Helpful Hints For New Swimmers

o        Always try to arrive 5-10 minutes early.

o        Avoid losing your equipment and belongings by marking your name on everything you bring to the pool.

o        Try to eat 1 hour prior to practice, if this is not possible try to get a nutritious snack at least 1 hour prior to practice.  Carbohydrates are great to have before swimming (Macaroni & Cheese, bananas, etc.)

o        Always circle swim during practice: circle swimming is when you stay to the right hand side of the lane regardless of what direction you are swimming.   The people in your lane will swim “in a circle” around the lane line that’s at the bottom of the pool.

o        Wear Goggles!  Try to fit them tight to your face before you get to the pool.  The chlorine will loosen the fit.  Do not touch the inside of the goggles.  There is a coating on them to keep them from fogging – fingers remove the coating. 

o        To keep hair from drying out put conditioner in your hair before swimming and wear a latex cap for practice.

o        If you have long hair wear a cap to keep it out of your face during practice – don’t just hope that a ponytail will do the trick…they fall out!

o        To keep skin from drying out use moisturizer after swimming.

o        If fins are slightly large wear socks underneath/inside fins.  This will help to prevent blisters.

o        Please remember to follow pool rules.

Handbook for Parents & Swimmers