Swim Competitions and Travel Info

ROUTINE SUITS AND HEADPIECES

All routines will need a decorated suit and headpiece.  The coaches will order all the team suits and some of the extra routine suits.  They will have them custom made.

Remember when glueing or sewing decor, to stretch the suit to the max.  Suit stretchers can be purchased or made.

 All Routine suits and headpieces must be approved by the coaches first!!

SWIMSUIT CARE

Our TTA warmup suits and routine suits need some special attention so they will continue to look good throughout the swim season. The following are some guidelines that should assist in the upkeep of your TTA warmup suit and your routine suits:

• Rinse in cold water immediately after wearing.

• Do not wring or rub to remove excess water.

• Line dry away from sunlight, for at least 24 hours before folding or putting back in a swim bag or other storage place.  Be sure it is DRY.  Ziplock storage bags make good storage for your dry suits.

• Do not shower in these suits. Protect these suits from grease, oil, and KNOX gelatin. DO NOT gel your hair while wearing these suits. Knox that is allowed to dry on any clothing is very difficult to remove.

• If you should spill something on the suit, rinse the suit immediately.

• Wear your TTA warmup suit ONLY when instructed by the coaching staff. Not allowed at practice until the next season.

• Mold, mildew, and foreign substances are the worst enemies.  Continued exposure to strong sunlight will also affect color brightness. A little extra care will keep your suits looking like new!

• The same thing applies to your routine headpieces. Also be sure to remove all bobby pins when you are done swimming from your headpiece. They will rust and if your head piece is a light color, it could bleed through.

  Volunteer

DRIVER:  is a volunteer that drives the athletes to out-of-town meets.  You will receive a small stipend from each girl in your car to help cover your cost. The team manager will schedule the drivers and what athletes will travel in each car.  Once we arrive at the meet location you will be responsible for getting those in your car to and from the competition pool and arranging for them to be fed.  Please alert the coaches to your plans when you leave the pool!

CHAPERONE: is a volunteer that is willing to accompany a coach to an out of town competition with the team.  Your duties are very similar to that of a driver.  You will be responsible for driving the athletes to and from the hotel and competition pool.  You will also be responsible for arranging for them to be fed and supervising them during sightseeing trips.  The team will pay for your airfare, hotel, and car rental.  To be a chaperone, you must be available to travel with the team at the assigned dates and times. Chaperones need to complete background screening and SafeSport to be on the pool deck.

**If we say to be in Lobby at 7am with hair up, headpieces on and all luggage packed to go home, we really mean 6:45 am!! Please don’t be late. It puts a lot of stress on the athletes and they have to compete!

1. Need to make sure all girls in the room are fed.  They will be giving you a Zip-Loc bag with money in it to be held.  Give out $$ at restaurants, etc.  Please mark on the envelope how much is in and how to be spent: souvenirs??

2. Make sure all girls are in bed at a decent time and up on time in the morning.  Coaches will give you a detailed schedule of exact times. The coaches will give a “no electronics policy” and a “lights out” time to ensure that proper rest is given.  Failure to comply will result in punishment from the coaching staff.

3. Hair-Up: Yes, you are responsible for all of the athletes hair.  But there are usually extra people around to help and YES the athletes should be helping!

4. Chaperone responsibilities begin when athletes first arrive at the pool, hotel, or house.

5. Your job doesn’t end at the hotel / house!!  Please supervise, change headpieces and suits, check make-up, and make sure swimmers are ready to compete at the pool. Even if the extra help is there, double check to make sure our athletes are ready to go!

6. Helpful supplies for volunteers: Tylenol, antacids, needle and thread, extra gel and hair supplies, board games. Healthy snacks.

7. Make sure you have phone #’s for all parents of athletes in your room.

8. If a chaperones needs to leave the room for any reason please inform a coach or another adult amongst the team to cover the responsibility.

Hotel Rules:

We represent the Town of Tonawanda at ALL times and we're proud of that representation.

*The Aquettes: Do NOT run around the hallways, or yell or squeal (or slam the hotel doors).

*Buddy system is in effect at all times in a hotel.  Even to get ice, etc.

*Swimmers may only use the hotel pool with coach’s permission and adult supervision. NO saunas, steam rooms, or hot tubs.

*We are there to swim to the best of our abilities, a good night rest is very important.

Kids Responsibility: As coaches, we believe that it’s never too early to teach responsibility.  There are certain things that the athletes should be doing by themselves, and then an adult can check it. When they move up to the older age groups there are NO parents in rooms, therefore, they have to manage their own belongings, put up their hair, pack, get up, get dressed, etc….These are life lessons that will stay with them forever…just ask one of the coaches!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

As many parents and athletes prepare for their first big road trip, questions by the dozens seem to pop up everywhere.  The following tips are from our “seasoned” parents!

• Pack light and remember blue, green and white. Athletes are required to wear blue, green and white when traveling to and from every meet.  Your team warm-up suits should not be worn if traveling by car because it is too easy to have something spilled on them.  If traveling by plane, warm up suits should be worn.  Team t-shirts are the answer to the requirement of blue, green and white.  Jeans are not allowed.  Each athlete is responsible for carrying their own luggage and swim bag. Athletes are allowed one suitcase and one swim bag.  Pack everything you need for a swim competition in your swim bag.  All other clothing and personal items should go in your suitcase.

• Guardians should go through the checklist with younger girls.  Older girls who pack themselves may need a first meet double check.

• Ziploc bags are great for keeping each routine outfit organized and are easy to quickly check (headpiece, suit for each routine in a separate bag) and they are handy for packing wet clothing for the trip home.

• Small plastic hangers are always good to hang suits or towels in a hotel room or dorm room to dry.

• An extra-large plastic bag is helpful if a wet towel must come home.  Be sure you have enough towels to get you through your trip but remember that when you return to your hotel room from the pool, you can hang your towels out to dry.

• Be certain you have enough hair supplies and an extra pair of nose clips.

• Label all swim gear and clothing!

• Nutritious snacks are great to have.  Consider those your daughter likes and will eat.  Granola bars, small plastic jar of peanut butter, fruit, plain crackers for nervous stomachs.  No sugar snacks please!  Keep candy, etc., at a minimum.

• A favorite stuffed animal, of course!

ON THE ROAD:  A small pillow for travel makes snoozing more comfortable.  Homework and reading is something that can be accomplished but it takes great concentration.  A backpack filled with school books is often untouched so be selective about school books going on trips.

AT THE HOTEL:  A travel-sized game or two for evening fun is a good idea.  There is usually some type of team spirit that will be planned.  Families should consider a hot pot for preparing Knox gelatin.  Most teams have hot water available but being prepared just in case is a good idea.

MONEY:  Chaperones usually will handle the money for the younger girls (13/under) in their care. The average recommendation is $40 per day plus extra money for meet shirts and sightseeing.  It makes it easier for the chaperones if you send a variety of bills, smaller ones for snacking and meals at the meet (small bills go farther!) and larger bills for meals out. Athletes will learn how to calculate a proper tip.  One easy clue is to double the tax on their bill (depending on the local tax rate)

OPTIONAL:  The girls like to purchase a T-shirt or sweatshirt as a souvenir from their trip, so that should be included in their personal funds. Average cost of a T-shirt is $20-$30.

EXTRA NEEDS FOR Chaperones:  Safety pins, needle and thread, scissors.  If you know that one of the athletes in your room is having a birthday and will be away from home, plan a little celebration.  Cupcakes purchased or rice Krispy treats from home and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” can really make a hit.  Ask for separate bills if possible in restaurants to make it easier.