Upon Arrival

• Be on Time! Warm-ups begin well before the meet start time.
• Ensure your swimmer has sunscreen on and is marked up with his/her event information. (Bullpen parents can help new swimmer parents with marking up their swimmer).
• Swimmers report to age group area and are checked in by bullpen parent(s). Once you have signed in with the volunteer coordinator, please take ALL SWIMMERS to the appropriate bullpen parent to sign him/her in. YOU MUST SIGN YOUR SWIMMERS IN with the bullpen parent. If your swimmer is not signed in they will be scratched from their heats by the coaches. The same goes for the end of the meet, PLEASE inform the bullpen parents you are taking your swimmer home, especially our 6 and under parents.
• VOLUNTEERS: If you have signed up to volunteer, NO MATTER WHAT SHIFT, PLEASE check in with our volunteer coordinator as soon as you get to the pool. We LOVE our volunteers and like to know we have all our bases covered. Volunteer descriptions can be found here. 

During the meet

• WHAT YOUR SWIMMER SHOULD KNOW: First and foremost have fun! Do their best and enjoy the meet. PLEASE leave the coaching to our amazing coaches and just encourage your swimmers. If you are volunteering and leaving your swimmer especially our younger swimmers, please make sure they know where all their "stuff" is snacks, goggles, money and entertainment. Please remind your swimmers to stay with the bullpen parents and not wander off as this can create chaos when time comes to swim. Please lather your swimmers with sunscreen prior to arriving at the pool.
• FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS: As a general rule we like to promote “green” thinking so bring a reusable water bottle. Water containers will be available. At some meets a concession stand may offer food and a variety of snacks. You can bring in food and drinks, but we ask that people do not bring in glass or cans. Please be aware of any food allergies in your age group and discourage children from sharing foods. If your child has an allergy please ensure you have an epi-pen on hand and the bullpen parent is informed.
• READY BENCH: Bullpen parents are responsible for getting our swimmers to the ready bench so if you choose to take your child out of the age group tent during a meet, you are responsible for informing the bullpen parent and getting them to the ready bench on time. Failure to get to the ready bench will mean your swimmer is scratched from the race.
• RELAYS: Please don't cancel on relays, especially last minute - if your swimmer is signed up to swim the relay and for some reason you cannot stay, or make it, PLEASE INFORM the bullpen parents immediately. A relay is 4 swimmers and if one isn't there, the whole relay team has to forfeit. When signing up for a meet, Swimtopia allows you to note your relay preference: Please indicate if your child won't be available for early or late relays. 
• HEAT RIBBONS: In an effort to have more kids receive ribbons, we give out heat ribbons to swimmers in each heat to children 10 and under. This is a reward for working hard in practice and improving their times. Please explain to your children the intention of heat ribbons and the importance of being a good sport. Heat ribbons are given in the order the swimmers touch the wall, however, they may still be DQ’d depending on stroke and turn judges.
• DISQUALIFIED: Swimmers will be DQ'd (disqualified) for improper strokes. If your child is DQ'd please assure your swimmer that it is okay and how proud you are of them for trying. The coaches do get a list of what the swimmer was DQ'd for and they will go over with the swimmers in practice!
• SPORTSMANSHIP: Dolphins swimmers stay in the water at the end of their races until all swimmers have touched the wall, it's respectful to other swimmers. Once all swimmers have finished the race swimmers may exit the pool.

Additional Thoughts

• PLEASE MARK EVERYTHING with each swimmer's name so we can avoid lost shirts, towels, caps, bathing suits, etc. The meet should finish between 11AM and 1PM. Again if you are leaving early please tell the bullpen parent. We encourage all parents and swimmers to stay until the end of the meet to cheer on all of our Dolphins.
• Wear sunscreen! (Get the hint yet?)
• Bring cash and small bills – The concession stands will most likely not have change for anything over a $20.00!
• Have fun watching all the kids experience summer swim. Most of all, the Dolphins want to be known for our good sportsmanship. Please congratulate the winner no matter what team they are on, please encourage all swimmers and please encourage your swimmers to do the same. Our swimmers will follow our example.