RESULTS

What To Expect At A Swim Meet

Here are a few helpful hints about our swim meets:

BEFORE THE MEET BEGINS

1 – The pool is open for warm-ups for 30 minutes before the meet begins.  Warm ups for the 7:00 AM meet begin at 6:30 AM.  Your swimmer should also use this time to check in with their coach and see if they are participating in relays.  (See #4 under “During the Meet”)

2-- Look over the swim meet program.  The program will be posted on our website on Friday.  You can print this off or access it through your phone.  The program is also posted on the window nearest the slides.  Take a minute to snap a picture or write down the event, heat, and lane numbers of your swimmer.  It is very important that they know this information.  Once the meet begins, it moves quickly and you don’t want your swimmer to miss an event.  The events go in this order.   1- IM Relays  2-Freestyle  3-Backstroke  4-Butterfly  5-IM  6-Breast stroke 7-Freestyle Relays

3—Find an area where you and your swimmer can “hang out” while at the meet.  You may want to bring chairs, blankets, pillows, snacks, a water bottle.  If you bring younger children to the pool, they will need something to do.  They cannot get in the water.  However, they can cheer on their family members during their events.

4-- If you have a timing assignment, go to your assigned lane about 10 minutes before the meet starts.  Read “Timer Tips” for more information.  Remember to wear clothing that can get wet.  

DURING THE MEET

1 – During the meet, it your responsibility to pay attention to the events and know when to be ready.

For all swimmers 10 and younger, they will be lined up in the Bull Pen area before their event.  (See #2 for more information about the Bull Pen)   As they begin to line up the events, the volunteers try to announce it on a bullhorn and display it on our flipchart. However, these volunteers are very busy and sometimes announcements or updating the chart are missed.  Please be aware of the events and make sure your swimmer is near the bull pen when it gets close to their event.

For all swimmers 11 and older, they are in charge of lining up themselves.  They will need to pay very good attention to the events.  There is a flip chart hanging from a lifeguard chair in the southeast corner of the pool.  It will let you know what event is currently taking place (swimming in the water). When it is their turn, they line up in the correct lane to swim.  While they are waiting for their turn, they need to stay behind the timers for the lane (stand on the grass).

2 – Bull Pen is an area where volunteers line up the younger swimmer for their events. This area is near the trees in the northeast corner of the pool.  It is made up of several benches.  This is where your swimmer will sit as they wait for their heat. At the front of the bull pen, there is a flip chart.  It shows what events the bull pen is seating.  Have your swimmer near the bull pen when it gets close to their event number.  The volunteers will call their name and show them where to sit.  Please do not crowd the bull pen area.  It makes things even more chaotic. 

3 – When your swimmer is racing, you can stand at the east side or the north end of the pool.  Do not enter any area that is roped off.  Stay away from the starting area as it interferes with the timers.  If your swimmer is interested in their time, they may ask the timers as they get out of the pool. If you want to greet you swimmer on the south side as they exit, please stay on the grass.  We try to keep the cement for the timers, officials, and next-up swimmers.  If you swimmer is disqualified, their coach will be notified and will discuss it with your swimmer at the next practice.

4-- We begin and end the meet with relays.  Your swimmer needs to check with their coach to see if they are a part of a relay.  If they are participating, they should meet near the bull pen during relay events.  The coaches will organize the relays. Relays are fun!  It is great to see the swimmers cheer on each other.  If your swimmer is part of a relay, please do not be late and don't leave early.  When a swimmer is missing from a relay, it is very disappointing to the other relay members.

5– At the completion of your swimmers events and/or your volunteering assignment, you may leave the meet.  When leaving a meet, please clean up the area around you and throw all garbage away. 

Timer Tips

Timing is a great way to watch a meet!  Front row seats!!  Go to your assigned lane about 10 minutes before the meet starts.  Make sure you are in the correct lane. You will receive a clipboard, pencil, and a stopwatch.  Each lane has 2 timers, so say hello to your fellow timer. 

Before your swimmer enters the water for their race, please check their name to make sure they are in the right lane.  If they have been recently added to the event, you will need to write in their name.  If your swimmer does not show up for their event, stand near the block and give a “thumbs-down” to the officials.

At the start of each race, a horn will sound.  The officials use a machine on a tripod that has a light on top. You should look at the light to start your stopwatch. Light travels faster than sound, so it is better to start your watch with the light instead of using the horn. A head timer starts 2 extra stop watches for each race.  If you were unable to start your watch at the correct time, raise your hand and the head timer will bring you a running watch.

As the swimmer in your lane approaches the wall for the final time, make sure you walk to the edge of the pool and lean over.  This allows you to see when the swimmer’s hand touches the wall.  As the swimmer touches the wall, stop the watch.  Write down the times from both watches. Then clear your watch and prepare for the start of the next heat. 

Timing is really fun!  If you have never done it before, don’t worry.  It really is easy and there are lots of volunteers who are experienced who can answer your questions. 

What Are Time Trials

Time Trials are a practice swim meet held at the beginning of the season, before any official competitions. They provide an opportunity for swimmers to swim each stroke and establish seed times that will be used for upcoming meets. These initial times also serve as personal benchmarks for swimmers to improve upon throughout the season.

Warm-ups begin at 6:30 AM, and all swimmers are expected to arrive on time and stay until the conclusion of all events.

Since Time Trials simulate a real meet, we rely heavily on parent volunteers to help things run smoothly. Parents are encouraged to attend and support, and we especially ask for patience and kindness toward our coaches and volunteers—this first event is a learning experience for everyone involved.

If you are volunteering, please check in at the volunteer table near the pool doors upon arrival. We ask that all volunteers be in position by 6:45 AM, so we can begin promptly at 7:00 AM.

Thank you for your support in making Time Trials a successful and positive experience for our swimmers!