WHO RUNS THE MEETS?
Parents and volunteers do! We need volunteers to help run every meet. The team will benefit from your support and you will reap the benefits of being involved with your kids and their friends. Plus, a front row view to all the action in the pool! Most jobs do not require any swim experience.
NO VOLUNTEERS = NO MEETS!
Volunteer jobs include: Timers, bull pen, Concessions, Officials, Runner, Heat ribbons, award ribbons.
WHAT EVENTS CAN MY CHILD SWIM?
For most of our evening dual meets, swimmers may swim in up to 3 individual events. They may be placed in up to 2 relays. Coaches set up the relays.
For invitational: swimmers may be able to swim an extra event or 2! This is a good opportunity for swimmers to try new events!
WHAT TO BRING
Your STC swim cap and goggles.
Have the swimmer wear his / her swimsuit under their tshirt. Please put swimmer's name on shirt.
For home meets, an item for the bake sale ( prepackaged). Bottles of Gatorade and water ar OK too.
Plenty of towels.
Chairs and blankets to sit on
Videos, coloring books, games, etc. to occupy time. Please label everything!
Money to buy heat sheets, 50/50 tickets, and items from our bake sale. There is no charge for admission.
You may bring your own food or drinks. No alcohol or glass.
Warm clothes for your swimmer to change into. It gets cold as the sun goes down - especially in June.
Sharpie and highlighter
Water - bring and drink lots of water.
Sunscreen
WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE POOL
Buy a heat sheet
Check in and get your list of events
At home meets, drop off your items for the bake sale.
Stake your claim on a piece of real estate and set up chairs, blankets, etc.
Look over the heat sheet or swimmer's list of events. Some swimmers like their event and heat numbers written on their hand, arm, or legs with a sharpie. Parents can use the highlighter on their heat sheet.
Get ready for warm ups.
READING THE HEAT SHEETS
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE READY WHEN IT IS TIME TO SWIM!
Look for your swimmer's name and take notice of the event and heat numbers.
For the first meet your swimmer will be listed as a NT meaning they do not have a official time yet. Once they have an official time, it will be recorded as their "seed time" At the next swim meet, their heat will be based on this.
The events are posted in order usually alternating girls (odd) and boys (even) events.
When your event number is called you will need to go to the bullpen area.
DURING THE MEET
Look and listen for your events.
Encourage your child to cheer for their teammates when they are not swimming.
Your child should talk to their coach after their race.
Please let your child know to sit quietly and listen when they are in the bullpen.
All races are scored by time. The fastest 6 times receive ribbons and points for that event in each age group. The first swimmer to the wall in each heat will receive a heat ribbon.
Please stay back from the timers and officials working so they have plenty of room to do their jobs.
Do not go behind the blocks!!
IF YOU WANT A FRONT ROW SEAT - VOLUNTEER TO TIME!
AFTER THE MEET
Results should be emailed to you before practice on Thursday. Check the filing box, on the front desk, for the folder with your swimmer's name on it for any ribbons.
TERMS YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW
BULLPEN - this is where the swimmers go when their event is called. They need to be quiet to hear instructions. Parents can not hang out near the bullpen. You may drop your child off and then find a spot to watch them swim.
HEAT - Each event is divided into multiple races called heats. AN attempt is made to place 6 swimmers in each heat. Each swimmer is assigned a lane for that heat.
DQ - Disqualification. If a turn and stroke judge notices your swimmer has not performed the stroke correctly, the swimmer will be DQ.. That is OK! This is a learning experience and the coaches use this as a tool to help the swimmer improve by learning from their mistakes. Please encourage your child to keep trying. DO NOT DISTURB OR QUESTION ANY OFFICIALS DURING THE MEET! Any concerns, please take them to head coach Kate.
RELAYS - The coaches will make as many relays as possible.
BLOCK - the platform on which the swimmer stands and pushes off to start the race.
OFFICIAL - A judge on the deck of the pool. They watch the swimmer's strokes, turns, and finishes.
TIMERS- Stands at the end of the swim lane and "times" the swimmers with a stopwatch.
RUNNERS - Brings the race results to the scorer table.