Meets and Events
Dual meets are a lot of fun, but can be confusing to a new swimmer/parent. If you’re confused about something, just ask!
Swim meets are exciting, fun, and often long. Meets start at 6:00 PM and, depending on the size of the teams, can last until 9:00 PM or later. Our main goal is to let every swimmer have the opportunity to compete. Please be patient and understand that our first and primary goal is a fun, inclusive, competitive, family-friendly swim meet in which all swimmers have the chance to participate.
Warm ups are at 5:00PM for home meets and 5:30PM for away meets. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early, with plenty of time to get your swimmer settled so they are ready to jump in for warm ups on time!
6 & under swimmers must have their name written on their shoulder blade and/or arms to help volunteers organize. Swimmers should report to their age group section, and wait with the group for warm ups to start.
During meets, swimmers are asked to stay with their designated age group at all times. If a swimmer needs to leave the age group area for any reason, they must inform the age group parent before doing so. This is for safety as well as to ensure swimmers do not miss their event.
Checklist for meets
Here’s a checklist to help your swimmer (and you) cope with the fun and fury of a swim meet:
- Pack plenty of towels.
- Pack cards, hand-held games, markers, etc., so that swimmers can share and enjoy together between races. Go low-tech.
- Many pools have food available, but it’s best to plan ahead with subs or another easy-to-carry meal in case food is not on site.
Weather Policy for Swim Meets
Rain alone is not grounds for rescheduling or delaying a meet. Please plan to arrive at the meet at the proper time even if it appears likely that weather will impact the event. Every attempt is made to run a meet as scheduled because of inconvenience to the host club and staff to reschedule to the following night, and the difficulty in getting swimmers and families (volunteers!) back due to conflict with other activities. This results in changes to the lineup, which could potentially impact the outcome of the meet. If a meet is postponed to the next day, communicate with coaches if your child cannot come back to swim.
Meet Absences
Summer is a busy time for families with vacations and other wonderful activities. Understanding that swim team is just one of many fun activities in your plans, we still hope for your participation at as many meets as possible. If your swimmer will miss a meet please choose “Decline” under the meet your swimmer will miss. If your swimmer will be able to attend part of the meet, please choose “Attend” and leave a note in the comments detailing what time your child will be at the meet.
Coaches need this information no later than 6:00 PM on the Sunday prior to the scheduled meet. If you find out after the deadline that your child cannot attend, please contact a coach as soon as possible. Email any changes to [email protected]
The scoring system of competitive swimming is based on individual events. Each swimmer is entered electronically into the events well before the start of the meet. This information is distributed to meet officials and volunteers, and is used as the building blocks for a successful, smoothly run met. If your child is a no-show or leaves early without signing out, it can affect scoring of the individual event, the line up of their fellow swimmers, can put relays in jeopardy, and cause frustration among volunteers and teammates.
Volunteer Policy
Swim meets require 70 + parent volunteers to run a home swim meet, fewer for an away meet. Swim team families are required to volunteer at 2 meets (if 1 swimmer) or 3 meets (2+ swimmers). The Mock Meet, also known as the “Blue & White Meet” is a great opportunity to learn many of the positions. The Blue & White Meet will be held on Tuesday, June 8th. Volunteering is managed through this site. Go to events and click on “Job Signup”
Ribbons
Ribbons for main event swimmers who place first through sixth are distributed at practice following the meet. Typically we have heat winner prize for the 10 & Under swimmers but that will depend this season. All ribbons will be in family folders at the guard room and coaches will help distribute along with Speeding Tickets. Yes, your swimmer will be ticketed! Any swimmer that goes a best time in any event will be issued a speeding ticket.
Meet Order of Events
- Medley Relay - 7/8boys, 7/8 girls, 9/10 boys, 9/10 girls, 11/12 boys, 11/12 girls, 13/14 boys, 13/14 girls, 15-18 boys, 15-18 girls
- Freestyle – 6 & Under Boys, 6 & Under Girls, 7/8boys, 7/8 girls, 9/10 boys, 9/10 girls, 11/12 boys, 11/12 girls, 13/14 boys, 13/14 girls, 15-18 boys, 15-18 girls
- Backstroke - Same
- Breast stroke - Same
- Butterfly - 7/8boys, 7/8 girls, 9/10 boys, 9/10 girls, 11/12 boys, 11/12 girls, 13/14 boys, 13/14 girls, 15-18 boys, 15-18 girls
- Freestyle Relay - 7/8boys, 7/8 girls, 9/10 boys, 9/10 girls, 11/12 boys, 11/12 girls, 13/14 boys, 13/14 girls, 15-18 boys, 15-18 girls
- Meets begin promptly at 6:00 PM and finish around 8:30-9:00 PM depending on the size of the pool and the size of the swim team.
- For Home meets we warm up at 5:00 so please be at the pool by 4:30
- For Away Meets we will warm up at 5:30 promptly, so please arrive at the away meet by 5:00
- All relays are main events - 3 per team. Individual events begin with a main heat with 3 swimmers who score points. Main events are followed by group heats with all the remaining swimmers. Coaches determine which swimmers will be in Main Events.
Scoring
Individual Events
1st: 5 points
2nd: 3 points
3rd: 1 point
Relays
1st: 5 pts
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