Race Day: Parents...
- Parents are absolutely not permitted on deck during swim meets unless authorized by the St. John's Legends or meet management.
- Cheering is absolutely encouraged but should be kept positive in tone. Negative or demeaning cheering will not be permitted.
- Fuel your athlete. Breakfast is important and so too are healthy snacks during swim meet sessions (if permitted on deck by the policies of the host pool). If your child "can't eat" before swim meet sessions, multiple snacks are an appropriate alternative to a full meal. Swimmers should also be drinking plenty of water throughout the day during swim meets.
- Swim meets are like school: give your swimmer(s) space to learn and socialize by being with the team.
- Get to know other Legends parents; cheering and team spirit is best experienced with others who are also living the swim parent experience.
- Let the Legends coaches coach. This includes pre-race psyching, motivation, after race critiquing, setting goals, etc... This might be difficult to do, but it is very important to the athlete development process and prevents confusion when messages conflict. It is recommended to inform your child to "speak to your coach" for swimming advice.
- As a parent, the best thing you can do for your swimmer(s) is be a role-model for good sportsmanship.
In the words of Suzanne Paulins of Swimming Canada who spent 8 years as club president in Brantford, ON, who is a parent of 3 swimmers, 2 of which swam at a national level:
“Your job is to feed them, water them, love them, get them to practice on time, and that’s it”.