What Do I Need at the Meet?

Be prepared, the night before the meet make sure all your gear is sorted and everything is accounted for. Nothing is more unsettling than realising you have forgotten your togs or something else when you get to the pool. Following are what you will need and can help you through a meet.

Bag :You should have a large, waterproof bag to take, to keep all your things in. This should be big enough to keep your clothes in, if there are no lockers never leave your gear in the changing room.

Towels: You will need at least two towels, one to dry yourself between the races and one to use once you have finished swimming. Over the day your towels will become wet, so try to have one that is dry so that you can dry yourself quickly. A chamois is useful as this will save your towel.

Togs: A number of them are required on competition days. You should have training togs in which to warm up, then some good racing togs to race in. Your racing togs should fit snugly and be close fitting with no loose material in the backside when wet. Be careful when buying togs. Make sure that they fit you and don't rub. Look around for togs that are well constructed and will not fall to pieces quickly. Price isn't always the best guide!

Caps: If you wear a cap to race it must be a JASI cap. You should have a couple of spares in your bag. Caps have a habit of splitting just when you don't need them to. Use an older cap for training not racing.

Goggles: Have a couple of spare pairs. If the nose piece or elastic breaks, you do not want to be fiddling with them, or searching frantically to borrow a pair from someone else, only to find that they do not fit quite right and feel uncomfortable just before you swim. Your spare goggles should be the same, so that it does not matter if one pair breaks. You can just pick up the next pair and use them with ease and comfort. When you buy goggles, test them out in training so you are happy with them before you race in them. Take your time and get the right ones. It is no good looking 'cool' in your snazzy goggles if you can't see out of them the moment you hit the water!

Clothing: The team uniform is designed for the purpose of keeping you warm and comfortable while around poolside indoors or out. T-shirts, you should have a couple so you have a spare when the first one gets wet, tracksuit, shorts, socks and some suitable footwear which will keep your feet dry. A hat for the cold, or shade in the sun. There are also JASI Pool coats for extra warmth and protection.

Other Useful Items: Some meets can last a long time and can be tiring so have something to read or music to listen too, this can also help you shut out all other noise around you and give you time to focus on your upcoming event.

Water bottle (plastic) - Keeping your fluid balance right and keeping hydrated is one of the most important aspects of your race preparation.

Food - meets can be long so food is important to keep your energy levels up. Food should be kept in a water tight container and after always place rubbish in the bins provided.

Have your entire gear ready in the bag before you go. You will be in a better frame of mind to concentrate on your swimming.

Don't leave it to your parents to get your gear ready!