Swim Meets
The Caroline Family YMCA pool is our “Home Pool.” All home meets will be held there. There are two kinds of meets: Regular meets (aka Dual Meets) and the RSL Divisional Championship Finals. Two championship banners are awarded: One for the regular season and one for the final swim meet. Dual meets start promptly at 6pm. Swimmers should arrive at 4:30 for home meets and at 5 for away meets.
The results of each meet will be posted on our website. Age group/event sorted times from fastest to slowest are maintained on a weekly basis. This week by week ‘top times’ sheet is also available for viewing on our website.
If you will be missing a swim meet, please let us know here:
Meet Schedule
Mock Meet June 14 6:00 PM
Away @ Lake Wilderness June 20 5:00 PM
Away @ Hopyard June 27 5:00 PM
Home vs Country Club July 2 4:30 PM
Away @ Idlewild July 9 5:00 PM
Home vs Grafton July 12 4:30 PM
Bye-Week July 19
Home vs Eden Estates July 23 4:30 PM
Finals @ King George YMCA August 4 7:30 AM
Awards Party August 11 TBD
Meet Entries
The team coaches are responsible for deciding which meets and events swimmers should participate. The Head Coach has total discretion in making all individual and relay entries. Swimmers should attend all meets and participate in all assigned events. If a problem arises, the swimmer or parent should notify the Coaching staff as soon as possible.
Age Groups
Swimmers compete in age group categories as follows:
6 and under; 7-8; 9-10; 11-12; 13-14; and 15-18.
Some events are “Open” and include all swimmers meeting the age cut off (i.e. “Junior Open” is for all swimmers 12 and under) the cut off for a swimmer’s age is June 1. Your swimmer may be asked to swim “up” at the coach’s discretion.
Meet Procedures
Swimmers’ meet event assignments are provided by email the day of the meet. There will be several copies of the meet entry sheet available. Sharpie markers are also available to write down the events on the back of your child’s hand if you choose to do so. Meet entries will also be posted online.
Other general meet procedures:
1. For Regular Season dual meets, arrive at the pool at 4:30 pm for home meets and 5 pm for away meets. Report to your coach with your suit, cap and goggles on. Warm-ups will begin shortly. Be ready!
2. Orca coaching staff always conducts our warm-ups.
3. Each group has its specific warm-up time as designated by the Head Coach. Become familiar with your assigned warm-up group.
4. All Orca swimmers must wear the team cap, wearing the team suit is strongly recommended. Wearing the team uniform promotes team unity, pride and greatly improves spectator recognition.
5. Each swimmer is responsible for knowing which events he/she is swimming in and to be present at the “Clerk of the Course” station at the appropriate time prior to the event. The Clerk of the Course will give swimmers their heat and lane assignments. Relay Events do not report to the Clerk of Course. Please see the Relay Coordinator or Coach for lane assignments for relays.
6. Hand timers are used. The official time is recorded and entered by scorekeeping personnel that are then posted as final results.
7. In between races, swimmers should rest and stay warm. Store up your energy for your next event or to cheer on your teammates.
8. Drink and eat throughout the meet. Go easy on ‘heavy’ foods. Avoid milk products.
9. What to bring to a meet: swim suit, 2 team caps, 2 pair of goggles, 2 towels, deck chairs, sun block.
10. If you know you will miss a meet, please give the coaches written notification at least 3 days before the scheduled meet. Notification should be given via the online form on our website.
11. A swimmer can compete in a maximum of 3 Individual and 3 Relays, with one of those Relays being the All Age groups “Graduated” Relay.
Meet Behavior
• Remember, when you wear our team colors, you represent the Caroline Orcas Swim Team. Please let your actions reflect well on your team and your community
• As a matter of courtesy and proper procedure, all questions swimmers or parents may have during a meet concerning results, an officiating call, or the conduct of a meet should be referred to the coaching staff only. They in turn will pursue the matter through proper channels.
• When at an ‘away’ meet, leave the team area in a neat and clean condition at the conclusion of the meet. Police your own area.
• The Head Coach has final say on which event a swimmer competes in. Swimmers are never to add or scratch or change relay team assignments without first consulting with a team coach.