Before the Meet Starts

Your swimmer needs to be on the pool deck (with swimsuit, cap, and goggles on ) 15 minutes prior to the start of warm-up.

• Some parking lots are far from the actual pool. In order to be on time, allow extra time to walk from the parking area.
• Bear in mind that coaches need to hand in a “scratch sheet” prior to the start of the meet session. If you’re going to be late, be sure to notify the coach or your swimmer will be scratched from the session. Scratches will be processed 15 mins before the start of the meet. If you arrive after this period your swimmer can no longer compete in this session.

NOTE:   Parents are not permitted on the pool deck, so your child should be able to carry
               his/her belongings by him/herself.

• Make sure your child checks in with the Coach when they arrive
• Warm-up times are assigned to each team. Coach will tell the team where to go and when. They will give your swimmer warm-up instructions. It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. During warm-ups, participating Officials will usually have a briefing and learn their lane assignments.
• After warm-up, swimmers go back to the area where the team is sitting and wait until his/her first event is called. Cheering on teammates is great, but it’s also a good time for bathroom breaks, getting a drink, etc.
• The meet usually starts about 10 minutes after warm-ups are over.

Psych Sheet or Heat Sheets

• A psych sheet lists all swimmers in each event in order of "seedtime". [Seedtime=When the team entry is sent in, each swimmer and his/her previous best time (up to the date that the entry was submitted) in that event is listed.]
• If the swimmer is swimming an event for the first time, he/she will be entered as a "no-time" or "NT". A "no-time" swimmer will most likely swim in one of the first heats of the event. Events usually begin with the slowest seeded times, and progressively get faster with each subsequent heat.
• A heat sheet may be available close to the start of the meet that lists the actual heat and lane a swimmer will be competing in.

​During the Meet

• Swimmers need to pay attention to the event numbers so that they don’t miss their events! (Parents need to pay attention, too, or you’ll miss your child’s race!)
• Most meets are computerized, so you can see event and heat numbers on the board.
• Generally, girls events are odd-numbered and boys events are even-numbered.
• You can expect at least 4-8 heats of each event. (Divide number of swimmers by number of lanes in the pool for approximate number of heats; number will change if a lot of swimmers scratch.)
• The swimmer swims his or her race.

After each swim:

• Swimmers are to ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time.
• The swimmer should then go immediately to his/her coach who will discuss the swim with them.

Coaching feedback varies greatly depending on the swim and the swimmer. Often coaches will discuss some of the following at that moment:

• Positive comments or praise
• Suggestions for improvement
• Evaluation of the next step/goal

Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:

• Tell them how great they did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique with swimmers. You need to tell them how proud you are and what a great job they did.
• Send them back to the team area and relax.
• This is another good time to hit the bathrooms, get a drink or something light to eat.
• The swimmer now waits until their next event is called and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of their events and the coach dismisses them, the swimmer and  parents get to go home.

Make sure, however, that your swimmer checks with the coach before leaving in case he/she is included on a relay (usually the last events of a meet). It is not fair to other swimmers who have stayed to swim a relay that includes your swimmer and they are not there.

WHAT TO BRING

FOR SWIMMERS:

Per the team protocol, your swimmer needs to bring:

• Team clothing/colours
• Team cap
• 2 pairs of goggles
• Full water bottles
• 2 towels
• Healthy snacks (Fruit, peanut-free granola bar, cheese, crackers, etc)
• Dry clothes to wear home

For time spent in between races, it is also suggested that swimmers bring something to do or read, flip-flops/shower shoes. Team areas are not under direct supervision, so we advise against bringing anything valuable (iPods, video games, etc.).

Remember that parents are not allowed on the pool deck during a meet (unless timing or working in another official capacity), so be sure your swimmer can carry his/her belongings by him/herself!

FOR YOURSELF:

Bring chair(s) to sit on. Some venues do have bleachers, but they can fill up quickly (and they aren’t always comfortable!). We often leave our chairs in the car if we’re parked nearby, so that we can easily get them if needed.

Wear layers – it is usually warm, if not hot, inside. Dress for it!

Water & snacks – There is always food to be found during meets. Purchasing snacks at a meet helps support the team that is hosting. That said, you should always feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks.

Bring something to do - book/magazine/knitting/Sudoku/etc. Even short meets will have downtime.

Something for young siblings to do – Some venues offer very little room for little ones to be active. Bring something to keep them occupied. And remember to dress little ones in layers, too.

• NO visiting spectator stands, bathroom or Snack Bar without PERMISSION from their Coach.

• It is very important that the Coaches know where their swimmers are at all times. We do not want any swimmers missing their events simply because they left the deck without their coach knowing.

• Parents are not allowed on the pool deck during a meet (unless volunteering to work) 

The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer.

Trained officials observe the swimmers during each event to ensure compliance with these technical rules. If a swimmer commits an infraction of the rules that is observed by an official, a disqualification (DQ) will result. This means that the swimmer will not receive an official time and will not be eligible for an award in that event. A disqualification may result from actions such as not getting to the starting blocks on time, false starting, and/or performing strokes in an illegal manner, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

DQs are also a result of technical rules violations. They include but are not limited to:

• Freestyle: Walking on the bottom, pulling on the lane rope, not touching the wall on a turn, or not completing the distance.
• Backstroke: Pulling or kicking into the wall once a swimmer has turned passed the vertical onto the breast. Turning onto the breast before touching the wall with the hand at the finish of the race.
  • Breaststroke: An illegal kick such as flutter (freestyle), dolphin (butterfly), or scissors (side stroke); not on the breast; alternating movements of the arms; taking two arm strokes or two leg kicks while the head is under water; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.
  • Butterfly: Alternating movements of the arms or legs; pushing the arms forward under instead of over the water surface (underwater recovery); a breaststroke style of kick; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.

For beginning swimmers, a disqualification should be treated as a learning experience, not as a punishment. A disqualification alerts the swimmer and coach to what portions of the swimmer's stroke need to be corrected. They should be considered in the same light as an incorrect answer in schoolwork-they point out areas that need further practice.

Disqualifications are necessary to keep the competition fair and equitable for all competitors. A supportive attitude on the part of the official, coach, and parent can make a positive situation out of the disqualification.