Swim Meet Information

MEETS:  You will sign up your swimmer in advance for meets on the Team Active Swim Portal. Please let Coach Hannah know as soon as possible if your plans change or if your swimmer is unexpectedly unable to attend a swim meet.  Coach Hannah develops lineups in advance of the meet and she will need as much notice as possible to revise the lineups.  During meets, swimmers should stay with the team and notify coaching staff if they leave the area (i.e. to use the restrooms) so they do not miss their heats.

• Our league (LSSL) requires all sports officials to enforce the sportsmanship rules for coaches, swimmers and spectators. Actions meant to demean opposing swimmers, teams, spectators and officials are not in the highest ideals of summer swimming and will not be tolerated. Our meets should reflect mutual respect.

• According to LSSL rule IV.D.4., - Only coaches may ask the head official questions about the meet. Parents and families should not ask meet volunteers or the head official questions. If they have a concern, they should notify the coach who will then notify the head official if needed.  

DUAL MEETS: Dual Meets are typically held on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.  They are held rain or shine, except for thunderstorms. A dual meet that has been rescheduled may occur on a weeknight other than Tuesday or Thursday.  All dual meets will begin at 6:15 p.m., with warm-ups at 5:30 for the home meets and 5:45 for away meets. Dual meets usually last 2 ½ to 3 hours.  There are no additional entry fees or admission fees for dual meets.  However, there are typically Food Trucks, or concessions stands, or various other small fundraisers (i.e. 50/50 sales) that may require cash only purchases.

We will need volunteers for all swim meets.   There are many volunteer opportunities per season; please be sure to sign up.   

INVITATIONALS AND CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS:  Invitational and Championship Meets are held on a Saturday or Sunday.  They are also held rain or shine, except for thunderstorms.  These meets charge entry fees to each team.  When signing up for an Invitational or Championship Meet, families will pay a fee in advance.  These fees are based on the entry fees charged by the host team and are non-refundable.  Invitationals also have admission fees for spectators (approximately $5 and usually cash only).  There are also typically concessions stands, t-shirt sales, vendors with swimsuits & gear, as well as various other fundraisers that may require cash only purchases.  The fees and fundraisers at an invitational or championship meet support the host team.  Most often, Invitational and Championships meets have one session with warm-ups starting around 7:30 or 8:00 am. and run for approximately 6 hours.

We also are required to provide timers for invitational and championship meets.  If you’ve signed up in advance to volunteer at an invitational or championship meet, let the person working the admissions table know that you are a volunteer and your admission fees are typically waived at these meets. 

RIBBONS:  Home teams may provide ribbons at dual meets.  How ribbons are awarded is up to the home team.  For example, at our home meets, we provide ribbons for 1st through 3rd place in every heat (live or exhibition), in all individual events, for all age groups of swimmers. We award 1st place ribbons for relays.  All relays are considered “live;” per league rules, points are only awarded for first place in relays. Some teams may just provide 1st through 3rd ribbons for the “live” (fastest) heats for individual events.  Other teams may provide 1st through 3rd ribbons for the live heats and for 1st through 3rd places of all of the exhibition heats combined for each age group.  

At Invitationals/Championship meets, the information about the awards can be found in the meet packet (i.e. the fastest times may receive medals or trophies and ribbons may be awarded through 10th place); there will be no “live heats” and at these meets and places are awarded based the fastest times in all of the heats combined in each swimmer’s age group. 

DISQUALIFICATION:  Your swimmer will not receive a ribbon if he/she was disqualified due to a stroke error (i.e. moving forward by pulling along the lane line would be an example of a disqualification).   Disqualification usually means that your swimmer is still learning some of the rules.  Our coaches and families are always proud of our swimmers for trying their best and especially when our swimmers are trying something new - DQ’s happen frequently during meets and it is okay.

ADVICE FOR PARENTS:  If you have a question or concern during a meet, as per LSSL rules, please direct your question to the coaches and not to the volunteers or officials.  

To avoid disappointment, try not to assure your swimmer about awards/ribbons until they arrive in their swim folder.  Be sure to help your swimmer track their times - it's the best indicator of improvement.  Also, unfortunately, mistakes can happen.   If you think your swimmer should have received an award, review the meet results.  Results of all meets are listed on the LSSL website.  Our meet volunteers do their best, but unfortunately, errors can occur.   The good news is that our teams work together and if a mistake happens, we can correct the mistake and make sure the swimmer receives their award/ribbon.  If you have a question about your swimmer’s place or an award, email Coach Hannah and she will follow up.