Equipment
There is not a ton of equipment needed to be part of the Upper Valley Rapids.
You will definitely need:
A one-piece swim suit comfortable for lap swimming. For meets, girls'/women's suits cannot have ties and boys'/men's suits cannot go above their navel.
Team swim caps. Please order your caps when you register for swim team.
A kickboard. Please see our Swim Outlet team store if you need to purchase a kickboard. The Junior size is good for kids 5-7 years old (or the size of kids 5-7). Please purchase a standard size for all other swimmers.
A pull buoy. These are also available in our SwimOutlet team store. Swimmers 11 and under will likely want a junior size. Swimmers 12 and over usually get a regular size, but some smaller and younger tween and teens prefer a junior pull buoy.
A towel
Goggles*
A swim cap
Sunscreen
A water bottle
Encouraged but not required:
A team swim suit. Order that in our team store.
Something you definitely do NOT need:
A "performance"/"tech" suit. Tech suits are not even permitted at SVSL/VSA meets for swimmers 12-and-under. If you already own one, you may wear it at championship meets if you are at least 13 years old.
*About Goggles
What they’re for: Keeping water out of your eyes so you can see while you're swimming.
What to look for: Be sure to purchase a quality pair of goggles designed for lap swimming or swim competition. You can find various high-quality goggles in the Team Gear Store. Poorly-fitting goggles are one of the most common complaints of new swimmers, and you won't enjoy practice if water is constantly leaking into your goggles.
Competition goggles have a lower profile and sit closer to the eye socket. Most experienced competitive swimmers prefer them, but if you are a younger swimmer or brand new to swim team, you might find a pair of regular lap-swimming goggles more comfortable.
Once you find a style that fits you well, it is worth getting a second pair and keeping that second pair in your swim bag.
The strap on your goggles can be replaced with a bungee strap (purchased separately and available in the gear store ). A bungee strap is AWESOME, as it allows you to adjust the tightness of your goggles quickly and easily. Bungee straps are highly recommended and also cheap!
Goggles have a maddening tendency to break or go missing at the least opportune times, like two minutes before you're supposed to swim your favorite event at the championship meet. You will look like a genius if you calmly pull your back-up pair out of your swim bag and step up to the blocks.
How to use them: The straps should go directly around the head in line with the eye area. Don’t pull the straps down around the base of the scull, have them too high, or put them over the ears.
How to choose them: They need to fit your face. Ensure you feel suction around the eyes when the goggles are pressed to the eye sockets. Leave them on for a minute and turn from side to side, make sure there is no air moving into the goggles (that will be water coming in in the pool). Goggles that have an adjustable nose-piece are helpful for correct fit. Mirrored lenses block more of the sun’s glare and some swimmers prefer them for outdoor swimming.
Other tips: Goggles should not need to be super tight to keep the water out. If your goggles are consistently leaking and you have tried tightening them and adjusting the nose-piece, you need to try a different style! They will not magically start fitting better.
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