Good Evening Otter Families,

I am super excited for our first meet of the season! I want to take a moment to go over some quick reminders and I have some general information below. Please feel free to text me if you have any questions.

~Meka Nadeau

703-898-2052

Team Rep.

Signing up for Meets: 

I am a bit late sending info on this section...

Please ensure you are notating if your swimmer will be able to do the relay at the end of the event. If you forgot to mark this when signing up, please let Reese know at practice this evening (or send an email or text). You can also check the meet sheets which are linked online once they are set on Friday to make sure your child knows if they are swimming. 

Please sign up for the jobs list! We still have a lot of openings and your help is not only needed but required to run a meet! If you have any questions about where you can best help out, let me know!

Before The Meet:

A well-rounded pre-meet routine sets your swimmer up for success and prevents race-day anxiety:

1. The Night Before

• Hydrate: Start pushing water early to ensure they are fully hydrated.
• Rest: Aim for a solid 9–10 hours of sleep.
• Eat Right: Serve a familiar, carbohydrate-heavy dinner (like pasta or rice) but keep it low in fat and fiber to avoid stomach upset.

2. Morning of the Meet

• Pack the Essentials: Bring 1-2 towels, 1-2 goggles (a back up pair is always a good idea), a team cap, a Sharpie and warm layers (sweatpants/pj pants and/or a sweatshirt) to keep muscles warm between events.

3. At the Pool Deck

• Have your child go to the team area and get set up.
• Write Down the Events: Use a Sharpie to write their Event, Heat, and Lane right on their arm or thigh so they always know what they are swimming. They will announce each race beforehand so they can follow along.
• Warm Up: Ensure they participate fully in the team warm-up to get their heart rate up and loosen their shoulders.
• Stay Warm and Fueled: Keep layers on when not actively racing. Pack light snacks like bananas, applesauce, or pretzels for them to munch on. It is recommend to wait on sugar until their main races are done, they can then get treats at the concession stand.

Post Race Mentality

Focus on the Effort: When your swimmer gets out of the water, focus on telling them that you could tell they raced hard and praise. If you could tell they did not swim as well as they normally do, ask them how they felt rather than asking if they "dropped time" every time they exit the water. Offer Emotional Support: Swim meets can be exhausting. Parents can support their swimmer by keeping pressure low, ensure they drink water, and encourage them to rest in the stands between events.

Arriving to the Meet:

If your child signed up for multiple races and since sign up, no longer wants to swim an event, please text me ASAP or find me at the event; we need to get them scratched as soon as possible to avoid confusion during the meet.

Please remember that parents are not allowed to talk to timers, stroke and turn judges, to the starter or ref. during the meet. If you have questions or comments these need to be brought ONLY to the team rep. If this is in regards to a DQ, I will discuss this with Reese and then discuss with the Ref during the event. Your child is allowed to ask the timers for their time when exiting the water. Please know that they most often give them 1 of the 3 recorded times before they have been averaged for their final time. If the finial time is different, this is why.

Please ensure your child stays in the team area during the entire event. It is important we are able to quickly find them so they can line up for their race. If they miss their race, they will not be able to be added in.

For the Meet:

Location: 301 Whipp Dr SE Leesburg 20175

Parking Details: Our parking lot is rather small and guest parking is very limited. We ask our team to not park in the parking lot and allow this area to be used for the visiting team. We do suggest carpooling where possible. Parking will additionally be allowed in any open parking spot on our streets. There is NO parking along Hope Pkwy. When parking in the neighborhood, we kindly ask all parents to be aware of the hydrants and not to block any driveways or mailboxes. Please allow time in the morning to find parking and to walk to the pool area!

Entrance Instructions: Please use the open gates to enter and exit the pool area.

Schedule:

6:30 AM- Pool Deck opens

7:00 AM- Stratford Sea Otters warmups begin

7:25 AM- Rivercrest Riptide warmups at begin

7:55 AM- The National Anthem will be played

8:00 AM- The meet will begin

Team/Spectator Area: Otters will be located on the other side of the fence behind to the concession area. Additionally, as a reminder, no one is allowed in any part of the pool/ baby pool during the meet.

All parents can find seating or bring chairs to set up around the pool area. We will have sections marked off for the meet. We ask parents to not set up in these areas. Please reach out with any additional questions.

Supervision: Parents are responsible for the conduct of their swimmers and families and for cleaning up their team areas.

Concessions: Concessions will be available for the meet. We will accept cash only.

Drinks: Coffee, Water, Gatorade, Sodas

Food Items: A variety of Doughnuts and candy of course!

We are looking forward to a fun meet! See you at the pool!

To our team:

Please do not park in the parking lot and allow this area to be used for the visiting team.

Team/Spectator Area: The visiting team will have their team area in the baby pool area. Please do not set up in this area. Otters will be located on the other side of the fence behind to the concession area. Additionally, as a reminder, no one is allowed in any part of the pool/ baby pool during the meet.