Parent's First Swim Meets
Whether it’s your first time, or you’re new to the team, attending a swim meet can feel a bit overwhelming at first. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know so you can arrive at your first swim meet feeling confident and ready to go.
What to expect:
Your swimmer’s coach will send out an entry draft for swimmers and parents to review. This will include each swimmer’s events for the weekend. Take a look at that email, make sure the entries look correct. If your swimmer is unable to attend or the events look incorrect, email your swimmer’s coach right away.
One week prior, you will receive a detailed email including arrival time, location reminders, apparel reminders and more. Please review carefully. Reach out with any questions.
What do all these terms mean?
Event: Which swimming race your swimmer will participate in (25 yard freestyle, 50 yard backstroke, etc.)
Heat: Which round your swimmer will swim in (heat 1 swims first, then 2, 3, etc.)
Lane: The lane which your swimmer will swim in (lane 1, 2, 3, etc.)
Scratch: Withdrawing a swimmer from the event
If you are unable to swim in the meet, let your coach know 60+ days in advance. Meets open for entries early and will close fast. If you find out you cannot attend but the entries have been sent out, let your coach know ASAP.
Psych Sheet: A list of all the swimmers in each event listed from fastest to slowest
Timeline: How long the swim meet will take
Meet programs / ”heat sheets” with the event, heat, and lane listed tend to be posted around the pool deck
Helpful Items to Bring:
Sunscreen & water bottle
Extra towels, parka, and a few extra layers
Change of clothes
Hair brush, deodorant, chapstick
Light snacks & electrolytes
Card games, books, etc.
Camping chair to sit on
Arrival Time and Check in
The week prior to the swim meet, check the email with your swimmer’s group check in time. This is the time warm-up will begin. To give your swimmer enough time to arrive, check in for their events and start warming up on time, it is recommended that you arrive 15 minutes before the group meeting / warm up starts.
Deck-seeded meets: Your swimmer needs to circle their events by their name at the check-in table. Non-Alto swim meets will have a check-in desk. Allot for extra time to check in. The events will close 30 minutes before the race begins and if the swimmer is not checked in, they will not be able to race in that event.
Pool Deck Etiquette
There are specific areas of the pool deck that are for coaches and swimmers only. This is the competition course and is an athlete-only area that is off limits to parent spectators. We believe that parents have a huge role to play at meets, as a spectator, supporter, volunteer and your swimmers biggest fan!
Parents are allowed to film in parent designated areas across the pool or to the side of the blocks. Filming behind the blocks on the starting side is not permitted in accordance with SafeSport. Alto Swim Club always follows this policy for athlete safety.
Your swimmer should get into the habit of checking in and out with their coaches before/after their races. It is the coach's job to direct swimmers before and after each race and give them feedback.
My swimmer missed their race!
Your swimmer will make mistakes! It is part of the learning process. Give them the time and space needed to learn. We understand that if you see your swimmer standing in the wrong lane about to miss their race, you want to yell out or run over to "save" them.
Their coach will be able to help the swimmers faster if the swimmer goes straight to them vs. if the swimmer goes to their parent after missing a race. Do not try to intercept your swimmer if they miss a race! The coach is the best person to help.
Where can I watch the event?
There will be designated parent viewing areas. Parents are not allowed to sit in the Alto Team Area with the Alto tents. This is an area for the swimmers to get to know each other and be with their team.
Areas that a deck marshal, meet director, or coach communicates as “athlete only” should not include parents.
Behind the blocks (unless timing as a volunteer)
In the coaches tent
Areas marked off as athlete-only with caution tape / signage
Please be respectful of the areas that are marked for athletes/coaches/officials only.
Parent Expectations
Parents are in a supporting, volunteering and cheering role. You can encourage your swimmers by cheering them on during their races. All race feedback and critique comes from the coach. A great resource of information can be found here.
Thank you for your support and GO ALTO!
About Alto Swim Club
Alto Swim Club is a year-round USA Swimming club serving Peninsula families in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Menlo Park, Redwood City, Foster City, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Stanford, Atherton, and surrounding Bay Area communities.
From learn-to-swim lessons and stroke development to youth competitive swimming, fitness programs, high school swim training, and high-performance competition, Alto provides professional coaching and long-term athlete development from a swimmer’s first experience through the national level.
Looking for a youth competitive swim team, USA Swimming club, year-round swim program, or swim team tryouts in the Palo Alto area? Explore Alto Swim Club programs and find the right starting point for your swimmer.
Alto offers swimming programs at multiple locations throughout the Mid-Peninsula, including:
Stanford University, Avery Aquatic Center
235 Sam McDonald Mall, Stanford, CA 94305
JLS Middle School
480 E Meadow Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Greene Middle School
750 N California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Alpine Hills Swim & Tennis
4139 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028
Alto Swim Club also offers programs at additional locations throughout Palo Alto and the surrounding Peninsula.
Ready to swim with Alto? Explore our programs, register for swim lessons, or learn more about joining Alto Swim Club.