Sarasota YMCA Sharks- Venice Swim Meet Basics Swim meets are a great family experience. They're a place where the whole family can spend time together. Listed below are some guidelines geared to help you through your first couple of swim meets. It may seem a little overwhelming, but we tried to be as specific and as detailed as we possibly could. If you have any questions, please ask your coach. BEFORE THE MEET STARTS 1. Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. This time will be sent out in an email during the week before the meet. Some facilities require all adults to show a photo ID to enter the venue, so be prepared. 2. Upon arrival, you may wish to purchase a heat sheet. Then, find a place to sit. Some meets have a lot of swimmers, and not a lot of space, so seating is limited. Keep in mind, your child may not be sitting with you, so you want them to know where to find you later. At large events, the meet may run two sets of events at the same time, or two different pools. The boys may swim at one end and the girls at the other, so make sure you find a seat where you will be able to see your swimmer later. 3. The heat sheet will tell you exactly when your child will be swimming. *Sometimes* you are able to print these yourself before the meet, but they are generally sold as a fundraiser for the host team. On the heat sheet, locate your swimmer in each event they are swimming. Since there are a limited number of lanes, there are many different groups, or heats, swimming each event. These heats go fastest to slowest, or slowest to fastest, depending on how the meet was setup by the host team. This helps group your swimmer with others of similar skills. If your child has been in this event at a previous meet, they will have a time shown on the heat sheet. Otherwise, it will have NT or No Time. Most parents will choose to write the event information on their child with a pen or a sharpie so they will know where they need to be all day.
This is what you will see on the heat sheet: You will see in the example above, Emma Davie is swimming event #75, the 50 Yard freestyle. She is in heat #5, and Lane #1. On your child, you might write this: (E=Event, H=Heat, L=Lane ) E H L 75 5 1 50 FR If your swimmer has 4 events for the day, you would list all of the events. E H L 75 5 1 50 FR 81 4 3 100 BR 87 3 7 50 FLY 93 7 4 50 BACK 4. Make sure your swimmer is ready for warm-ups with cap and goggles, find the coach, and have your child check in with them. Usually, parents are not allowed on deck so this is the responsibility of your swimmer. If you are swimming an afternoon session and the morning session is running late, the coach may give the swimmer additional instructions about warm-up times. Otherwise, he/she will gather all the swimmers and take them to warm up. It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. If they do not warm up with the team, they may not be able to swim in the meet. A swimmer s body is just like a car on a cold day-he/she needs to get the engine going and warmed-up before he/she can go all out. 5. After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to the area where his/her team is
sitting and wait there until his first event is called. They should use this time to get a snack and use the bathroom. 6. The meet will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are over. According to USA Swimming rules (because of insurance purposes), parents are not allowed on deck unless they are serving in an official capacity. Similarly, all questions concerning meet results, an officiating call, or the conduct of a meet, should be referred to a coach. He or she in turn, will pursue the matter through the proper channels. MEET STARTS 7. It is important for any swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming (again, why they should have the numbers written on them). He/she may swim right away after warm-up or they may have to wait awhile. It is your swimmer s responsibility to pay attention to the events and make sure that they allow plenty of time to get to their proper lane for their race. The coaches will try to keep track of the swimmers, but it is important for them to stay in the team area while they wait so they coach can find them if they lose track of time. Again, it is your swimmer s responsibility to make it to their races. 8. The swimmer will need to report to the coach before and after each race. A good rule of thumb for them to follow is to go see the coach at least 2 events before their race will start. The coach will talk to them about their race and help them find their way to the right lane, if necessary. 9. The swimmer swims his or her race. After each swim: He/she can ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time. The swimmer should then go immediately to his or her coach. The coach will discuss the swim with each swimmer. Some coaches may wish to talk with the swimmer before his/her recovery swim. Depending on the coach s instructions, the swimmer may be asked to do some recovery swimming if a "warm down" pool or lanes are available. Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims: Positive comments or praise Suggestions for improvement Positive comments 10. You can ask your child before you send them off to warm ups to come see you at this point (after their races and after they have seen their coach and warmed down) This is another good time to check out the bathrooms, get a drink
or something light to eat. Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim: Tell him how great he did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique with him. You need to tell him how proud you are and what a great job he did. Then, send him/her back to sit with the team. 11. The swimmer now waits until his next event is called and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of her events she and her parents get to go home. Make sure, however, you, as a parent, check with the coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed to swim on a relay where your swimmer is expected to be a member and she is not there. 12. Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility during the meet and online later. There is also an app for your smartphone called Meet Mobile that posts results of events right to your phone. Please note, these times are usually unofficial, but will give you a good idea of how your swimmer did compared to his/her age group. Awards are often gathered for a team and given to the coach at the end of the meet. The coach will give the awards to the swimmers at a later time. What To Take To A Swim Meet 1. Team Swimsuit, Team cap, and goggles. Having an extra suit, cap, and pair of goggles comes in handy for emergencies. Sharks swimmers are required to wear the team suit and cap to all meets. These items are currently available in the Sharks store in Sarasota, at the Potter Park Pool in the skybox. Email Kim Motta at kmotta@thesarasotay.org for the time she is available. She runs the Sarasota Sharks store. 2. Towels There are wet bodies everywhere so pack at least two. 3. Several changes of clothes such as sweatpants, sweatshirts, and t-shirts. Your swimmer will need to stay warm between events and there is nothing worse than pulling on cold, soggy sweatpants. 4. Small cooler of healthy snacks and drinks. Suggestions for items to bring: Water, fruit juice, Gatorade, granola bars, fruit, yogurt, cereal, trail mix, sandwiches. 5. Sharpie marker, pen, highlighter.
6. Entertainment for the whole family such as travel games, cards, coloring books, books, etc. 7. If you are sending electronic devices with your child, be aware that his/her belongings may be left unattended during their swims and theft can occur. Be careful with expensive items! *Special Parents Note The temperature at the pool area usually exaggerates the current weather. Hot days get hotter and cold days get colder. Make sure you dress appropriately and pack adequate clothing for your swimmer. Nothing is worse than being hot or cold at a swim meet. It makes the time pass very slowly! The Sharks host many meets in order to keep travel costs down for our SYS families. Cost savings include Hotel, Fuel and Restaurant bills that are avoided by keeping our swimmers in their own beds and in a familiar swimming environment. In order to host successful meets we must have the involvement of each family! There are many different opportunities to volunteer at each meet, and no prior experience is required. Volunteers typically get a front row seat to the events and are provided shade, food, and drink throughout the event. Please consider volunteering to help the team!