Preparing For Your First Swim Meet

Participating in your first swim meet can be a little scary! Proper preparation, of course, is the key to success. This video is full of great information for youngsters and parents. Take a look!

Nutrition - Good Carbs

Swimmers need to make healthy food choices, including 'good carbohydrates' to fuel them through practices and swim meets. It always helps when snacks or meals taste good too ;) I'm a Trader Joes fan and one of my favorite quick meals is my Trader Joe smoothie, so dubbed because almost all of the ingredients are found at Trader Joes. Using my single serve blender, I combine:

1 Cup TJs Soy Essential (soymilk)
1/2 ripe banana
1/2 to 3/4 Cup TJs 0% Plain Greek-style Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Cup (or a little more;) Frozen Strawberries
1/3 Cup Frozen Wild Boreal Blueberries (optional)
2 Tablespoons Quick Cooking Oats (optional)

Blend till smooth. Yum!

(Also try the Mango/Strawberry version by using frozen mango chunks.)

The Meaning of AFR

I started Swimming & Kids to promote swimming for youngsters of all ages. The blog usually sees a handful of visitors each day, but on a few occasions I've seen the numbers spike into triple digits. While very encouraging, I knew there had to be a special reason. The answer: AFR! The TV show Undercover Boss has an episode featuring a Water Park. During that particular episode, the lifeguard mentions having an AFR in the water. Since the cartoon at the bottom of this blog also mentions AFR, Swimming & Kids gets lots of visitors when the episode airs! AFR stands for ACCIDENTAL FECAL RELEASE.... In other words, POOP!

Pool Safety: Everyone Can Help!

Danger and death lurk at the bottom of pools and spas IF there are old drain covers still in use. The suction from a pool drain can hold anyone under water long enough to cause serious injury or death. Though new laws require the installation of safe drain covers, many pools have not complied and there aren't enough inspectors to find the offenders. BECOME A VOLUNTEER INSPECTOR! Simply check out any pool or spa, public or private, used by your child. If there is a danger, report it! If costs are prohibitive to replace the covers for your hometown pool, perhaps fundraisers and donations will help. Save your pool AND your swimmers:)

For more information: Pool Safety Council

Where's the Water?

'Tis the season of softball tournaments and my twelve-year-old niece is an All-Star....literally. Though an excellent swimmer, she has decided that fastpitch softball is her sport of choice. Quite competent at both ends of the battery, she's a natural third-baseman too.

So what does softball have in common with swimming?
Easy. The value of a good coach.

Really good coaches educate and inspire. Really bad coaches damage and destroy. If your children participate in organized sports, make it a point to know and observe their coaches. Correction and criticism should be constructive, not belittling, and the overall experience, positive.....period! Do not settle for less.

The best athletic (and life) coach of all time is still John Wooden.
Read and download his Pyramid of Success.

Swim Meets

Today was a beautiful day to be outside, so this morning I watched Niece #2 play in a softball tournament. Not to brag any, but she plays a mean third base and is quite competent at either end of the battery as well. After the game, I just had to stay outdoors so I visited my favorite walking park for a quick hike. My lucky day! The outdoor aquatic facility was hosting a swim meet so I had to stop and watch for a while. Long course swim meets happen in the Spring and this one was no exception. Long course distances are 50-meters per lap whereas short course distances are only 25-yards/meters per lap; consequently, short course times are usually faster with swimmers taking advantage of more flip turns and underwater (dolphin-kick) time. Olympic competitions are always held as long course. If you are interested in swimming, by all means attend a swim meet! Though often deemed organized chaos, meets are interesting, entertaining, usually free, and most always in need of volunteers. One of my favorite 'volunteer jobs' is that of a timer. If you are recruited to time, enjoy the front row seat, complimentary drinks and snacks, and shade! Someone will give you a crash course in timing and by the end of the day you'll be an expert.

Jobs!

Summer jobs for teens may be hard to come by this year, but if your teen swims, and you live close to a water park or pool, now's the time to apply! Waterparks (such as Soak City and Raging Waters) need lots of employees, especially lifeguards. Hiring age is usually 16 and the parks provide free training which will result in certification and employment. Ellis often trains for waterparks while municipal pool lifeguards usually complete Red Cross Certification. Be prepared. Your teen swimmer should take the time to read the requirements (to become a certified lifeguard) then apply! Remember, you don't have to be the fastest swimmer on the high school swim team to become a lifeguard. The techniques used to save a swimmer in distress are specialized and learning them will promote self-confidence and self-esteem in your teen (in addition to monetary compensation;) Waterparks are wonderful training grounds for first-year lifeguards, but if your teen prefers to work at a municipal pool, completing a RedCross lifeguarding class is an option. Municipal pools usually pay higher wages than waterparks too. In addition, completion of a WSI (Water Safety Instruction) course and reaching age 17 will qualify your lifeguard to teach swim classes (higher pay scale). Training is often available through your local pool. SIGN UP! (And start searching the job listings too!)