SO, YOU’RE GOING TO A SWIM MEET!

A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THE MEET the entries for the meet will be posted on the Meet Schedule on our web site as a link entitled “Entries” and this list will give you the event numbers of each event for which the coach has entered you. An email will be sent by the coach prior to each meet which will give you: a list of the meet events by number and what day each event is and the warm-up times for your age group. Directions to the meet will also be posted on the Meet Schedule page as a link.  Most all of this information, other than your individual events, can also be found in the “Meet Letter” which will be posted on our web site as a link on the Meet Schedule associated with the Meet in question as soon as it is made available by the hosting club (this is usually months prior to the meet).

WHAT TO WEAR — Most swimmers wear their team suits to the meet with sweats or parkas over the suits. After swimming an event, you can put your parkas or sweats on between events. Parents should wear layers or a short sleeve shirt, as the pool area is always very warm.
 

WHAT TO TAKE PACKING— Each swimmer may want to take a sleeping bag or blanket for "camping out" with the team in the hallway, cafeteria, or gym of the school where the meet is held. Look for the Zionsville banner or other team members, so you can sit together. Bring several towels for drying off after each event. Also, bring a book, deck of cards, game boy, or other items to help pass the time between events. A small cooler with fruit, drinks, and snacks is also nice. Food-including snacks, sometimes breakfast, and usually lunch is sold in the cafeteria at most meets.
 

WRITE ON YOUR HAND — The best way to keep up with your event numbers and strokes is to write them on the back of your hand with a ball point pen. It might look like this:  
#72 100 back
#76 50 fly
#80 100 free
This information is given to you by the coach the week of the meet. (See first section.)  Once the heat sheets are posted at the meets, you can add the heat and lane in which you are swimming beside the event on the back of your hand.
 

WHEN YOU ARRIVE — Plan to arrive at the meet at least 15 minutes before your warm-up time. This will give you time to sign in and set up your sleeping bag.  As soon as you arrive, look for the place to sign in.  It will either be papers posted on a wall or on a table and will be a list of names and all events in which each swimmer has been entered.  Each age group and sex may have a separate sheet. You must circle or highlight your name and all events in which you have been entered (or follow any instructions given).  Failure to sign in before warm-ups end will cause you to be scratched from the events.
 

REPORT TO THE COACH — After you have signed in and deposited your belongings, report to the coach on the pool deck for warm-ups.  Warm-up time is limited and the pool will be very crowded, so you will need to make the best possible use of this pool time.  After warm-ups, return to your "camp area" or sit on the bleachers and watch until it is time for your event. (Put on sweats or parka to stay warm.)
 

PSYCH SHEETS – Psych Sheets (programs) will be available for parents to purchase at each meet.  This will provide a list of what Events are being swum in each session and all swimmers in each event ranked by their entry times.  Parents can highlight their child and other ZSC swimmers in the Psych Sheet so they do not miss the events they are swimming.  Remember that meets do not always begin with Event 1.  If distance swimmers compete on Friday night, the Saturday meet might begin with event 11 or higher.  Sunday’s meet will be a continuation in event numbers.
 

HEAT SHEETS — After the sign-in sheets come down, the host team will enter into the computer all of the swimmers that did not sign in and then “seed” the meet with only those swimmers that are present.  This is the process in which each swimmer is assigned a heat and lane for each event.  Once this has been completed the host will post the “Heat Sheets” which list the heat and lane that each swimmer will swim in for each event.   Events are swum slowest to fastest, which means the final heat in each event will be the fastest swimmers with the fastest recorded time prior to this event.  Each heat is also seeded from fastest to slowest as follows: starting with the fastest swimmer in lane 4, lane 5, lane 3, lane 6, lane 2, lane 7, lane 1, lane 8.  At some meets, in addition to the Psych Sheets, the Heat Sheets for each session are available for purchase also.
 

CLERK OF COURSE — GETTING READY FOR YOUR EVENT —- At most meets for the 8 & under events there will be a “Clerk of Course.” Swimmers in this age group should pay close attention to the progress of the meet and report to the "Clerk of Course" area about 4 or 5 events before your event.  Some pools use loud speakers to make first and last calls for an event, but you are not always within ear-shot of the announcements.  The clerk of course area will be an area away from the pool where lines of chairs will be set up. When you get to this area, you will receive a card with your name, the event, your heat number, and lane number. You will then be instructed to sit in chairs in order, usually one heat per row. Your row will then move forward to the next row of chairs until it is your heat’s turn to go into the pool area. When you enter the pool area, follow the instructions of the adults there. You will usually stand or sit behind the area of your lane until it is your turn to swim. When it is your heat’s time to stand by the block, give your card to the timer in your lane. Then wait for the starter to say ‘swimmers on the block'. Next the starter will say "take your mark". You then wait for the sound of the gun or the electronic beep and you’re off and swimming! After completing the race, it is extremely important that you report to the coach on the pool deck for a brief "chat" about your swim.  Then return to the team’s area to dry off and rest or sit in the bleachers to cheer for your team mates. This procedure is repeated for each event. It’s your job to keep up with the events and report promptly to the clerk of course.  For older swimmers, there usually is no Clerk of Course and it is the swimmers responsibility to be behind the lane for their event several heats before their assigned heat.  You can always check with the timer in that lane to confirm that you are on the list and you have written down the correct heat and lane for your event.
 

RESULTS — Results of each event are computerized and posted on a wall as soon as they are printed out. You can check the results to get your official time and place. Awards for each meet vary. Some meets give medals for the top six swimmers and ribbons for 7—12.  Some give ribbons for more places. Some give ribbons to each heat winner. Remember to record your times in your log book so you can chart your improvement throughout the season.  Competition is stiff at an U.S. Swimming meet, but new swimmers take incredible amounts of time off from meet to meet.  Focus on your progress in terms of the amount of time improved, not necessarily on what your place was.
 

ELECTRONIC TIMING — Most pools have electronic touch pads in each lane to record times.  Each swimmer should make a good, solid touch. Other "people" timers are used for back-up.  A gun with blanks or an electronic beep with a strobe light is used for starting each race.
 

FALSE STARTS — A false start occurs when a swimmer leaves the block top early or there is a problem with the gun or equipment.  In the event of a false start, the recall starter sounds the gun of beep repeatedly signaling swimmers to stop.  A rope is also lowered into the water to stop swimmers who do not respond to the signals.  If all these fail, a coach or older swimmer jumps in to stop the swimmer!  If the false start is the result of your starting before the beep or gun, you will be disqualified from that event.  If this is the case, the starter will tell you personally.
 

OFFICIALS — Many officials are present on the pool deck in a sanctioned U.S. Swimming meet. They usually wear white. Most meets have a referee, starter, recall starter, a stroke judge for each 3 (or 4) lanes of the pool, and two turn judges on the end of the pool.  Each lane also has two (or more) timers present as a back up to the electronic system.  This organization and structure ensures that each U.S. meet is run consistently throughout the national organization and that all times are "official."  Times made at U.S. Swimming meets can be used to qualify for the state and higher level meets.
 

DISQUALIFICATIONS — A swimmer may be disqualified by the judges or other qualified officials for not swimming a stroke correctly, making an improper turn, etc. For example, a swimmer could be disqualified for doing a flutter kick with the butterfly stroke or failure to touch the wall in a turn.  Most swimmers get disqualified at some point in their swimming careers!  Swimmers will be told by an official if they were disqualified and for what reason.  The swimmer must see the coach after this occurs for suggestions to see that it doesn’t happen again.  After the swimmer understands what the mistake was, he or she should "shake it off" and focus on his next event. Parents should be supportive, rather than critical, treating the disqualification as a learning experience.
 

PARENTS AT A SWIM MEET — It is a parent’s responsibility to be familiar with meet procedures and have their swimmers understand the procedures.  The most important roles parents play are getting swimmers to warm-ups on time and double checking sign-ins and clerk of course routines. (New swimmers seem to catch on fast to the logical chain of events.)  Then a parent can sit back, cheer for the swimmers, and enjoy the meet.  Parent's are asked not to be on deck unless they are timing.  In fact, U.S. Swimming rules state that only swimmers, coaches, timers, and officials are allowed on deck.  If you are asked to leave the deck, please don’t take it personally.
 

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