Parent Meeting Swim Meet

What to Expect at a Swim Meet

What to Bring…SWIMMERS: • Swimsuit, swim cap and goggles• Two towels at a minimum• Flip-flops, sandals or similar footwear• Sweat shirt & sweat pants (pajamas are also popular), or some similar

loose-fitting, warm apparel to wear between events. • Stocking caps or hooded sweatshirts• Sleeping bag, large blanket for resting on between events. • Pillow • Healthy snacks, juice boxes, sports drink, bottled water, etc. • Games, puzzles, cards, books, or other relaxing diversions for between

events. • Some swimmers bring music and/or portable DVDs (iPods, MP3

players, etc.) • Please DO NOT bring: Balls, frisbees, or other throw-and-catch items.

PARENTS and OTHER SPECTATORS: • Directions to meet and time of warm-ups. • Sharpies for marking events, heats and lane assignments on

back of your swimmer's hand or forearm.• Highlighters • T-shirt, polo shirt, or other lightweight clothes for when you're

in the pool area and a sweatshirt for the rest area.• Reading matter or other diversions for when you're in the rest

area. • Money for concessions and a heat sheet. • Collapsible lawn chairs (Rest areas are most often in

gymnasiums, field houses, or hallways.) • Small Coolers: Some host clubs do not permit coolers of any

kind or size in their rest areas but most do.

Warm Ups• Arrive ten to fifteen minutes BEFORE the assigned warm-up time.• If you are not going to be at warm ups please let the coaches know. • Check in with the coaches.• Locate the club's designated rest area and stake out your space

within that area by laying out your sleeping bag or blanket • Locate the locker room and pool area• Have your swimmer change into her/his suit (many wear their suits

to the meet under their clothes to save time)• Shower (it is state law)• Be on deck when warm-ups begin• Most warm-up sessions last no more than twenty minutes• Write your events down• Team meeting with the coaches right before the meet starts.

Heat Sheets

• Heat sheets can be purchased in the concession area or main entrance.

• The heat sheet includes all events, heats and individual lane assignment

• Typical cost is about $2.00 - $3.00. • Events, heats and lane assignments for our team will also be

posted in or near our rest area• Use the heat sheet, or event postings, to locate all of your

swimmers events. • Highlight your swimmer’s events• Don’t forget to check the relays as well!

Heat Sheets

Notations

37- 4 -350FL

37 is the event - 4 is the 4th heat of event 37 - 3 is the swimmer's lane 50FL (50-yard Butterfly)

The above notation reminds the swimmer that he/she will be swimming the 5O-yard Butterfly in Event #37, Heat 4, Lane 3

Commonly used notations are: FR = Freestyle BK = Backstroke BR = Breaststroke FL = Butterfly I.M. = Individual Medley

MR = Medley Relay FRR = Freestyle Relay

Another Option

Event Heat Lane Stroke27 3 2 100 IM

37 4 3 50 Fly

58 5 1 200 MR

Seeding• Events will be called and/or posted in the rest area, cafeteria or

other location designated for concessions and eating. • Each swimmer is responsible to pay attention to when his or her

events are called. • When a swimmer's event is called, the swimmer needs to go to a

seeding area (often in a hallway immediately adjacent to the pool)

• Swimmers will receive a heat and lane assignment card for that event.

Sometimes changes in heat or lane assignments occur after the heat sheets have been printed; if there is discrepancy between heat/lane assignments printed in the heat sheet (which is what the swimmer will have written on his or her hand or arm) and the lane card, the information on the lane card is controlling.

Staging

• After the swimmer receives their card they will sit in the staging area.

• This may be in the hallway or on the pool deck. • They will sit until they are asked by a meet

worker to move behind their appropriate lane at the start end of the pool.

• When the heat before them has started they will hand their lane card to one of the timers for that lane and await the calling of their heat.

Swimmers Step Up

• The heat will be announced by an announcer or other meet official

• The swimmers will hear a single, long whistle blast and/or the command: "Swimmers step up”.

• The swimmers will step up onto the starting block

• If they are starting from the deck they will step to their starting location on the edge of the deck, to one side of the starting block for their lane.

Backstroke Start

• The "swimmers-step up" command is replaced by the command "Backstrokers (or swimmers) in the water'

• Swimmers enter the water feet first and take their starting positions at the backstroke starting grip/s on the front of the starting block.

• Backstrokers may also grip the edge of the gutter instead of the backstroke grip.

Starts

• The event is announced by one official, who then turns control of the race over to the Starter.

• The Starter will command "Take your mark”, at which the swimmers assume and hold their starting positions.

• The "take-your-mark" command will be quickly followed by the starting signal, most often a horn and a light.

• Spectators should be quiet at this time and should not use flash photography.

Reminders

• Call or email a coach or board member if you have signed up for a meet and are unable to make the meet at the last minute.

• If you are not going to be at warm ups please let someone know so that the coaches don’t scratch the swimmer from their events.

• Ribbons will be available in the swimmers folder the following week.

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