Preparing for a Meet
What to eat before swim meets
Swimmers should eat a nutritious meal before a swim meet. On Friday evening, swimmers should eat a good dinner and perhaps pancakes, bagels, eggs, fruit, and/or cereal for breakfast Saturday morning. Avoid too much milk, sugar, and acidic juices. Before an evening meet, we recommend that swimmers eat a large serving of pasta and fruit. Swimmers should postpone eating "junk food" at a meet until after they finish swimming. Sugar only slows a swimmer down!
Water and Gatorade are the best drinks during a meet. On hot days, swimmers should drink frequently to avoid dehydration.
It is important to get a good night's rest before a meet. We recommend that swimmers relax, out of the sun, on afternoons before Saturday A meets and Monday B meets.
Food for everyone else!
All swim meets have concessions stands (the Hurricane hut is the best!) that sell a variety of foods and drinks. Please support our team and the teams we visit by visiting the concessions stands.
What to bring to a swim meet
Swimmers should bring a suit* and cap*, goggles, and two towels to swim meets. Team areas do not always have chairs available, so it is good to have one towel for drying off and one to sit on. If the weather is hot (and it usually is!), swimmers should also consider wearing sunscreen and a hat.
*For A meets, please remember that NVSL rules prohibit wearing suits and caps that have a logo or insignia from any team other than a Highland Park Hurricane. While a HP team suit is not required, swimmers may not wear a suit or cap from any other team. Suits and caps without logos or insignia are allowed. The Division Relay Carnival and Individual Division Championships are A meets.
When to arrive for a Saturday swim meet
Saturday swim meets begin promptly at 9:00 AM. For home meets, swimmers should typically arrive at Highland Park by 8:00 AM. Warm-ups begin at 8:10. For away meets, swimmers should typically arrive no later than 8:10. Parent volunteers often must be on deck for briefings that begin promptly at 8:30. The coaches confirm arrival times for all meets.