Land training will be held both indoors and outdoors; athletes are notified in advance as to when and where. The gear necessary for land training is basic and inexpensive. Comfort is the key, in conjunction with safety, protection and, when training outside, a healthy respect for the elements - don’t forget your hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and bug repellant.

Clothing: T-shirts, running shirts, hoodies and warm-up suits that sport the Hurricanes logo are a great way to show your pride in your team. For land training sessions, T-shirts and shorts, or sweatshirts and track pants, are best - depending upon whether or not you are indoors or outdoors and what the elements are either way (air-conditioned facilities during the summer months can get chilly). Not sure? Wear a T-shirt and shorts and pack an extra sweatshirt and track pants in your bag. Team T-shirts are required for all swim meets. 

Footwear: Proper-fitting running shoes are a must, along with socks to avoid blisters. ABSOLUTELY NO SANDALS, FLIP-FLOPS OR BARE FEET!!!

Sports Bag: A sports bag is helpful at practice and essential at meets to safely carry belongings. To help prevent loss, all belongings should be labeled with the athlete’s name and team name. Please do not bring valuables to practice or to meets.
 

Swimsuit/Jammer: Team suits are required for all swim meets. The Quantum Splice suit (female) and Quantum Splice (or similar style) jammer (male) are available to order/purchase at registration. Polyester suits and jammers may be available as well and while not mandatory, polyester is more durable and can extend the life of your team suit if worn for practice.

Cap: Team caps are required for all swim meets. Monogrammed silicone are available to order at registration. Latex caps will be available to purchase as well; however, athletes may supply their own cap for swim practice. Caps are required at all swim practices for those with longer hair as they help prevent the distraction of hair in the face during practice.

Goggles: Goggles are necessary for practice and for swim meets; however, please ensure goggles fit properly and are not constantly falling off, filling with water or otherwise causing a distraction during practice. As all summer meets are held outdoors, tinted goggles are recommended for meets. And, always do a goggle-check before you step on the block!

Footwear: Athletes are required to wear appropriate footwear (rubber-soled, waterproof sandals) around pool areas at meets.

Towels: One towel is sufficient for practice; however, more are essential at meets - it can be a very looooong day with just one soggy towel.

Remember the comic strip about the dog? Well, sometimes it’s the cat, or the mother-in-law, or the teenager ... anyway, it goes something like this:

What they say: (insert educated and intelligent communication here).

What they hear: "Blah Blah Blah.”

Anyone new to swimming and sitting in on a practice or a meet can relate! Or, as a 5-year-old new to the sport once said when he heard his brother was swimming the IM: “You are what?” 

Click on the fly for the Hurricanes' own glossary.

Competitive swimming is not the same as "regular swimming" - lessons for stroke progressions, sequences, turns and even breathing patterns differ in many ways.

There are also rules in competitive swimming that dictate how a swimmer starts and finishes each swimming event. Proper technique is important not just because it keeps a swimmer from getting disqualified in a race; it also facilitates a faster race.

 
  First you get good.

  Then you get fast.

Vehicles don’t work well without proper fuel and neither does your body. As with any sport, you ask a lot from your body when training and/or competing. It is highly recommended you treat your body with respect if you want it to perform well for you on an overall basis, throughout the season and life in general!

Proper nutrition is sometimes an under-appreciated component of success in competition. The good nutrition habits you learn throughout the week will prepare your body for competition, assuming you practice what you learn; do not expect to have good results at the meet if you reserve your healthy-eating habits exclusively for the night before.

As well, meets last a few hours. While there is usually a canteen on-site, AND as tempting as the smell of barbequed hamburgers and pizza may be, your best bet is probably what's in your cooler!

And while it should go without saying it still needs to be said:
DON'T FORGET TO DRINK WATER !!!

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