First Swim Meet Checklist

For New Orca Families

Your first swim meet can feel like a lot — that’s completely normal. This checklist is here to help you feel prepared and confident. You don’t need to do everything perfectly. We’ve all been new.

The Night Before

  • ☐ Eat a normal dinner (carbs help, but no need to overthink it)
  • ☐ Pack your swimmer’s bag
  • ☐ Find your team suit, cap, and goggles
  • ☐ Check the meet start time and location
  • ☐ Get a good night’s sleep

What to Pack

  • ☐ Team swimsuit
  • ☐ Orcas swim cap
  • ☐ Goggles (bring a backup pair if possible)
  • ☐ Two towels
  • ☐ Sharpie or waterproof marker (important for hand marking)
  • ☐ Sweatshirt or warm layers
  • ☐ Sunscreen and a hat
  • ☐ Water bottle
  • ☐ Simple snacks (fruit, muffins, granola bars)
  • ☐ Flip-flops or water shoes

Optional but helpful:

  • ☐ Blanket or camp chair
  • ☐ Extra clothes

☐ Label everything with your swimmer’s name

Meet Morning

  • ☐ Eat a light breakfast (toast, cereal, fruit)
  • ☐ Arrive early — at least 10 minutes before warm-ups
  • ☐ Find the Orcas team area
  • ☐ Ask questions if you’re unsure — parents and coaches are happy to help

Before Warm-Ups (Don’t Skip This!)

  • ☐ Check heat sheets to see what events your swimmer is in
  • ☐ Mark your swimmer’s hand with:
  • Event number
  • Heat number
  • Lane number
  • ☐ Apply sunscreen after hand marking
  • ☐ Parents of younger swimmers may want to mark their own hand too
Why this matters: Hand marking helps swimmers, parents, and volunteers know when and where swimmers need to be — and helps prevent missed races.

During the Meet

  • ☐ Cheer for your swimmer and their teammates
  • ☐ Help your swimmer stay relaxed between races
  • ☐ Encourage water breaks and snacks
  • ☐ Watch the scoreboard for upcoming events
  • ☐ Celebrate effort — not just results

A Few Things to Know

  • ✔ Meets can last several hours — that’s normal
  • ✔ Your swimmer may feel nervous — also normal
  • ✔ Not every race will be perfect
  • ✔ Improvement and confidence matter more than times
  • ✔ Disqualifications happen and are part of learning

If You Need to Leave Early

  • ☐ Let a coach know before you go
  • ☐ Gather all your gear and check Lost & Found

At the End of the Meet

  • ☐ Stay until the end if you can
  • ☐ Cheer on teammates
  • ☐ Head home tired but proud
Most important reminder: This is supposed to be fun. Your swimmer showed up, tried something new, and learned something — that’s a win.

Welcome to your first meet. We’re glad you’re here.