Aimee Berzins and Adam Shmitt, experienced swimmers with national and international experience, have put together a list of tips focusing on an under-emphasized, but crucial, aspect of successful swimming: How can you maximize performance at the swim competition?

1. Avoid stress. Stress is a notorious energy drain during a competition, and the best way to conquer stress is to stick to your routine. Continue to get up at your usual time, then work out and warm up as close to your normal times as possible. Eat the same kinds of foods you normally do, and basically try to maintain as similar a routine as possible to "allow your body to perform under familiar conditions in an unfamiliar environment."
    
2. Be flexible. Rarely in life, and especially at organized athletic events, do things go as planned. Keep an open mind and be able to adapt to sudden shifts in circumstances or schedule to minimize stress and conserve energy. Accept that you most likely will not be able to follow your routine exactly as you would like, and stay calm, cool, and collected.
    
3. Stay off your feet as much as possible. When at a competition, remember to channel as much energy as you can toward your race. Don't unnecessarily tire your leg muscles by standing when you could be sitting, or even lying down. Rest as much as possible before your event. While there is a strong social dimension to meets, do as little socializing and psyching out of the opposition as possible, as both activities drain precious energy.
    
4. Wear shoes on deck. This may not seem so obvious, but your legs are your engines during your race. Keep them as warm, dry, and comfortable as possible to maximize their performance during races. Walking around barefoot on a cold, wet deck makes for tired feet and legs and causes a loss of body heat. Again, keep walking around to the absolute minimum, but if you must walk around wear good, supportive tennis shoes with socks. It's normal for serious competitors at national competitions to wear socks and shoes all the way up to the block, taking them off only just before they race.
    
5. Drink plenty of water. Dehydrated muscles are energy-depleted muscles. Temperature and atmosphere at swim competitions can contribute to dehydration, so as basic as it sounds, drink plenty of water before, during and after competition to maintain proper hydration. Using a low-glycemic electrolyte replacement solution is a good idea, especially a product that allows you to adjust the percentage of the solution.
    
6. Always warm up. Warming up properly serves to get your heart rate up and get your body prepared for racing conditions before each race day. If possible, structure your warm-up to avoid "floating" back and forth with the crowd. Short sets that get your timing down and heart rate up are ideal for competitions. Try to warm up as close to a half an hour before your race as possible, unless you will be doing multiple-stroke or longer distance events, in which case warming up earlier is fine.