The 6 Most Common Swim Meet Mistakes Parents Make
If you knew that you could make a positive difference in your swimmer’s Championship Meet experience, wouldn’t you? Let’s help you with this goal by giving you the 6 most common swim meet mistakes parents make!
Of course you would! Hi swim parents! Abbie Fish, Head Coach & Founder of Swim Like A. Fish here.
As somebody who has coached swimmers and coaches all over the world, I have witnessed firsthand what actually makes or breaks a swimmer’s swim meet experience.
A swimmer could have the most amazing work ethic in the world but if they don’t have the support (emotional, physical, and mental) of their loved ones, they won’t achieve as high. It’s a sad reality.
I also see swim parents who, no matter what language they speak or where they are from, want to help their swimmer succeed so bad! The problem is that a lot of times they don’t know how to help or what their swimmer needs.
That’s where I come in. After spending deck time for thousands of swim meets, I’ve realized that if parents can avoid these 6 most common mistakes, they’re headed in the right direction.
When it comes to Championship Meet time, you have 2 HUGE jobs:
- Provide emotional support and be your child’s biggest cheerleader
- Pack what they might need!
#1 is a long conversation and we touch on it in our other swim parent blogs (Check it out HERE and HERE).
But you’ll find that #2 is a bit more straightforward. In fact, we’ve put together this The Ultimate Parent Packing List for you to download so you never forget what they need!
Let’s get into the 6 most common swim meet mistakes to avoid as a swim parent headed to a big meet:
#1) Forgetting Recovery Snacks
As parents, it’s your job to anticipate needs according to what is age and maturity appropriate to your swimmer. It can be easy to get so focused on what you’ll need before the swim meet that you forget to pack snacks that help a swimmer recover post race. This looks like snacks that are high in protein (chocolate milk is my personal favorite).
Remember, there’s a small, 30-minute window post race where the body is able to recover a large amount if given the right fuel. My college nutritionist always recommended eating something small right after then consuming a large, balanced meal within 4 hours.
Especially if you have multiple kids competing in different events or even different sports on the same day, make sure to plan ahead for recovery food!
#2) Talking Swim Technique Right Before Races
Unfortunately, this is the fastest way to derail a swimmer’s race. It can feel like the right time to remind them of what they’re supposed to be focusing on. Instead, it gets them out of race mode and into practice mode.
By the time race day comes around, it’s about trusting the work that your swimmer put into their technique and letting their body do its thing. In fact, the fastest races I ever had occurred when my mind went blank, and I was fully locked into the race.
This also intersects with what we talk about as “parent responsibilities” vs “swim coach responsibilities.” As swim parents, your job is to support, not to coach. Let’s look at the triangle of responsibilities here.
#3) Poor Warm-Up Timing
Although life is sometimes out of your control and things happen, do your absolute best to get your swimmer to the pool with plenty of time before warm-up. That way, they can scope out the new environment, get settled in their team’s area, and transition into a swim meet mindset.
If you arrive late, it’s highly likely your swimmer will feel unnecessary stress and anxiety surrounding what is already a challenging arena. Give your swimmer the gift of extra time.
Additionally, do your best to encourage (without overstepping and coaching) your swimmer to take that extra time to warm up and warm down properly in between their races. Just like you teach them to be on time, you also teach them to be kind to their bodies.
#4) Skipping Relays
Relays provide bonding, accountability and teamwork to your swimmer! They teach swimmers to swim for something bigger than themselves. That’s why it’s no surprise that best times often occur during a relay swim!
Not to mention, they’re a whole lot of fun! Skipping relays teaches swimmers that they do not belong to the team community. Long term, this isn’t good for anyone.
#5) Treating Prelims/Finals Incorrectly
During a large Prelims / Finals meet, it’s crucial that swimmers learn the skills to handle the adversity that comes with the long and tiring days. It’s important as parents to prioritize rest and recovery. I have memories of my mom dropping me at our hotel room to take a nap while she went out and got us a meal.
It can be tempting to socialize during the in-between, or to prioritize the prelims or finals race more than the other. Instead, treat both as independent races that require care and preparation!
#6) Overpacking
Overpacking can be just as harmful as underpacking. The more stuff you bring with you, the more complicated logistics become. And, the more pressure you put on your swimmer. Your energy and how you approach the meet shows up in their swims.
By packing just the right amount of stuff, you communicate to your swimmer, “I’ve got what you need, go do your thing.” Just like anything in life, it’s not just about what you have but instead how you use it.
Swim Meet Mistakes Conclusion:
When it comes to championship swim meets, they can be long and grueling, but they can also be some of the most fun times with your swimmers! A lot of this is decided by your own attitude and willingness to “lean into” the experience.
If you want more swim parent tips, check out this Youtube Playlist!
We hope this checklist will help you do just that and to build memories that your swimmer will never forget, no matter how the meet goes!
Until next time,
Abbie Fish and the Swim Like A. Fish Team