GRANVILLE BLUE WAVES

Swim meets can feel overwhelming to first-time families. They're long, most likely hot (or rainy), and LOUD. But the kids look forward to them every week! Swim meets are a great way for our swimmers (and their parents) to see the progress they're making throughout the season, and the perfect space for everyone to be cheered on and celebrated. So bring your Sharpies and snacks, your invisible volunteer badge, and come have fun with us on Wednesday nights!

Please find below some helpful hints for a successful swim meet:

• Come early! Bring your chairs, canopies, tents, umbrellas--whatever will shield you from the afternoon sun (or rain)--and set them up ahead of time so your swimmer is ready to jump in the water for warm-ups with the team.
• Make sure your swimmer wears their team suit and has their GBW cap. Bring an extra pair of goggles or two, a towel, a water bottle and some healthy swimmer snacks like grapes, crackers, carrots, etc. Also, bring a blanket for them to sit on, a chair for you, and some engaging games or toys to play with friends. Don't bring anything that you are worried could get wet or misplaced. 
• Write your name on everything you want to see again!
• Bring a Sharpie so that you can write your swimmer's events on their arm AND their name and team on their back. Below is an example of how to write their events: E=event #, H=heat #, L=lane #. (Check the SwimTopia app or ask a coach or seasoned swim parent to look up your individual swimmer's events...)

• Stay at the meet until all of your swimmer's events are complete. The meet could run till about 8:30-9:00ish on a week night.  This is a fun, special time and your child can stay up 6 times all summer to fulfill their team commitment; be prepared for this late time frame! Make sure you do not leave early if your swimmer is in a relay--the entire relay team will be disqualified if one swimmer doesn't show up. Remember you're part of a TEAM!
• Be prepared to volunteer. Meets cannot run without everyone's help, so head HERE to sign up! There are many ways to get involved, even for those families with young non-swimmers. Please don't just assume that everyone else will volunteer so you don't have to; summer swim team is a community effort and cannot continue without help from all GBW families.
• Be ready to cheer on other swimmers and focus on your swimmer's personal accomplishments. Most swimmers do not take first place. If you are seen berating your child, you will be be informed that this will not be tolerated.
• Sometimes we go out for pizza after the meet. Your family is always invited to come with us.  The older children and coaches are often first in line for this, and plan it, so just ask them what the plan is!
• HAVE FUN! The best part of a summer swim meet is looking around the pool at the end of an event when the last swimmer is coming in. No matter how slow they are, everyone waits till they're finished and then the crowd erupts into cheers! Come and be part of this incredible, uplifting community of swimmers and friends--you won't regret it and you'll look forward to it year after year!