75 things to bring

What Should I Bring to a District Swim Meet

Team suit, cap, goggles, a towel and warm clothes first: what goes in your meet bag, part by part.

Team racing suitThe suit your team competes in goes into the bag first.
Second racing suitA strap or a seam can give out a minute before your heat.
Practice suit for warm-upIt saves the racing suit for the races.
Team capBring the one your coach handed out, not last season's.
Spare team capCaps split, most often when you pull one on in a hurry.
Goggles you have raced inA meet is no place to find out that a new pair leaks.
Goggle caseIt stops the lenses scratching against everything else in the bag.
Anti-fog drops for gogglesPut them on before warm-up, not behind the blocks.
Hair tiesFor long hair under a cap; pack more than one, since they snap too.
Nose clip or ear plugs, if you race with themOnly what you already wear in practice.
Permanent markerFor writing your event, heat and lane on your hand or arm.
Your events on a cardEvent numbers and one cue from your coach, to read before you go up.
Mesh bag for wet gearWet suits and towels go in mesh so the rest of the bag stays dry.
Spare goggles, already adjustedSet the straps at home so they fit the moment a pair snaps.

Next step Long drive to the pool? Pack the car

All 75 things to bring

To race in 14

Anti-fog drops for goggles Put them on before warm-up, not behind the blocks.
Goggle case It stops the lenses scratching against everything else in the bag.
Goggles you have raced in A meet is no place to find out that a new pair leaks.
Hair ties For long hair under a cap; pack more than one, since they snap too.
Mesh bag for wet gear Wet suits and towels go in mesh so the rest of the bag stays dry.
Nose clip or ear plugs, if you race with them Only what you already wear in practice.
Permanent marker For writing your event, heat and lane on your hand or arm.
Practice suit for warm-up It saves the racing suit for the races.
Second racing suit A strap or a seam can give out a minute before your heat.
Spare goggles, already adjusted Set the straps at home so they fit the moment a pair snaps.
Spare team cap Caps split, most often when you pull one on in a hurry.
Team cap Bring the one your coach handed out, not last season's.
Team racing suit The suit your team competes in goes into the bag first.
Your events on a card Event numbers and one cue from your coach, to read before you go up.

To stay warm between races 13

Chamois towel It wrings out and dries you again, race after race.
Deck sandals Easy on and off behind the blocks, and they keep your feet off a cold floor.
Dry shirt for the deck Change out of the damp one after your first swim.
Dry underwear and clothes for the ride home Easy to forget when you leave the house already wearing a suit.
Fleece blanket To sit on in the team area or to wrap up in between heats.
Hooded sweatshirt The hood goes up over wet hair between events.
Knit hat For wet hair on a cold deck and on the walk to the bus.
Loose sweatpants Loose ones pull on over damp legs; tight ones do not.
Shoes for outside Sandals and wet feet do not go with a cold parking lot.
Swim parka A long lined coat that goes straight on over a wet suit.
Team warm-up jacket and pants What the team wears on deck and to the awards stand.
Thick socks Pull them on between events and keep them off the wet deck.
Three towels One for warm-up, one between races and a dry one for the end.

Food and water 15

Applesauce pouches No spoon, no crumbs and nothing to keep cold.
Bananas They come in their own wrapper and survive a swim bag.
Crackers and cheese sticks Keep the cheese in the cooler until you want it.
Dry cereal in a tub A handful at a time, with no spoon.
Granola bars Pick ones without a chocolate coating; a pool deck is warm.
Grapes Wash them at home and pack them in a tub, not a bag.
Money for the concession stand For the snack you did not think to pack.
Orange slices Cut them at home and bring a bag for the peel.
Pasta in an insulated jar A real lunch for the break between morning and evening sessions.
Peanut butter sandwich, cut in quarters A quarter at a time fits the gaps between races.
Plain bagels Tear off a piece between events and put the rest back.
Pretzels Salty, dry and still fine after a day in the bag.
Refillable water bottle Fill it at home and keep it where you can see it from the team area.
Small cooler Check that the pool allows coolers before you carry one in.
Sports drink One bottle, for the long gap in the middle of the day.

For a long day on deck 18

Book or homework A meet has more waiting than swimming.
Comb or brush Pool hair tangles; a wide comb goes through it wet.
Deck of cards The team area's oldest way to pass an hour.
Deodorant For the bus ride home.
Folding chair, if the deck allows one Ask your coach: some pools have no room for chairs.
Headphones For your own music before a race.
Heat sheet It lists every event, heat and lane, and tells you how long you have to wait.
Highlighter Mark each swim on the heat sheet so it can be found at a glance.
Lock for a locker Only if the pool has lockers; otherwise leave valuables at home.
Lotion For after the shower, once you are done racing.
Plastic bag for wet suits So the wet things do not soak the dry clothes on the way home.
Playlist saved to your phone Download it at home in case the pool has no signal.
Portable phone charger A day of music, photos and results empties a battery.
Poster for a teammate Hold it up at the end of their lane.
Shampoo and soap For the shower after your last race.
Small pillow For a rest on the floor between a morning swim and an evening one.
Yoga mat or pad to sit on A team area is often a patch of floor.
Zip bag for your phone Everything on a pool deck gets splashed sooner or later.

For parents in the stands 15

Book, crossword or knitting There can be an hour between your swimmer's events.
Charger for your phone Filming every swim uses more battery than you expect.
Directions to the pool and its parking Look them up the night before; the meet may be at a pool that is new to you.
Extra dry towel Hand it over after the last race, when the swimmer's own are soaked.
Handheld fan For the top rows, where the warm air collects.
Money for admission and a heat sheet Some meets charge at the door and sell heat sheets; ask before you go.
Pen Write each time beside the swim on your heat sheet.
Phone with room for video Clear some space before the meet, not during the relay.
Seat cushion for the bleachers A session can run for hours on a hard bench.
Shirt in the team's colors It tells your swimmer where to look after a race.
Short sleeves under your jacket The stands at an indoor pool are often warm and humid, even in winter.
Snacks for the stands You will be there as long as the swimmers are.
Stopwatch For taking splits yourself, if you like to.
Tissues and hand sanitizer For bleachers that hundreds of people share.
Your own water bottle Warm stands make for a thirsty afternoon.

How it works

These 75 things to bring to a district swim meet cover what to race in, staying warm between races, food and water, a long day on deck and a parents' row.

Read the full guide

If you pack only five things

Your team suit, a cap, goggles, a towel and warm clothes that go on over a wet suit. Then double the three that break or get soaked: a second cap, a second pair of goggles and a second towel.

Pack for the wait

A race is over in minutes and the meet lasts for hours. Most of the bag is for the time between: something warm, something to eat, something to sit on and something to do.

Ask before you carry the big things

Each pool sets its own rules on chairs, coolers, glass and food on deck. Read the meet information your coach sends, and ask what the team already brings.

Write your name on your cap, goggles, towel and bottle: every team's gear looks the same in a pile.

Questions and answers

What should I bring to a high school district swim meet?

Your team suit and a spare, two caps, two pairs of goggles, three towels, a parka or warm-ups, deck sandals, a water bottle, snacks that keep in a bag, a marker for your event numbers and dry clothes for the ride home.

What snacks should I bring to a swim meet?

Ones that keep in a bag and can be eaten a little at a time: bananas, plain bagels, pretzels, granola bars, grapes, dry cereal and a peanut butter sandwich cut in quarters. Bring money for the concession stand too.

What should parents bring to a swim meet?

Money for admission and a heat sheet, a highlighter to mark your swimmer's events, a seat cushion for the bleachers, short sleeves for a warm pool, water, a phone charger and something to read between races.

What should I not bring to a swim meet?

Glass, anything the pool's rules ban, and things you would hate to lose in a crowded team area. Untried goggles can stay home too: race in a pair you have already worn.