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IMPORTANT MEET INFORMATION FOR SPA
SWIMMERS
Meets are a little different this Short Course
Season. They will be divided into 4 basic categories: 8 and
under open, 9-14 junior, 9-14 elite, and
senior.
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8
and under -open to all 8 and under swimmers of all ages and
abilities unless specified
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9-14 junior-open to all beginning 9-14
swimmers and experienced swimmers with 2 "A" times or less (if you
have 2 "A" times or less you may swim your A times at the 9-14
junior meet)
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9-14 elite-open to swimmers with 3 "A" times
(you may not swim an event if you only have 2 "A" times, you must
swim those 2 "A" times at the junior meet)
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senior meets-open to all 15 and over swimmers
of all levels unless specified, 14 and under swimmers must
qualify
How
entering meets works:
Meets take a lot of planning, so entries are done 2 weeks before
the meet begins. This helps the host team know how many
officials they will need along with a lot of other
things.
- Meet entry fees are typically $3.75- $4
per entry, so if your child enters 3 – 6 events, you are
charged that $11.25-$24 (this is debited from your
account). You may also be charged ¼ of relays if your
child is put on one. NOTE:
ENTRY FEES WILL INCREASE BEGINNING DEC. 1ST OF THIS
YEAR!! So, entry fees will be $5(ave.) and a $2 facility fee
is added ( this is per meet, not event! – university pools
are $5)
- If you choose to cancel the meet before it
starts, you would simply not show up. To be included in the
meet, you must “circle in” *when you get
there. Those that don’t won’t be included in the
line-up. You have until 1 hour before that event is due to
swim to circle in.
- Also, if you cancel a meet, you may be
letting down team mates that wouldn’t be able to swim in a
relay as it takes 4 swimmers. It also makes a team look bad if
a lot of those signed up don’t attend.
- IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO ATTEND A MEET AFTER
YOU HAVE SIGNED UP, YOUR ENTRY FEES ARE NOT
REFUNDED!!!
- Those that decide to attend the meet
after the 2 week deadline can still do so. Your child will not
be in the heat sheet that is purchased at the meet, but, you can go
before “on-deck” entries close and enter them in the
events that the coach has decided is best for them. You will
pay double the entry fees of those that enter on time, and your
fees will be paid by check or cash to the host team (it won’t
come out of your meet entry deposit). Your child MIGHT miss
out on a relay if they are deck entered, as we try to set them up
in advance. RELAYS ARE ENTERED WITH SWIMMERS THAT COME TO WARM
UPS – so, if your child wants to have a chance at entering a
relay, which is tons of fun- they should make a point of being at
the meet early.
- Other changes include: you must have 3
“A” times to enter an Elite meet (if you have 2, you
can enter those events at the Junior meet)
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- BEFORE
THE MEET STARTS
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Arrive at the meet at least 20 minutes
before warm-up begins.
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Upon arrival, find the team and set up
your area. Bring a blanket, sleeping bag, or extra towels to sit
on. Leave all of your belongings there, but bring a pen or pencil
with you when going to the Coach.
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Find a SPA Coach and let them know you
are there. This will help in making the Relay
teams.
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Find “CIRCLE IN” (Usually
posted on a Wall) and find your name on each event entered in the
meet for that day. Circle just your name not anyone else’s
name. Circling in will help the meet staff know who is and who is
not at the swim meet.
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Once you have checked in, write each
event number on your swimmer’s hand in ink. This will help
them remember which events they are
swimming.
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Go back to your gear and get ready for
warm-ups. Bring your cap and goggles, go to our assigned lanes, and
wait for further instructions.
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After warm-ups, the Coach will
have a team meeting. All swimmers must attend the team meeting. At
this time, relay teams will be announced and other important
information will shared.
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After meeting go back to the team sitting
area and get ready for your first
event.
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Before and after every event, each
swimmer is to report to a SPA Coach on deck. The Coach will go over
any strategies before the event and after, they will discuss the
swim.
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No parents are allowed on deck at any
time, unless they are timing.
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Heat Sheets – You may purchase a
Heat Sheet to help follow along with the meet and know when your
swimmer is swimming. It will also have your swimmer’s time
from the previous meet. If they have not swum in a meet yet, it
will have NT, which stands for “No Time.” No Time
swimmers usually swim in the first
heats.
- MEET
STARTS
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Be aware of what event is in the water.
Go to the Coach a few events before your swim and then go directly
to your lane assignment.
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Swim your
event.
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Ask the timer for your
time.
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Go back to the Coach and listen to the
feedback from your swim.
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Coach will tell you if you should warm
down or not. Some pools have a warm down pool and some do
not.
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After your swimmer’s last swim,
before leaving, check with your Coach and wait for their permission
to leave.
- WHAT
TO TAKE TO A MEET
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Most important: Swim suit and a SPA
“S” swim cap and goggles if they use them. A Spa swim
cap is mandatory for each swimmer. This will help the Coach’s
watch your child’s swim.
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Towels – Bring extra towels. They
do get wet and your swimmer will need a dry one to dry
off.
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Something to sit on, blanket, sleeping
bag, or a beach towel. Chairs are usually not permitted unless the
team is sitting in a large area, like a gym or
outside.
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Bring something warm to wear when not
swimming. Bring a parka, warm-up suit, socks, shoes, and a hat. If
your head a feet are warm, your body will be warm. Most Natatoriums
are very cold.
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Bring books and small games to play. You
should not bring any expensive electronic games. Remember to label
all of your belongings.
Food: Each swimmer can usually bring a
small cooler. It is better to bring snacks. Most concession stands
have junk food and Coach’s really frown on unhealthy food and
treats.
Water, juices (wait for sugary treats at end of day),
fruit, nuts, grilled or roasted chicken strips, rice cakes, hard
boiled eggs, peanut butter & jelly on WHOLE GRAIN bread,
granola bars, carrots, etc.
Food items that don’t go well with competition (or
practices) are dairy products. Since it is very important for
swimmers to get their dairy, be sure they have a FULL hour to
digest it before swimming. Yogurt is a great, easy to take
with you, healthful snack.
Foods to avoid at ALL times are any that have a
color listed on the ingredients.
Come ready to have fun. Get to know your
fellow teammates. You will even meet and become friends with other
team’s swimmers. Bring your positive attitude and cheer for
SPA.
Once you have attended a few meets, this
will all become very familiar. Please do not hesitate to ask any
SPA Coach or Parent for help.
What does B, BB, A, etc.
mean?
These are the USA motivational times. This gives swimmers a
way to set and accomplish goals and to inspire them to
improve. You can find the list of them on the gulf
website, http://www.gulfswimming.org/standards.html, then click
on the appropriate list (8 & younger swimmers have their own
motivational times, then the next one down is for ages
9-14). For those new to USA competition, plan to go to the
junior meets. When your swimmer attains the tougher standards
(A and up) you will know, as the coaches will make a big deal out
of it!!
*”Circle-In”:
This is what tells the meet director that you are actually there to
swim. Look for it on a wall (ask anyone if you don’t see
it), and find all the events for your swimmer (done by event
number/age group/female/male). Be sure to circle in all the
events (usually 3 max per day) for your swimmer. You have
until 1 hour before that event swims to change, just in case your
swimmer gets ill – simply go to the circle in, cross out
their name (make sure it’s still read-able), put
“ill” next to it. Always make this decision after
speaking with the coach. Sometimes, swimmers that are hesitant
to compete will come down with a stomach ailment. This is
purely psychological and can be overcome with help. This is a
very important step in learning what competition is about, so be
sure they are really ill and not just
afraid.
*Deck-enter:
This is for the swimmer that doesn’t pre-register through
us. If you decide you want to go to the meet after the
deadline for entries, this is the other option. During warm
ups, you would go to the “Clerk-of-course” table to
sign up. They will give you a form to fill out that asks for
your child’s Gulf ID#, which is the 6 digits of their birth
date, 1st 4 letters of their 1st name and
1st 4 letters of their last name (they will help you
with this if you need it). Then, you would choose the events
that the coach has recommended they swim at that meet. You
will pay the HOST TEAM by check or cash and the amount is double
what the pre-registration is. Again, if you have any
questions, just ask. We always have parents at the meet that
have done it before, so if the coach is too busy, we will introduce
you to a parent that can help you throughout the meet. PLAN TO SIT
WITH THE TEAM.
Yours
truly,
SPA Coaching
Staff
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