as a parent help.

  • Take an active interest in your childs progress and development, successes and disappointments.
  • Encourage your swimmer to know their times and what their goals are.
  • Volunteer at swim meets by working as timers, scorekeepers, ribbon writers, starters, announcers and stroke and turn judges. No experience is necessary and the team and subsequently your children benfit from your your help!
  • Support the team and the coaching staff with a positive attitude. Communicate any ideas, concerns or suggestions you may have for the team.
  • Check this website regulary.
  • Be a role model for swimmers by displaying good sportsmanship at swim meets.
  • Cheer on a tidalwave swimmer that might be going for a personal best or an under 6 trying their best
  • Parents - Please do not approach the coaches on the deck during practice or meets unless it is extremely important. It is hard for the coaches to carry on a structured workout or organize a meet with continuous interruptions. The coaches will be happy to meet with you either before or after a practice or meet, or at a prearranged time. We try to make the most of the practice/meet time and are dedicated to providing the time and attention the swim team members need. We appreciate your cooperation.
  • It is a team policy that if a swimmer is going to miss a meet that the coaches receive written notice by the MONDAY before a Saturday meet and the THURSDAY before a Wednesday night meet. If written notice is not given, the swimmer(s) will be come ineligible to swim in the next meet. . This is important because the coaches plan meet line-ups well in advance of the meet.
  • During the swim team season try to make all the training sessions. The Tidalwaves runs for 8 weeks during the summer. Every attempt is made to cover all aspects of competative swimming during this period of time.
  • Plan to have your swimmer participate in the swim conditioning sessions which are run weekly after the swim team finishes.Swim conditioning focusses on improving technique as well as endurance and speed. A swimmer with good technique is more efficient in the water, conserving energy on the stroke which can be converted into speed.

What you should bring to a swim meet.

When packing for a swim meet bear in mind that swimmers need to be kept warm in between their events.Swimmers can get chilled even on a very hot day.Early morning can start with a chill in the air so swimmers need to dry off after their warm up. Their first event could be some time after the warm up.

The younger swimmers often get bored between events. Bring some small portable games that they can play with friends. Invite new swimmers to the team to join them.

If you have a sun canopy invite other families to share your shade. It helps to get to know other families on the team. Maybe you and another family could plan a rota to share bringing a cnanopy. They are heavy items to carry.

  • Team Swimsuit, Cap and Goggles (spare goggles are always a good idea).
  • Bring at least 2 towels.Most of you may already have a team towel.Bring this one plus a spare. Even if it's a home meet at the Club. Use of clubsport towels during a swim meet causes an abnormal increase in towel demand and as a result a shortage of towels to other club members during the time of the swim meet.T-Shirt, Sweatpants, Sweatshirt.
  • Umbrella or EZ-Up for Shade. Blankets to sit on or tarp for wet grass.
  • Toys for quiet time between heats.

Swim Meet Procedure

It takes a lot of work to plan a swim meet. Most of which is invisible to the team unless you are involved in the planning. Swimmers are selected for events and relays. If your swimmer cannot attend and you have not informed the coaches then a relay your child is swimming in may have to be withdrawn from the event if a replacement swimmer cannot be found. An opportunity for another swimmer to swim in the meet could be lost if the coaches do not know that you cannot attend. Ultimately the team could loose valuable points at a meet. It is a team policy that if a swimmer is going to miss a meet that the coaches receive written notice by the MONDAY before a Saturday meet and the THURSDAY before a Wednesday night meet. If written notice is not given, the swimmer(s) will be come ineligible to swim in the next meet.

  • Be on time.
  • Call the number the coach provides in the weekly update email if think you will be late.
  • Make sure your child checks in.
  • Make sure your child is ready for the warm ups.
  • If you are volunteering at the meet check in with the volunteer coordinator. It's especially important to know that we have timers and age group coordinators available to start the meet.

Clubsport rules

There are two club sport rules that need to be followed during home meets and during training sessions.

  • All swimmers under the age of 13 must be escorted to and from the pool area by an adult. Parents must check their swimmers in and then be present to pick them up at the end of practice.
  • Swimmers under the age of 13 must be supervised by an adult in the adult lockeroom. They may not use any of the indoor spa facilites. Swimmers may use the outdoor spa.
  • Please bring your team towels or other towels during a swim meet. Although this is not a rule it's a reasonable request to ask of the team during a meet where demand on towels can be excessivley high during a short period of time and means that other club members could be left without.