Swimmers

Essential gear for a swim meet:

• swim team swim suit
• goggles and extra goggles
• swim cap and extra swim cap
• 2-3 towels per swimmer
• sleeping bag to "crash" on (this marks their area to keep their stuff and hang out between events)
• books and games to keep you entertained between events
• snacks and extra snacks plus a little $ to spend on snacks (no big meals when swimming)
• cozy robe
• cozy PJ pants (the wilder the better)
• flip flops or slippers
• shampoo and conditioner
• lotion for after swimming
• brush
• clothes to wear when done swimming (don't forget the undies)
• laundry basket to haul all this stuff in
• camera
• stop watch
• pen and notebook to record times
• take most of these things times 3 for Ethan, Hannah, and Sarah

Hannah, Megan, and Claire during warm-ups; we usually arrive at home meets around 7:45am and warm-ups begin by 8:15 or so with the meet starting around 9:15. Lots of waiting around so Dana and I volunteer to write numbers on arms. Each swimmer gets their events written in permanent marker on their arm so they don't need a program to know what they are swimming. It looks something like:

7
100 Med Rel (3)
2/4

This means Event #7 is the 100 yd. Medley Relay and this swimmer swims 3rd (which is the butterfly). She'll compete in Heat 2 in Lane 4. Each of 4 swimmers will swim 25 yards (backstroke is first, then breast stroke, butterfly, and freestyle) for a total of 100 yards. In each meet a swimmer usually swims in 5 events (3 individual and 2 relays)

Ethan playing Rush Hour with a couple friends between events; favorite activities while waiting include cards, iPods, reading, games, cheering for your friends, snacking, coloring, and goofing off with friends.

Sarah and Laney; As you can see, the friendships are just as important as the swimming...

Sarah just learned to dive this week; up until now she'd get up on the block and look like she was going to dive, but would then do a leap frog move into the water...it was cute, but not efficient. We should see some faster times now!!!

Now that the high school girls swim season is over, many of those girls are helping to coach at the YMCA. Sarah LOVES these girls!!!

...maybe a little TOO much!!!

Don't forget the Moms! Dana and Nedra usually time at home meets. It's a great way to have a perfect view of the action and it makes the the time pass quickly (plus this year timers get free pizza :o)

Hannah and Kirsten

We try to encourage the kids not to worry about what place they finish in - just try to better their own times. This year, we're offering a quarter for every second they shave off their times. So far, it's been quite motivating, but they've been swimming in a lot of different events so we haven't had many times to compare. Nedra and Dana can't keep quiet when our children are swimming so we can be heard cheering them on. Some people see this as intensity, but mainly we're just excited (and really proud). Hannah listens for Dana's whistle during the breaststroke.

Hannah's specialty has been the butterfly this year. That's mom and dad's favorite event to watch her in. She looks so strong! Her favorite stroke to swim in practice is the breaststroke; she says it's relaxing!

5 short whistle blows means "Get ready for the next event"
One long blow means step up onto the starting block (or get into the water on back stroke)

Swimmers, take your mark...

Buzzer sounds and they're off! Ethan does very well at the relays. His friends and the crowd cheering him on really motivates him to do his best. Just look at that spectacular dive!

Next up: St. Cloud on December 19th
Good luck kiddos!
Go Marlins!