FAQ 
Sun, Nov 22, 2009
CAC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, ETC.

Why swim a dual meet?
While we strive to encourage competitive and non-competitive swimmers alike, CAC is a competitive team. When you register to swim you are automatically signed up to swim all five swim meets. We encourage all new swimmers to try the first meet and not to wait until the end of the season to try it. The coaches feel that this is one of the most fun aspects of being on the team because of individual accomplishments and team success. New swimmers by swimming the first meet will be able to receive invaluable guidance and advice from coaches to help improve even more by the end of the season.

Why swim championships?
The experience alone of swimming at a meet with athletes from 11 other teams is amazing. Swimmers are also seeded in heats according to their times, so they swim against other swimmers with similar times which makes races closer than dual meets. There is also a much larger chance of success by winning heat winner ribbons and dropping large amounts of time. Additionally, swimmers are allowed to choose their individual events that they want to swim and all events are offered.

What do I bring to a swim meet?
Below is the suggested list of items to bring with you to any meet:
  • You need 3 towels…two to use during the meet, and one to dry off with afterward,
  • Clothes to change into (including underwear) not just a swimsuit,
  • Swimsuit, cap, goggles,
  • Some clothing to keep you warm while on deck between events,
  • Food to snack on but preferably not sugary snacks until after the meet (see the nutrition info below), and
  • For championships only: sleeping bag or blanket and something to keep you entertained (you will likely be in a gym or cafeteria and remember everything is not waterproof).

How is a meet run?
Every swimmer will swim up to 2 individual events and 1 relay event of coach’s choice if enough swimmers are present. The order of events for dual meets is a warm-up session, medley relay, freestyle event, specialty event and the freestyle relay. Age groups swim in order beginning with 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-17, alternating boys and girls. Meets usually take two hours but have to end by 8:30 p.m. at the latest. Once a swimmer has swum all their events and they have spoken to their coach, they are free to leave.

Parent and Swimmer Responsibilities
  • During practices and meets, parents stay in the bleachers, swimmers stay on the deck!
  • Arrive on time to practice! Parents may ask questions of coaches between practices, by telephone or e-mail. Parents must be sure that their swimmers are on deck and practicing…coaches cannot police the building looking for swimmers who decide not to swim.
  • During a meet swimmers need to practice getting their time from their lane timers and then go talk to their coach. Parents who time, help remind swimmers to get their times.
  • Parents must help swimmers to maintain a healthy diet and an adequate sleep schedule as much as possible.
  • Parents must also help to reinforce respect for teammates, teammates’ property in the pool and locker room, and respect for opponents as well. CAC strives to be a positive and prideful organization and we take sportsmanship seriously.
  • Check the bulletin board and white board at the pool as well as subscribe to the website (cacswim.org) for the most up-to-date information and resources.

Disciplinary Procedure
  • A warning is issued,
  • Swimmer will sit out of the pool for a period of time until ready to rejoin the group,
  • Swimmer will be excused from practice - parent speaks with the coaches and board members before returning to the pool, and
  • As a last resort the board may vote to revoke membership.
After each step, parents/guardians will be notified of incidents and what will happen next.

Coach Andrew's Nutrition Tips for Swimmers
  • Drink water. Athletes in the pool cannot feel themselves “sweating.” They frequently fail to recognize their water needs until they are physically thirsty. At that stage they could be 20-30 minutes into dehydration. Encourage swimmers to carry a water bottle and take sips on a regular basis.
  • Sugar is a poor substitute for carbohydrate and will cause a decrease in energy and performance if eaten shortly before competition. NO candy bars between events! (Or before!)
  • Energy for events is specific to food eaten SEVERAL DAYS before the meet. What you eat the day of the meet will not help your performance.
  • Consuming excess protein will not build muscle faster. A normal diet (50-60% carbohydrates, 10-30% fat, 10-20% protein) will give you plenty of protein.
  • Fat is essential in the development of young (prepubescent) swimmers. Most get plenty, but do not deprive this group of this essential nutrient either.
  • Pre competition meals should be high in carbohydrates, and low in fats and proteins.
  • Foods high in carbohydrates take the least time to digest, making fruits and vegetables good pre-meet snacks.
  • Be wary of carb-loading drinks. Many are loaded with sugar and don’t provide any more benefits than water for fending off dehydration.

10 Guidelines for Swimming Parents
As parents, we all want what’s best for our kids. When it comes to competitive sports, sometimes we let our enthusiasm overshadow what’s really important—letting our kids have fun and discover their own potential at their own pace. Below are 10 things to keep in mind this swim season.
  1. Don’t impose your ambitions on your child
    Swimming is your child’s activity. Improvements and progress occur at different rates for each individual. Don’t judge your child’s progress based on the performance of other swimmers and don’t push him or her based on what you think he/she should be doing.

  2. Be supportive no matter what
    There is only one question to ask your child after a practice or competition—“did you have fun?” If these activities are not fun, your child should not be forced to participate.

  3. Don’t coach your child
    Swimming is one of the few youth sports that offers professional coaching. Don’t undermine the coach by trying to coach your child from the side. Your job is to provide love and support. The coach will be responsible for the technical part of the job. Don’t offer advice on technique or race strategy, and never pay your child for performance. This only serves to confuse your child concerning the reasons to strive for excellence and weaken the swimmer/coach bond.

  4. Say only positive things at a swim meet
    You should be encouraging and never criticize your child or the coach. Both of them know when mistakes have been made. Remember “yelling at” is not the same as "cheering for."

  5. Acknowledge your child's fears.
    New experiences can be stressful situations. It is totally appropriate for your child to be scared. Don't yell or belittle, just assure your child that the coach would not have suggested the event or meet if your child was not ready.

  6. Don’t criticize the officials.
    Please don't criticize those who are doing the best they can in purely voluntary positions.

  7. Respect your coaches.
    The bond between coach and swimmer is special. It contributes to your child's success as well as fun. Do not criticize the coach in the presence of your child.

  8. Be loyal and supportive of your team
    It is not wise for parents to take swimmers and to jump from team to team. The water isn't necessarily bluer in another team's pool. Every team has its own internal problems, even teams that build champions. Children who switch from team to team find that it can be a difficult emotional experience. Often swimmers who do switch teams don't do better than they did before they sought the bluer water.

  9. Have goals besides winning.
    Most successful swimmers have learned to focus on the process and not the outcome. Giving an honest effort regardless of what the outcome is, is much more important than winning. One Olympian said, "My goal was to set a world record. Well, I did that, but someone else did it too, just a little faster than I did. I achieved my goal and I lost. Does this make me a failure? No, in fact I am very proud of that swim." What a tremendous outlook to carry on through life.

  10. Don’t expect your child to become an Olympian.
    There are 250,000 athletes in USA Swimming. There are only 52 spots available for the Olympic Team every four years. Your child's odds of becoming an Olympian are about .0002%.

From 10 Commandments for Swimming Parents by Rose Snyder, Managing Director, Coaching Division, USOC. http://www.usaswimming.org.