-- WHERE AND HOW MUCH ARE THE HEET SHEETS?

HEET SHEETS USUALLY SELL FOR $ 1.00 OR $ 2.00 AND ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CONCESSION STAND.

-- WHAT IS MY TIME?

AFTER EACH OF YOUR SWIMS YOU SHOULD GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR COACH SO HE CAN GIVE YOU YOUR TIME AND ANY SPLITS FOR YOUR RACE. THIS IS ALSO A TIME THAT YOU WILL BE GIVEN A CRITIQUE ON YOUR SWIM.

-- WHEN IS MY EVENT? / WHAT LANE AND HEET AM I IN?

YOUR EVENTS AND HEET AND LANE ASSIGNMENTS ARE POSTED NEAR WHERE THE TEAM IS SITTING. THEY ARE ALSO LISTED IN THE HEAT SHEET. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHEN YOU SWIM. IF AN EVENT IS MISSED, YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEET.

-- WHEN CAN WE LEAVE THE MEET? / WHEN IS THE MEET OVER?

THE MEET IS OVER AFTER THE 400 FREE RELAY. SINCE EVERYONE TRAVELS TOGETHER AS A TEAM, THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO ASK IF YOU CAN LEAVE EARLY.

-- WHERE ARE WE EATING?

EXCEPT FOR A FEW MEETS, WE WILL USUALLY GET A BURGER AND GET HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (it's been a long day).

-- WHAT RELAY AM I ON?

THE RELAY ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE POSTED USUALLY THE THURSDAY BEFORE A MEET. AT THAT TIME WE WILL PRACTICE ANY RELAY EXCHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED.

-- WHERE'S MY _(suit, goggles, cap,..... etc.)?

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP UP WITH ALL EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT TO YOU. YOU ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR ALL LOST EQUIPMENT.

-- CAN I WEAR A DRAG SUIT?

YES. DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEASON YOU MAY WANT TO WORK YOURSELF DURING A SWIM MEET IN PREPARATION FOR THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP MEET.

-- WHAT DO I DO IF MY GOGGLES LEAK OR FALL OFF?

KEEP GOING!!! IF YOUR GOGGLES FILL WITH WATER OR FALL OFF, YOU SHOULD KEEP GOING. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY YOU MAY NEED TO PULL THEM DOWN AROUND YOUR NECK.

-- ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SHAVE OUR LEGS?

"SHAVING DOWN" FOR A MEET IS A PERSONAL DECISION THAT ONLY YOU CAN MAKE. I DO NOT REQUIRE ANYONE TO SHAVE. HOWEVER, FOR MANY REASONS, A SHAVED BODY DOES MOVE FASTER THROUGH THE WATER. THIS IS A DECISION YOU MAKE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS

-- WHAT IF I MISS THE WALL?

YOU MUST TOUCH THE WALL ON EACH TURN. IF YOU MISS THE WALL, GO BACK IMMEDIATELY AND TOUCH IT.

-- SHOULD I EAT BEFORE I SWIM?

YOU SHOULD EAT A GOOD DINNER THE NIGHT BEFORE AND A BALANCED BREAKFAST THE MORNING OF THE SWIM MEET. DURING THE MEET EATING HEALTHY SNACKS IS RECOMMENDED (fruits, vegetables, water). YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT ANYTHING "HEAVY" DURING A MEET.

-- WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FALSE START?

YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED FROM THAT EVENT AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SWIM THAT EVENT.

-- HOW MANY EVENTS WILL I SWIM?

YOU MAY SWIM A TOTAL OF 4 EVENTS. THESE EVENTS WILL BE DECIDED BY THE COACH.

-- WHAT IS A TAPER?

A TAPER IS A POINT IN THE SEASON, USUALLY 2 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP MEET, WHEN WE GRADUALLY CUT DOWN ON THE YARDAGE. AT THIS TIME YOU WILL GRADUALLY BE SAVING UP YOUR ENERGY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DON'T "WASTE" THIS ENERGY OUTSIDE OF THE SWIMMING WORKOUT.

-- WHERE DO WE SIT AT THE MEET?

WE ARE USUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST TEAMS TO ARRIVE AT THE MEET. YOU WILL SIT TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

-- WHERE DO OUR PARENTS SIT?

AT MOST OF THE MEETS WE GO TO, SEATING IS VERY LIMITED. PARENTS MAY WANT TO BRING A FOLDING CHAIR. ALSO REMIND YOUR PARENTS TO DRESS FOR WARM AND HUMID WEATHER.

-- HOW MANY PEOPLE GO TO THE MEETS?

EVERYONE WHO IS ACADEMICALLY ELIGIBLE, AND HAS MADE IT TO ALL OF THE REQUIRED WORKOUTS WILL GO TO THE MEET. THERE ARE 3 MEETS THAT A QUALIFYING TIME MUST ALSO BE ACHIEVED.

-- WHAT DO I DO BETWEEN MY EVENTS?

ANOTHER OF YOUR MANY RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOUR TEAM IS TO ENCOURAGE THE REST OF YOU TEAMMATES. YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO "CHEER" FOR THEM DURING THEIR RACES, JUST AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE YELLED FOR. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER "QUIET FOR THE START"

-- CAN I DO SCHOOL WORK DURING THE MEET?

IF YOU ARE USING STUDY HALL FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH EXTRA WORK. IT IS VERY WET AT MEETS. PLEASE DO ANY WORK AT HOME OR ON THE BUS.

-- WHEN SHOULD I START STRETCHING FOR MY EVENT?

STRETCHING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR PREPARATION FOR YOU EVENT. YOU SHOULD STAY STRETCHED OUT THROUGHOUT THE MEET. YOU SHOULD BE FINISHED STRETCHING ABOUT 2 EVENTS BEFORE YOU SWIM.

-- WHEN SHOULD I GO TO THE STARTING BLOCKS?

TO KEEP THE MEET RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND ON TIME, AND AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED FOR MISSING YOUR EVENT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP TRACK OF THE EVENTS AND HEETS. YOU SHOULD REPORT BEHIND THE TIMERS OF YOUR LANE 3 HEETS BEFORE YOU SWIM.

-- WHAT DO I DO AFTER I SWIM?

AFTER EACH OF YOUR EVENTS YOU NEED TO GO TO YOUR COACH TO DISCUSS THE SWIM. YOU SHOULD THEN DRY OFF AND PUT ON YOUR SWEATS (even if it is warm there) AND STRETCH OUT AGAIN. YOU SHOULD THEN CHEER, AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAMMATES.

-- DO WE RIDE IN THE CHARTERS?

WE WILL TRAVEL IN THE CHARTERS 2 OR 3 TIMES. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT FOOD & DRINKS ARE NOT ALLOWED. MOST OF OUR MEETS, WE WILL TRAVEL ON A YELLOW BUS.

-- DO DIVERS ALSO SWIM?

YES. DIVING IS ONE EVENT OF 24. THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS THAT DIVERS MAY HELP THE TEAM.

-- WHAT ARE REASONS FOR DISQUALIFICATION?

MISSING YOUR EVENT; NOT TOUCHING THE WALL; ILLEGAL KICK; ILLEGAL PULL; TOUCHING THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL; FALSE START; RELAY MEMBER LEAVING BEFORE PREVIOUS SWIMMER TOUCHES THE WALL;........

--HOW DO I MAKE A TIME THAT I AM GOING FOR?

REMEMBER THAT IF YOU WANT TO SWIM FAST, TRAIN FAST. IF YOU WANT TO SWIM LONG, TRAIN LONG. IF YOU WANT TO SWIM GOOD, TRAIN WELL. NO GARBAGE STROKES, NO GARBAGE YARDS. EVERYTHING COUNTS, EVERYTHING TEACHES. 21 DAYS OF CONSTANT WORK CREATES OR BREAKS A HABIT. FIRST BREAK YOUR BAD HABITS, THEN BUILD YOUR NEW, GOOD HABITS