First year participating in summer swim

[Anonymous]

It's DS's baby step into being on a swim team which... fine, I'm happy to support and encourage. But man, you guys did not adequately prepare me for how miserable it is being poolside outside for almost 2 hours in 90 degree heat and weak shade. I am not looking forward to doing this all summer! I can't even see how the kids are doing due to the sun's glare and the lack of a real viewing area, so it's just me sitting in the scorching heat with no real payoff.

[Anonymous]

A neck fan is worth its weight in gold!

[Anonymous]

Don't worry, you'll be working at all the meets, or most of them, not idly sitting.

[Anonymous]

Tank top in your team's color

Sun hat

Lots of water

Volunteer as a timer. There might be an umbrella to stand under. If not, the older swimmers' flip turns generate a nice splash from the pool water

Make friends. It will take your mind off the heat

[Anonymous]

Concessions volunteers get to be in the A/C at our meets - it's a good gig!

[Anonymous]

Best place to volunteer is the data table (time cards or awards). You will be sitting and typically set-up under a tent or shaded area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't worry, you'll be working at all the meets, or most of them, not idly sitting.

[Anonymous]

You can say no to swim team
That's what I did. So glad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't worry, you'll be working at all the meets, or most of them, not idly sitting.

This. I got to see my kids swim because I was standing on the edge of the pool (either in blazing hot sun or pouring rain, no in between) timing (mandatory volunteering for 6 meets). Glad my kids aren't doing it anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best place to volunteer is the data table (time cards or awards). You will be sitting and typically set-up under a tent or shaded area.

But you won't be able to get those slots because they're assigned before the volunteer position sign-up goes live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best place to volunteer is the data table (time cards or awards). You will be sitting and typically set-up under a tent or shaded area.

Disagree. I LOVE being a timer. It's exciting, everything goes quickly, and I enjoy making new friends. Awards was the most boring job ever, and most of the other parents agreed too. We usually give those jobs to pregnant mom volunteers. The data slots are always full. It requires extra training so it's not even available on our general volunteer slots.

Wear a large sun hat.

After quite a few miserable experiences volunteering, I made myself a bag: cooling towel, food, extra water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, massive straw hat, deodorant, sunglasses. I'm often coming straight from work and was missing something. Somehow the sunscreen was always missing in my kids' swim bags.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I thought soccer was bad (hot, boring, long), but at least there’s grass, you can bring shade and chairs, and it’s slightly cooler if it’s not summer soccer. And the humidity around pools makes it feel hotter.

[Anonymous]

I’m working up letting DS8 let me out of viewing 4-5x per week practice. The first two practices he insisted I be there in the parent viewing area. Fine, it’s a pool he’s never been to before with completely new kids and coaches in a neighborhood we’ve never been to. Third practice is me on site but INDOORS in the AC. And we are going from there, working up to me running errands or something during practice. Our summer season just started on Monday so we will see. But DS has some anxiety so I’m building up to this, maybe others are fine being dropped off right away, especially if they have friends already on the team.

[Anonymous]

I thought being a timer was bad, until I signed up for Stroke & Turn judge position.

[Anonymous]

Our clerk of course area is under a tent as well. I haven't worked it myself (DH has) but it seems like it would make things go fast, always having something to do.