Botany Woods Swim Team

A message from your Tent Parents:

Hi parents!

This is a doozy but worth the read. Your friendly tent parents here. Your kids are so fun to wrangle, and I think we do it ok for the most part. But I also know when you are packing to leave for a swim meet at an unGodly hour of 4:00p for these away meets that having a checklist just saves 🧠 brain space. So from one overly-saturated parent to another- here you go.

• BOLT BUDDIES! Bring your treat (snack, drink, note) for your buddy. 
• Bathing suit 🩱 (Preferably on. This one might be obvious but we’re saving brain space here. Nothing to be forgotten. You’re welcome.)
• Towel 🧺 (It will come back to you soaked and covered in dirt by the time the meet wraps up, but send a fresh one anyway. We aim to keep your kids alive and swimming on time - the state of their towels is out of our jurisdiction. Just wanting to set expectations).
• Cap 🤯 (We can make sure it gets on their heads - properly sucking their brain and pulling the little baby hairs along the edge). Pro Tip: As you may have noticed, the caps all match. Write their names on the side of the cap. We’ll know it’s theirs if lost and if done well, you can recognize your kids on the starting block/in the water by their cap branding. Nothing like cheering for a complete stranger to find they get out of the pool and realize it’s not your kid. Not speaking from experience, that would be terrible parenting, right)?
• Goggles (This one is optional. If your kid likes burning red eyes to Darth Maul, that’s cool too).
• Water Bottle (Apparently hydration is important and your kids will spend their concession money on all things sugar. It is what it is).
• Chair 🪑 (When we travel, we don’t get set up in the nicest digs. Southern hospitality is thrown out the window for away swim meets. It’s war and our “hosts” will sit us in the swamp or sweltering concrete as way of welcoming us. Send a chair with your kid - it will cut back on bug bites and may save their towel from total decimation. Not promising though).
• Sunscreens & Sharpies (I’ve combined these because they are both equally a pain in the Bolt ⚡️). Pro Tip: Sunscreen first. Wait a few minutes to sink in. Then write with the Sharpie. It will go on and won’t smear. Do with this what you will. I’m not telling you what to do. Live your wild and crazy life putting these on all willy nilly if you want).
• Sharpies Part 2 Have you seen the Heat Sheets? It’s like a Where’s Waldo having to find your kids’ names in that thing. And you have to remember their age group and gender? Get outta here. Download the SwimTopia app and put in your BWST login from the website. You’ll have all their events for each meet. It will save you on writing on their arms with the heat sheet to guide you. For me and my family, we write what they are swimming and then the event number. Like “50 Free” then “# 21” under it. Also we abbreviate breast stroke which will make you or your child giggle. You can also upgrade to Pro for a few bucks a month - if you can remember to cancel it in July - or $10 for the year. If you have Pro, it will also give you an alert when your kid is about to swim and is pretty good about where the meet is by event number. #notanad
• BWST Gear You got this awesome FREE t-shirt! If you ever want to see it again, write names in the labels. You already have the sharpie. Or it’s a free-for-all for gear at the end of the season. There will be punching and general melee for what is left. You don’t want to be a party to that madness.
• AMAZING ATTITUDE - Please remind your kids to be kind to one another and have good sportsmanship. Also to not be a jerk to the parents that are volunteering (ahem, not getting paid). We will definitely look up their middle names and use them, if needed. 

Go Bolts!
Your fearless (for the most part) tent parents. 

Here is an example of how to write your swimmer's info on their arm for swim meets. This is recommended for all 10&Under swimmers and new swimmers. 

• This info is on the final heat sheet that is sent/posted for each meet.
• Use a sharpie marker. Sunscreen first, and once the sunscreen is dry, write on your swimmer. 
• This helps the Coaches, Clerk of Course, and Timers to know where you swimmer should be for each event.
• PLEASE mark your swimmer (or give them their events) before the meet and warm-ups.
• It is hard to write on wet arms, as well as scrambling through the heat sheets to find their info right before the meet. Doing this before will prepare your swimmer for their events, as they will know what they are swimming and when.