Meet Survival Guide

Everything that you ever wanted to know about a swim meet…

This "Handbook to a swim meet" is intended to answer common questions  about what goes on at a swimming meet.

Before the Meet Starts

Many volunteers are needed during a home meet, such as timers, ribbon writers, stroke and turn judges, finish judges, announcers, and concession stand workers. Starters and stroke and turn judges are the only workers who need special training. Get involved, it makes meet go faster, and it is actually fun. Dress for summer, even on the coldest days you will get hot and you will be splashed, guaranteed. Remember that swimming is a parental participation sport!

Meets begin at 9 AM and at home meets warm-ups are at 8:00 and at away meets, warm-ups are at 8:30 AM. Always remember to check the team table for information on meets. Directions to away meets are available either through the coaches or on the team table.

Swimmers should arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the warm-up time begins. Upon arrival, find a place to put the swimmer's bag and look for familiar faces. The swimmers sit together.

Find the coach and "check in." You are expected and needed by the team -- late swimmers make coaches nervous! Once checked in, your younger swimmer(s) should write each event number on his or her hand in ink. This helps the swimmers remember what events they are swimming and what event number to listen for. The coach can even tell the swimmers what lane they are assigned for each event.

Warm-up instructions - It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. Swimmer's bodies are just like cars on a cold day - they need to get the engine going and warmed up before they can go all out.

After warm-up - Your swimmer will go back to the coach where the team sits and wait there for further instructions from the coaches. Always inform your coach if you must leave the area to use the bathroom, etc. Don't disappear! Many younger swimmers will need to check in with mom and dad for reassurance at times, but mostly, swimmers should rely on the coach and their teammates for support. Older swimmers are expected to set good examples for younger swimmers. Everyone cheers for everyone! At home meets, there is a half - hour delay while the other team warms-up. Most swimmers cover up, find their relay team, and otherwise get in the spirit for a great meet.

Our coach decides the line-up for the meets. The coaches may ask your child what they prefer to swim, but the final decision belongs to the coach in dual meets -- to balance the strengths and weak areas of our age group and maximize the chances for a win for the team. Encourage your child to see his or her race as part of the team effort. Remember, the 8 and under's win in a 25 yard backstroke counts just the same as an unlimited's win in a 200 yard freestyle swim -- a 5th place finish by an 8 and under could make the difference in a one point victory for the team.

The Meet Starts

It is important for all swimmers to know what event numbers they will be swimming, and where those events fall in the line-up. A swimmer may swim two events early in the meet, and then not swim for another 45 minutes.

The announcer will call event numbers and the names of the events. Swimmers should be watching the meet and anticipating their event. Swimmers should report to the starting block area with his or her cap and goggles. At some meets, the announcer will call out the names of the swimmers for each lane in each event, but it is very important to know your lane assignment.

After a swimmer completes his or her swim, he should ask the timer for his time and then go immediately to the coaches. The coach will discuss the race briefly and offer encouragement. At this point, it is a good time to check out the bathrooms or get a drink.

The swimmer then waits until his or her next event is called -- meanwhile, watch, talk swimming with your teammates, learn, and cheer.

Make sure the swimmer checks to see if he or she is in a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who have stayed to swim on a relay only to find that one swimmer has left for home.

CPAL/CASL Divisional Championships

All swimmers must participate in a certain number of dual meets to be eligible to swim in championships. Divisionals is the first step of the championship process. The competition is made up of all the teams we have already swum in our division of the Central Pennsylvania Aquatic League or the Capitol Area Swim League. All divisions of our league swim on the same day at various pools. All times are then combined to determine who qualifies for All - Stars.

Swimmers, with parents' and coaches' advice, choose the events they want to enter at Divisionals. You must "enter" Divisionals but everyone can and should swim, as there are no qualifying times. This is what you have been working toward all season.

Top qualifiers are called the night of Divisionals and told if they should report as an All - Star for competition the next day.

All-Stars

Top swimmers from the entire league, four divisions, compete on Sunday in individual and relay events. This meet is the ultimate goal for all swimmers on the team. Believe me when I say from personal experience, "It's a blast!"