Signing My Child Up for a Meet

DUAL MEETS - You must sign your swimmer up for a dual meet no later than 6PM on the Monday before the meet. You may note any requests for events your child would like to swim, but please keep in mind coaches have final say.

CHAMPS MEET - Your child must have swam at least 2 dual meets to be eligible for the Champs meet. If you sign up for Champs, please be prepared to be present for prelims and finals (if your child qualifies). 

Volunteer Requirements

If your child is swimming, you're required to work half the meet!  See volunteer section for more details on jobs available!

Packing List – What should I bring to a swim meet?

● A lot of snacks and water bottle/drink
● 2 towels per swimmer – they get wet fast!
● Sharpie marker to write Event/Heat/Lane on arm; thinner tip works best (see “Body Mark-up” section below)
● Sweatshirt and/or extra dry clothes; swimmers tend to get cold in the late evening
● Camping chairs and/or blanket to sit on (heads-up: they will get wet)
● Cards, books, or games to pass the time in between events (avoid electronics, as those will get wet and stepped on)

Schedule for Dual Meets:

● Home team warms up at 5:30
● Away team warms up at 6:00
● Meet begins at 6:30 (estimated end time around 9:00/9:30)
● Arrive approximately 10-15 mins prior to warm-ups to ensure your child is ready to jump in the water right when warm-ups begin

Schedule for Champs:

● Exact times will be released closer to the meet. Times below are estimates.
● Prelims: 11 & up - AM session (~ 9am start), 10 & under - PM session (~1pm start) ● Finals: All ages - PM session (~5pm start)

When you get to the meet...

● Find the team section and set up your spot for the night.
● Find the Age Group Coordinator volunteering for your swimmer’s age/gender. Introduce your child and let your child know that this is the person who will help get her/him to the Clerk of Course in time for the events throughout the night.
● Until your child starts to get a feel for how meets work, please have her/him stay close to the team area throughout the night. Please also help to keep tabs on your child. 

Finding My Child’s Event Listing

There will be age group signs in our team section with printed event listings posted. Find your swimmer’s events and mark them on your child’s arm (see “Body Mark-up” section below). You will need to make note of 3 things – the Event Number, Heat and Lane. It’s also helpful to annotate the stroke/distance.

Body Mark-up

● For new simmers, it’s helpful for the Age Group Coordinator if you write their names with a Sharpie on their backs.
● Make a grid on your swimmer’s arm with their Event/Heat/Lane info. See image below for an example. This helps the swimmer, Age Group Coordinator and Clerk of Course ensure the swimmer is in the right place at the right time.

Tip: You can draw a blank grid on your child’s arm prior to leaving the house to save time. The beginning of swim meets can be a little hectic.

Clerk of Course

The Clerk of Course is an area at the swim meet where volunteers line up the swimmers on benches according to lane number prior to their event. This is located behind the blocks during our home meets.

Relays

Relays can get a little chaotic. Please help the Age Group Coordinators rally the kids, group them together by team, and send them off to the appropriate end of the pool.

A few things to note:

● It’s helpful to write your child’s order/stroke for the relay on their arm grid.
● The Medley Relay is at the very start of the meet. At the conclusion of warmups, have your swimmer find theirAge Group Coordinator and get ready to line up behind the blocks. This should happen before the National Anthem.

Tips for a Smooth & Successful Swim Meet

● Put your child’s name on her/his stuff. The team area is usually a mess at the end of the night with lots of items left behind.
● Arrive on time or early so that you’re not rushed at the beginning of the meet!
● Find a friendly face and ask for help. There are plenty of us there to help you.

● Please encourage your swimmers to toss out their trash and keep things as tidy as possible. 

● Enjoy the meet. Cheer for your swimmers and the team!