Swim meets can be a little scary for those new to the sport. A little preparation can help make it a more enjoyable and learning experience.

Things to pack in a bag:

• Two towels (they get wet!)
• A Bluefish cap and a back up cap (they break)
• Goggles and back up goggles (ditto)
• Back up suit (in the unlikely event of a wardrobe malfunction)
• Water bottle, metal or plastic (no glass on the deck please)
• Snacks: Fruit in bite size pieces, Clif or similar bar in bite size pieces, bagel or a nut butter sandwich in bite size pieces are all great options. Please avoid chips or candy.
• Something to do: There will be down time between events. Kids are happier and better behaved if they have something to do that they enjoy. Playing cards, puzzle books, books to read, drawing paper, etc. We'd prefer no electronics. We want kids to talk to each other.
• Sweatshirts, warm ups or a parka will help your swimmer stay warm between events.
• If you'd like your swimmer to change into dry clothes before leaving the meet, pack those as you see fit.

Meets are organized into events and heats. New and younger swimmers are often very nervous about when they are supposed to swim. We will post the team entry on the meet page for you to review with your swimmer.

For swimmers who aren’t comfortable reading a heat sheet, please write their event and event number on their arm. We’ll add heat and lane on the deck. Your help here means a lot.

Here’s an example:

#3 50 Fly

#7 50 Back

#11 100 FR

Please have your swimmer on deck and ready to go 15 minutes before the start of warm up. Warm ups are crowded and being organized as a group is essential.

You can find more information under the resources tab on the bluefishme.com website.

Finally, and most importantly, if your swimmer is particularly nervous, let us know and encourage your swimmer to talk with us. We’ll seek them out, but we also want them to be comfortable talking with us.