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[quote=Anonymous]OP, make sure to pack water, snacks, and entertainment for DC (even a book to read), and a hoodie and an extra towel to relax on if they decide to make a little camp to play cards or anything like that.  Concessions have been nonexistent at every winter meet we've ever been at (YMMV), so don't count on being able to buy anything.

Make sure DC knows that it will probably not be super-feasible to come and find you, so they will need to plan to stay with the team and (like PPs said) have an exact spot to connect with you when their events are over (tell them to come right out after their events and not try to hang longer with friends).  They will also need to try to help keep track of the events as they go by, and not go to the bathroom when their event is coming up.

Heat sheets can actually be hard to come by sometimes, and for the big meets (like PVS October Open) they are extremely long and probably not feasible to print out and expect DC to follow.  +100 to writing down their events, heats, and lanes for them, and emphasizing checking in with the coaches.  Make sure that they find their team and coaches when they first arrive and that they know who is in charge, because the coaches supervising the meet may or may not be the ones DC actually recognizes from practice, especially on the larger teams.

If you are attending PVS October Open at Fairland, the team areas are pretty much designated with banners hung on the walls around the pool area.  You can go into the stands with DC to get a high-altitude view and spot their team area (if it's not directly under you!) before you send them down.

Meet Mobile does not actually track the meets in real time (more like serious lag time), so do _not_ depend on it to let you guess when to dip into the viewing area for DC's events - and don't rely 100% on the projected meet timeline, either.  Stay close enough in range to check the scoreboard every now and then to know what event is up if you don't want to miss DC's swims.

If DC has never used touchpads on the finish, reassure them that their time may show up on the scoreboard as a blank line if the touchpad does not engage, and their time will be pulled from the timers' watches and entered later.  A non-touchpad finish does not automatically mean a DQ as long as the finish itself is legal in the usual way.

Finally, let DC know how different this is from summer swim.  No name announcements, no cheering, no silly costumes, and not much team-based energy at all (YMMV).  The hope is to have a fun and relaxed hangout day (as possible) while swimming the best time DC can post in their races.  The goal is for them to do their best.

And total agreement with PPs as well who said spectators should dress for the summertime!  Leave your coat and outerwear in the car, put your keys and wallet in your pocket, and try to carry as little as possible into those crowded bleachers.

Best wishes to DC![/quote]

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