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SPRING/SUMMER LONG COURSE BLAZE SEASON: To continue swimming, please register for the upcoming Blaze season that begins April 6.
Marking your swimmer’s arm is a simple way to help them remember which races they’re in and where they’re supposed to be during a swim meet. It’s especially useful for new swimmers, long meet days, or when heat sheets are posted last-minute.
What You'll Need:
What You'll Need:
A black Sharpie or other permanent marker
Your swimmer’s heat sheet or the Meet Mobile app
When to Mark
When to Mark
Do this the night before the meet or the morning of before you arrive at the pool.
Clean, dry skin works best — sunscreen or water can make writing fade.
What to Write
What to Write
On your swimmer’s left forearm, write the following for each event:
Event Number → Heat → Lane
Use this order:
Event – Heat – Lane
Example:
24 – 3 – 5
(Event 24, Heat 3, Lane 5)
💡 Many parents write the numbers in three small columns so kids (and volunteers) can read them easily.
Optional Add-Ons
Optional Add-Ons
Stroke Abbreviations
Stroke Abbreviations
If you have room, you may add the stroke after the lane:
FR = Freestyle
BA / BK = Backstroke
BR = Breaststroke
FLY = Butterfly
IM = Individual Medley
So a full mark might look like:
24 – 3 – 5 (FR)
Relays:
Relays:
If your swimmer is on a relay, you can add /Leg after the lane.
Example:
42 – 2 – 3/1 (Event 42, Heat 2, Lane 3, Relay Leg 1)
Helpful Tips
Helpful Tips
Write clearly and legibly so your swimmer can read it easily.
If your swimmer has a small arm, keep it vertical (top-to-bottom) instead of horizontal.
You may also write your swimmer’s full name on their upper back (helps volunteers and officials) .
Some parents like to write the same info on their own hand or forearm — helpful if you’re volunteering or can’t access heat sheets quickly.
Using Heat Sheets or Apps
Using Heat Sheets or Apps
To find each event, heat, and lane:
Open the heat sheet from the host team or
Use the Meet Mobile app to view your swimmer’s assignments.
Heat sheets are usually released the night before or the morning of the meet, so don’t worry if they aren’t available immediately
Why This Helps
Why This Helps
Arm marking gives swimmers an easy reference during long meets, especially when events are posted quickly or change at the last minute. It’s a subtle confidence boost for them and a big help for volunteers and coaches.
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