Swim Meets

Most Meets are dual meets and take 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Swimmers are entered in events depending upon the coaches’ assessment of their ability to swim each stroke.

A meet consists of five individual events and two relays. Swimmers are eligible to swim a maximum of three individual events and two relays per meet. The order of events at home meets is: Medley Relay, Individual Medley, Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly, and Free Relay. Away meets may vary. Swimmers are divided according to their age on June 15 (the year they are swimming). The age groups are as follows: 6 & under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18. Meet entries will be posted at the pool at least one day prior to a meet.

MEETS ON WEEKDAYS generally start at 6:00pm and end by 9:30pm. There may be some exceptions. For example a Wednesday away meet at Pleasant Hill typically starts at 5:30pm. Generally, warm-ups are from 5:00pm to 5:30pm for the Home team and from 5:30pm to 6:00pm for the Away team. Please look under the “Events” link for specific “Meet Times.” If a weekday meet is particularly large, the coaches may agree to limit the number of heats for each event or eliminate one of the events to save time.

MEETS ON SATURDAYS usually start at 9:00am, with the home team swimmers warming-up at 8:00am until 8:30am, and the away team using the pool from 8:30am until 9:00am. Please look under the “Events” link on his website for specific “ Meet Times.” The meets usually end by 1:00pm.

CLOTHING - Shoes should be worn regardless of the weather. Shoes protect toes and reduce the stress on the legs while walking and standing. For cold weather or windy evening meets, sweats, coats, and sleeping bags are appropriate. In hot weather, stay out of the sun and stay cool. Drink lots of liquids.

WORK ASSIGNMENTS - Job check-in is 40-60 minutes prior to the start of the meet. Double check your work assignments and times. Please look under the “Events” link on his website for specific “ Meet Times.”

PACE OF THE MEETS - The Meet Directors, starters, timers and coaches make every effort to move the meets along and end on time. Swimmers and parents can help keep the meet moving by listening for the announcer to call the swimmers to their events and being at their lanes on time with their caps and goggles. The Starter will not wait for swimmers to show up for their events. Swimmers are responsible for getting to their lanes on time. Marshals assist in getting the younger swimmers (6 & Under and 7/8) to the lanes, but parents must take the initiative to get their swimmers to the Marshals.

The best meets are those that go by quickly. The worst meets are those that go so slowly that the final event (usually Free Relay) has to be dropped. Parents can help move the meet along by making sure their swimmers keep their gear in a place where they can find it before they head to their events.

INVITATIONAL MEETS - Most Invitational meets are all day events, some are two day events (Woodlands, City Meet, and County). We are involved in several Invitational meets throughout the swim season. Medals or rosette ribbons (instead of ribbons) are generally awarded and presented through sixth or eighth place. In addition, team trophies are awarded at these big meets. See special section for Invitational Meets for further details.