Swim Meet Basics

Events and Heats

Swim meets are organized into events (e.g., 9-10 year-old girls freestyle) each of which are broken into one or more heats. The events proceed in the following order:

- Medley Relays Event

- Individual Medley Events

- Freestyle Events

- Backstroke Events

- Breaststroke Events

- Butterfly Events

- Freestyle Relay Event

Events alternate between girls and boys races starting with the younger age groups and moving up to the 15-18 year olds. Multiple heats for events give all swimmers an opportunity to swim. Swimmers are limited to four events per meet including relay races.

Points and Ribbons

Points and ribbons will be awarded for 1st thru 3rd place of each event. Ribbons but no points will be awarded for fourth place, exhibition swimmers and winners of a heat. Winners of each event will be determined by the fastest times across all heats. Times are obtained by taking the middle time from the three timers in each lane.

For tied times -- Give two of the same ribbon and none of the next place ribbon and divide the points for the two places & divide between the two teams.

To encourage individual improvement in a swimmer's stroke, "Dolphin" ribbons will be awarded each time a swimmer beats his or her previous time.