Goggles Falling Off

In addition to the excellent suggestions above, I have a set of goggles that I use only for meets. I keep it tighter than the ones I use on a daily basis for practice. When my practice goggles die, the meet goggles replace them, then I buy new race goggles.:)

Keeping your head low, arms touching your ears, with good fitting goggles should keep them where they belong.

My first meet in 16 years is fast approaching. Although I practice diligently, my pool does not have starting blocks and does not allow diving of any kind. I have many fears regarding my first meet, but the standout fear is that my goggles will fall off, flood with water, or become wrapped around my neck during the start. I did some searches to see whether anyone had advice on how starts should be performed to minimize the possibility of this happening, but came up blank. Any advice would be appreciated? By the way, I certainly hope that I can at least do a few practice starts in the warm-up area on the day of the meet. Diving in after 16 years (and with my goggle phobia) will be intimidating. Suggestions above are good. Tuck your chin and go in streamlined. Try not to worry. What if the worst happens and you lose them or they leak? Just shake it off and swim your next race. I took 24 years off, did my first start in a warm up pool and got through my first meet without a major mishap. You can do it too. :cheerleader: But my next meet, my goggles flooded 3x and I had to crawl out once when they were around my neck (contacts). So I had to experiment with the goggles a bit. I do what Glenn suggested now and have a pair just for meets (speed sockets). It also took me awhile to get a good fit. I always felt like my goggles were leaking. The local swim store recently suggested I try junior size goggles. OMG, it worked. Much better seal and no leaking. So have a good fitting pair of goggles and go for it. Might take awhile for you to feel "back in the saddle" again on starts. But there's nothing to do but do it.

When your hands leave the blocks...lock them up hand over hand in mid air. (like you would on a stream lined push off from the wall.) Make sure your arms (biceps) are hugging your ear lobes. It works without fail. Aside from that...your entry to the water will be super streamlined.

My first Masters swim meet started 30 minutes earlier than had been listed on the entry form. I guess I was the only one that didn't know that since there were a ton of people there when I arrived at what should have been the beginning of warmups. Instead sprint lanes were opening up as I walked out onto the pool deck. I started my warmup in the main pool and then moved to the warmdown pool once the main pool cleared out. So I didn't get any starts in. The pool I train at doesn't have blocks and diving isn't allowed, so my first Masters race was the first time that I had done a start in years. I did fine and so will you!

I agree with the idea of meet goggles.They should be new-ish,but you should have worn them enough that you know they fit.I like them so tight they are a little uncomfortable.Put your swim cap on over the goggles,that will help them stay on.If you are really worried,pull the cap down so the front lip of the cap covers the top of the goggles.This looks a little funny,but it isn't a fashion show and it keeps them on.

There is usually a lane reserved during warmups to practice starts.