SWIM MEET -- COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do I sign up to swim in a meet?
A: You will receive an email from Liquid Lightning when a meet becomes available for sign-up. Remember that there is a deadline for sign-up that is listed on the email and on the registration information on the website.
After signing-in onto the Liquid Lightning website (www.liquidlightning.org), click on the “Attend this Event" box under the meet of interest in the “Upcoming Events" section of the homepage.
Be sure to check if the meet is appropriate for your swimmer. Some meets have qualifying times that must be met. Others are offered only for B and C level swimmers. If you are unsure if a meet is appropriate for your swimmer check with their coach.
Q: How do I know what days/session the events are on?
A: On the event sign-up page there a DAY and a SESSION column. Day 1 = the first day of the swim meet (which is usually Friday). Day 2 = the second day (Saturday) and Day 3 = the third day (Sunday). For most meet session #1 will be the first session of the meet, which would on Friday night. Session #2 will be on Saturday Morning, Session #3 will be on Saturday Afternoon, etc.
The meet packet (found when you click on the meet name under Events on the homepage of the website www.liquidlightning.org ) will also have the age groups and what session they swim – day and morning or afternoon, along with the starting times for warm-up and the session.
Q: How long is a session?
A: A swim session usually runs about 4 hours, plus about an hour of warm-up.
Q: Does my swimmer have to swim in every swim meet?
A: No, you do not have to swim every swim meet or all sessions available at a meet. But certain meets are “Team Designated” meets and 100% participation is desired.
Q: Which events should I sign up for and how?
A: Click on your swimmer’s name to indicate their commitment – “yes” they are coming, or “no” they will not attend.
If you click on “yes”, a list of events will appear. Check the boxes of the events you choose to swim. Keep in mind that the meets have a limit of individual entries per session,
Check the day and the session for the events that you sign up for.
The meet packet will have the age groups and what sessions they swim, and a list of the events under the day and what session. The meet packet can be found when you click on the event name under “Forms and Documents”
Check with the swimmers coach if you have questions on which events your swimmer should swim.
(the coach will contact you if there are questions about the events you signed up for). If you have any instructions about the meet and your swimmer, put the comment in the “Notes” box under the declaration section, this can be anything such as my swimmer does not want to swim a certain event to we are not able to attend a certain day of the meet. The coaches do read these notes!
Make sure that you click the “save changes” button when you are finished with the swimmer for an event.
If you click on “NO” they will not attend, click the “save changes” button.
The coaches will confirm the events that the swimmer is swimming
Q: Do I enter the entry time for the event? /Can I submit alternate entry times?
A: Entry times are generally a swimmer’s fastest legal time in an event recorded in our database. For some meets, such as the state championships, only the fastest times achieved in the last year are considered. A swimmer who does not have a time in an event may be entered by the coach with no-time or a time estimate from a similar event or a practice. If you have alternate times for the coach to consider such as times from a country club or high school meet, include them in the "Notes" section when you are signing-up for a meet.
Q: How do I know what events that I will be swimming?
A: When you select your child’s desired events at a meet, they will have a status of “committed". Coaches will review, update and finalize all entries after the entry deadline. Once this process is completed, each swimmer’s status will change to "approved", typically within a few days of the entry deadline.
Also a meet entry document will be posted on the website.
After signing-in onto the Liquid Lightning website (www.liquidlightning.org), click on the name of the meet of interest in the “Upcoming Events" section of the homepage. Under the section “Forms and Documents” will be a document named “(meet name) Entries rev. #”, click on this document. This document contains an alphabetical list of all Liquid Lightning swimmers participating in the meet along with the event #’s and the name of the event that the swimmer is swimming.
Please check to make sure that your swimmers events are correct. If there is a problem, PLEASE contact the coach as soon as possible.
Q: How does my swimmer get into a relay?
A: The Coaches enter the swimmers into the relays. If your swimmer can not stay for a relay, let the coach know as soon as possible, so a replacement can be found. If you know when you are signing up for the event, indicate that the swimmer cannot stay in the “Notes” section.
To see if your swimmer is in a relay, check the relay document. After signing-in onto the Liquid Lightning website (www.liquidlightning.org), click on the name of the meet of interest in the “Upcoming Events" section of the homepage. Under the section “Forms and Documents” will be a document named “(meet name) relays rev. #”, click on this document. This document is a list of all of the Liquid Lightning relays for the meet.
Q: How do I pay my meet fees?
A: Meet entry fees are automatically added to your account balance and will be included in your next month’s bill.
Q: What should my swimmer eat before a swim meet?
A: The night before a swim meet, cut down on the fatty foods and eat plenty of carbohydrates and protein to provide energy for your
Q: Should my swimmer know the event information before arriving at the meet?
A: The swimmer should know what event #’s and the name of the event. This info can be written on the swimmers hand with a permanent marker (particularly with the younger swimmers). Heat and lane information will be posted on deck prior to the start of the meet, this can be added at that time. The coaches and seasoned swimmers will help the younger/new swimmers. Keep a spare permanent marker in the swim bag.
Q: What should my swimmer do when we arrive at the swim meet?
A: Make sure you arrive at the meet 15 minutes early, this allows for your swimmer to have plenty of time to change and get prepared for the meet. Make sure you know what time warm-ups start; it is usually 1 hour before the meet starts.
Your swimmer must “CHECK-IN”. The check-in sheets are usually located by the locker rooms. If you cannot find them ask someone (a volunteer at the admissions table will know). Be sure to HIGHLIGHT your swimmers name and all of the events. The coaches check this to see if the swimmer has arrived to the meet. Double check to see if you are entered in a relay as these entries may change right up until the start of the meet, if relays change during the meet, the coach will inform your swimmer.
The check-in closes usually 15 minutes after warm-ups have started. If the swimmer fails to check-in the swimmer will not be able to swim any of their events for that session.
Q: What does my swimmer do after checking in?
A: After your swimmer checks-in the swimmer will proceed to the locker room to change. Find a locker in the locker room to store anything you don’t plan to bring out to the pool deck (remember to bring a lock), use the restroom, then proceed to the pool deck, find the team and tell the coaches that they are there. The coaches will then give them further directions.
Parents are not allowed out on the pool deck. Spectator seating will be clearly marked near the admissions table. Look for other LL parents in the crowd wearing their royal blue and black Liquid Lightning team apparel. We encourage all families to sit together as a group at the meets in support of our team.
Q: Can I leave the pool deck during a swim meet?
A: Swimmers are asked to stay in the team area. This allows the coaches to make sure that each swimmer is ready for their event and behind the blocks at the appropriate time. Also, it shows team spirit and support for other Liquid Lightning swimmers. If you need to use the bathroom, get something to eat or want to visit with your parents, ask permission from a coach first. It makes the coaches’ jobs easier if they know where you are for safety reasons but also to ensure you are ready for your next event.
Q: How do I know when to line up for my event?
A: Watch the scoreboard for the event numbers. Typically you’ll want to start getting ready to go 2 events prior to your event number. This may vary; however, depending on the number of heats in an event and the length of a particular race (for example, 25s will run very quickly, versus 200s, which are more time-consuming). Prior to swimming your event, meet with a coach to receive a race plan and review race strategy and goals. After you swim your race, ask the lane timer for your time, and then visit again with a coach to receive a post-race analysis.
Q: What If you are running late?
A: Contact another swimmer’s family you know in the same session. A swim parents’ cell phone number list is available for these types of emergencies.
Q: What should my swimmer take to a swim meet?
A: - Wear your team t-shirt (provided by Liquid Lightning), and/or warm-ups to show team spirit and pride. This will keep you warm after swimming.
- Bring a swim bag containing two towels – one for during the meet and one for afterwards.
- Cap and goggles – extras too because caps can rip and goggles can break or get lost. We’d like all swimmers to wear the LL logo caps (provided by Liquid Lightning).
- Team suit or a suit in our team’s colors - royal blue and black.
- Marker to add heat/lane information to their hand.
- Small healthy snack and water bottle – avoid granola bars, crackers, or other foods likely to cause crumbs or mess on the pool deck.
- Change of clothes for after the meet. Don’t forget underwear if you wore your suit to the pool! :)
Paper and pencil, activity book, something that won’t damaged if it gets wet, to keep your swimmer occupied during the meet. The sessions will last over four hours including warm-up time. Of course they’ll be busy cheering on their teammates during most of the meet, but there will be stretches where LL won’t have any entries or a particular session might not have a lot of LL swimmers, so they’ll want to stay occupied.
Q: What should I take to watch a swim meet?
A: Wear team apparel!! It is great for the swimmers to see LL parents in the stands. Apparel is available on the website www.liquidlightning.org under the tab “Team Apparel”.
Admission Fee – Typically the fee is $4.00
There are meet programs to purchase if you desire. They are usually $6.00. The program lists all of the swimmers for each event for each session for each day along with their entry times. Sometimes “heat sheets” are available for $1.00. A heat sheet is an updated version of the program. It has the heat # and lane #’s of each swimmer of all events for the session.
You may also like to take a book, or something to do. You may also take cameras and/or video cameras.
REMINDER: PLEASE DO NOT take flash photography at the start of a race! The start of a race is indicated with a beep and a flash of light, so if someone snaps a flash camera the swimmers may think that is the start of the race and false start.
Q: How do I find my team after check-in?
A: Swimmers will enter the pool deck through the swim locker rooms. Find a locker in the locker room to store anything you don’t plan to bring out to the pool deck (remember to bring a lock), use the restroom, then find the team gathered together out on the pool deck and announce your arrival with a coach.
Parents are not allowed out on the pool deck. Spectator seating will be clearly marked near the admissions table. Look for other LL parents in the crowd wearing their royal blue and black Liquid Lightning team apparel. We encourage all families to sit together as a group at the meets in support of our team.
Q: Can I leave the pool deck during a swim meet?
A: Swimmers are asked to stay in the team area. This allows the coaches to make sure that each swimmer is ready for their event and behind the blocks at the appropriate time. Also, it shows team spirit and support for other Liquid Lightning swimmers. If you need to use the bathroom, get something to eat or want to visit with your parents, ask permission from a coach first. It makes the coaches’ jobs easier if they know where you are for safety reasons but also to ensure you are ready for your next event.
Q: How do I know when to line up for my event?
A: Watch the scoreboard for the event numbers. Typically you’ll want to start getting ready to go 2 events prior to your event number. This may vary, however, depending on the number of heats in an event and the length of a particular race (for example, 25s will run very quickly, versus 200s, which are more time-consuming). Prior to swimming your event, meet with a coach to receive a race plan and review race strategy and goals. After you swim your race, ask the lane timer for your time, and then visit again with a coach to receive a post-race analysis.
Q: Do I have to stay for the entire session?
A: No, although we encourage swimmers to cheer on their teammates, the swimmers are free to leave after their last event. If you are leaving before any scheduled relays check with the coach to make sure your swimmer has not been added to one.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR SWIMMER NOTIFY A COACH BEFORE LEAVING!
Q: Will I get a ribbon or medal for my efforts?
A: Check the meet packet. This information can be found on the website (www.liquidlightning.org) after signing in, click the events tab, then click the name of the swim meet in question. Under the “Forms / Documents” section will be the meet packet document. In this document it will have a section on awards. It will explain how awards are done, if places 1- 8 in A, B, and C times receive a ribbon or an award, or if it done differently. At some meet all swimmers receive a “bag tag” to attach to the swimmers swim bag or a participation ribbon, be sure to check this out, so you can pick it up before you leave. At some meets, swimmers are allowed to collect their awards at the end of their session; at other meets, the coaches will pick up awards at meet’s end. If the swimmer picks the awards up at the meet, there will be an awards table. If the coaches collect the awards, check your family folder at the next practice to collect any earned ribbons or medals. Family folders are located in the standing files on the table in the LOHS pool spectator entry
HOME MEET VOLUNTEERING --COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do I have to volunteer to help at the swim meets?
A: Yes, the team cannot host swim meets without the help of the membership. Hosting swim meets brings in a huge amount of funds to supplement our swim program.
Q: How much time is required?
A: Each family is required to volunteer the number of sessions specified during registration. Meets and number of sessions are subject to change based on approval by MI swimming. There are also some other home swim meets that will require volunteers but these are just an exciting opportunity to help the team. The home dual meets do not count towards your volunteer commitment. A $100.00 fee will be accessed per session that is not fulfilled for the required meets. As a family, you may have other people actually do the volunteering such as a grandparent, aunt, older child, or a friend, if you are not able.
Q: Do I have to volunteer in the session that my swimmer is swimming?
A: No, you may volunteer any session that you prefer.
Q: How do I sign-up to volunteer?
A: After signing-in onto the Liquid Lightning website (www.liquidlightning.org), click on the “Job Sign-up" box under the meet of interest in the “Upcoming Events" section of the homepage. A list of the positions will be displayed. Any spot that has a “box with -----“ is available for you to volunteer to work. Click on the open positions that you would like to volunteer for. Click the sign-up button and your name will appear on the line on the position for which you volunteered for.
Q: What do the different jobs involve doing?
A: A description of the different jobs is located on the website (www.liquidlightning.org) under “documents”.
