Parent Resources

Maps to each of the teams practice and meet facilities is listed under Swim Teams.

Meets generally start with the visiting teams' warming up.

What to bring to EVERY meet

  • Put your child’s name on everything
  • Team Swimsuit and cap (caps are not required for boys with short hair)
  • Goggles – if desired
  • Towel (towels are NOT provided by any pool)
  • Sunscreen
  • Water, Snacks, etc.
What to expect (an overview for new families)
  • Out of consideration for the rest of the team be on time. Since a relay is the first event, if your child is late it can cause a whole relay team to forfeit the race.
  • Warm-up is generally 1 hour before the race.
  • Plan to arrive, poolside, 15 minutes before the scheduled warm up time.  This will allow you time to find a place to “park” your things, get your child ready for warm up and have them check in with their coach.  Teams usually try to all set up “camp” together.   Find your team and pick out a spot with the group.
  • ALWAYS let the coach know if you will not be attending a meet. Notify you coach as soon as you know that you will not be attending any given meet; please give at least 2 days notice.
Warm-up
  • During warm up (while your child is swimming) check the event list that the coaches will post.  Bring a 3x5 card or paper and a pen to write down the events your child will swim in.  You will want to record the event, the lane, and the heat.

How can I help?

  • All of these meets are run by volunteers. Expect to work in some capacity at each meet. Prior to each meet a volunteer sheet is posted at practice showing what needs there are. Please sign up in advance. Most volunteers work ½ of the meet (events 1-4 or 5-8), the announcer works the full meet.
  • Generally speaking the host team supplies the following:
  • Finish Judge
  • Time Sheet Collector
  • Announcer/Starter
  • Ribbon Table
  • Teams generally provide their own Timer/Recorders.
Events
  • All of the meets are run in the same order, as follows:
  1. Medley Relay (back, breast, fly, free)
  2. Short Freestyle
  3. Individual Medley (fly, back, breast, free)
  4. Backstroke
  5. Long Freestyle
  6. Breaststroke
  7. Butterfly
  8. Free Relay
  • Within each event the races are run by age group from the youngest to the oldest.  For the older age groups, boys and girls are sometimes combined.
    • 8 & Under Girls
    • 8 & Under Boys
    • 9-10 Girls
    • 9-10 Boys
    • 11-12 Girls
    • 11-12 Boys
    • 13-14 Girls
    • 13-14 Boys
    • 15-18 Girls
    • 15-18 Boys (Sometimes parents jump in here)
  • Listen to the announcer (it can be hard to hear over the noise of the meet, you may have to just keep up with the meet events to know when your child’s next race is. 

  • After each race your child should go to the ribbon table to pick up their ribbon.

Announcer
    The announcement of the race will go something like this:
  •   Announce gender, age group and event
  •   "Swimmer's up", or "Swimmers enter the water" for backstroke and medley relay
  •   "Take your mark"
  •   Then press the button.
Timers
    The timers stand at the finish line.