How to Mark Your Swimmers Arms - 

  • Names are listed alphabetically---find your swimmer(s) and events will be listed below each name.  
  • Write your last name across the bicep of the left arm.  This is to help deck manager line up swimmers.  
  • Use a black sharpie, make sure no sunscreen in on the arm before you sign.
  • On the LEFT arm between the elbow and wrist---write    "E     H      L"     on the top so you can write the info for each race below (Event-Heat-Lane).  This should be written lengthwise.  
  • Write so the swimmer can bend their arm and see their info. Make sure there is space between columns in case of changes.
  • For relays (Medley or Free) you need to note what position they swim (1, 2, 3 or 4).  This will be after the event notation in parenthesis (   ).  
  • Include the abbreviation of what stroke they're swimming so they remember on the blocks.  
  • The order of the MEDLEY RELAY IS:  (1)=BA (2)=BR (3)=FL (4)=FR   (Back, Breast, Fly, Free). 
  • Then you would go to next event # and write that info directly under the first....then following would be event # etc until complete.  
  • On other strokes simply abbreviate the event after the lane indicated (i.e. 50 BR, 50 FR, 100 FR).
  • If your swimmer is swimming an IM (INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY) make sure they know the order and write it if you need to (order is different than medley relay----IM is FL-BA-BR-FR (Fly, Back, Breast, Free).
  • Events are numbered sequentially during regular meets and indicate the stroke they are swimming by age group. Within an event, there can be multiple heats racing, heats are in sequential order.  
  • All swimmers in Heat 1 race at the same time.  All swimmers in Heat 2 race next at the same time.
  • Lane indicates the lane number they are swimming in.  The starting blocks are numbered.

If you have questions after you review an available heat sheet, please do not GUESS---find the coach and ask.  

Important Note: Changes can be made up to the start of the meet. The Clerk of Course or the Coaches will have one of the final copy for you to review if it is not posted at the pool. The 'final' heat sheet cannot be provided to you.

Parents: Sharpie can transfer to the seats in your car when they travel home from the meet and some kids like to mark cute sayings on their back. I recommend you have them wear a shirt or towel to prevent sharpie from transferring to your car seats.