What to Expect
LMYA swims in the Contra Costa Swim League (CCSL) which is comprised of 5 recreational teams that do not swim in private clubs. The five teams in our league include: Pleasant Hill Dolfins, Dana Hills Otters, LMYA Dolphins, East County Stingrays and Walnut Creek Swim Club. The purpose of the dual meets is to swim against each team in our league at least once during the season.
Our league recognizes “A teams” and “B teams” within the overall swim team. Three teams, specifically, the East County Stingrays, Pleasant Hill & Dana Hills have combined the “A” team and the “B” team into one “A/B” meet and we swim against them once. The remaining team, Walnut Creek, divides their teams resulting in two meets: an “A” Meet and a “B” Meet.
The benefit of swimming on LMYA is that the children, in most cases, choose the events that they will be swimming! For all “A/B” Meets and “B” Meets, the children choose their own events! The coach determines the relay teams. So make sure that your child signs up for his/her chosen events before each meet!
The one exception within the dual meets is an “A” meet, and we only have 2 “A” meets scheduled this year. An "A" Meet generally only permits one heat per event. Due to these limitations, the coach determines the events in which a swimmer swims. Generally swimmers in an “A” Meet have achieved an “A” times (blue or gold star time) However, there is occasionally room in an "A" meet for a "B" swimmer, especially on relays. Therefore, it is essential to "enter" your swimmer in the Meet-entry system if they are available to participate in the "A" meets. The Head coach will then determine the entries. All swimmers need to check the web-site before each meet to confirm if you were entered.
What Happens If Your Child has a Disappointing Swim?
If your child has a poor race and comes out of it feeling badly, talk about the good things. The first thing you say is, "Hey that is not like you. I know you are disappointed, but it's not the end of the world!" Then you can go on and talk about the good things the child did. Don't talk about the negative things and don't keep talking about the race. Drop it and get your child to focus on the next race or something enjoyable coming up after the meet! Limit the "post mortems!"
If your child comes up to you and says, "That was a bad race, don't tell me it wasn't," there is nothing wrong with a swimmer negatively evaluating a race. The important thing is for the child not to dwell on it. You should move the swimmer on to something good. "All right, you have had a bad race. How do you think you can do better next time?" Immediately start talking about the positive things.
What To Take To The Meet
1. Most important: Swim Suit, Team Cap--and goggles (if your swimmer uses them).
2. Baby or talcum powder--To "dust" the inside of swim cap. This helps preserve the cap and makes it easier to put on.
3. Towels-Pack several. Your swimmer will be there awhile in multiple events.
4. Something to sit on. Oftentimes the swimmer area may be located away from the pool in the grass or on concrete. Example: sleeping bag, old blanket, or anything that will be comfortable to sit on. The swimmers will be spending a lot of time on it.
5. Sweat suits: bring one. Each swimmer may want to bring two because they can get wet and soggy. Night meets are notoriously cold - come prepared.
6. Team T-shirts: Two or three. Same reason as above.
7. Games: travel games, coloring books, books, anything to pass the time between events.
8. Food: Each swimmer is usually allowed to bring a small cooler. It is better to bring snacks. They usually have snack bars at the meet, but it;s best to come prepared. Suggestions for items to bring:
a. Drinks: Water, Hi-C, Fruit juice, Gatorade
b. Snacks: Granola bars, Fresh fruits, yogurt, cereal, jello cubes, sandwiches
9. Pop-up tent or sun canopy. The days are long and hot and there isn't always shade available. A pop-up tent is a good investment and best kept in the car.
Once you have attended one or two meets this will all become very routine. Please do not hesitate to ask any other parent for help or information!
Meets are a lot of fun for the swimmers! He/she gets to visit with his/her friends, play games, and meet kids from other teams. He/she also gets to "race" and see how much he/she has improved from all the hard work he/she has put in at practice.
Special Parent's Note
The pool area can range from very warm to very cold depending on the location, time of day and weather. Therefore, you need to make sure you dress appropriately. Wear or bring lots of layers. Nothing is worse than being too hot or too cold at a swim meet. It makes the time pass very slowly! At most of the meets, the parents sit with their swimmers at the team area and then proceed to the pool for the races. If you don't think that sitting on a pool deck or the ground (OUCH) is comfortable, feel free to bring folding chairs to sit on.