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First Time to a Swim Meet?

A Practical Guide for parents and swimmers new to swim meets

Swim meets are a great family experience! They’re a place where the whole family can spend time together. Listed below are some very in-depth 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, seek out one of the experienced FOD team parent for more specific details or one of the Board Members.

Prior to the Meet

  1. You will need to Attend/Decline your child to each swim meet.
  2. Once you have registered your child, please don’t forget topick a job thru the Job Signup, this will help run a smooth meet.
  3. Every meet we will need to cover for timing and stoke and turn judges. Meets can’t happen without timers and stroke and turn, and many are delayed as a result of timers’ chairs being empty. FOD is known for always stepping up and filling the chairs proactively, sometimes for other clubs, to ensure the meet keeps going. Please help carry on our club’s tradition – pick up the stopwatch and learn how to time! Best seat in the house! Other jobs are needed also, so pick and job!

Before the Meet Starts

  1. Arrive at the pool at 7 am for check-in. 7:15 the check-in sheet is removed and your child will be scratched from the meet. Scheduled warm-up time begins 7:30 am. This time will be listed in the meet information. If you’re wondering if warm-ups are mandatory – yes.
  2. Upon arrival, find your child’s team location to put their swimmer’s blanket, swim bags, etc. Our team will usually sit in an area together so look for familiar faces.

Tip: According to USA Swimming Rules, due to insurance purposes spectators are not allowed on deck unless they are serving in an official meet capacity (as an official, coach, timer, runner, etc.). Often at many swim meets spectators are relegated to stands that are not on the pool deck – so don’t be offended if you get ushered out. At other meets, spectators are welcome on the pool deck.

  1. Find the check-in place and either you or your swimmer will need to check themselves in, this is usually around the FOD Team Area.
  2. Put up your tent make sure your child knows so they can always look for you and wave from their Team location.
  3. Now send the child to their team location. From there the team parent will have identified your swimmer’s events, write each event number on your swimmer’s arm, hand, wherever they are most likely to see it. This helps him/her remember what events he/she is swimming in and what event numbers to listen for.

Tip: Each event is written in a columnar fashion – Event#/Heat/Lane – these are the most important numbers they/You need to know and listen for. So you might want to write it down also.

  1. Your swimmer will listen to the team parent to get his/her cap and goggles and reports to the pool and/or coach for warm-up instructions. It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. Swimmers’ bodies are just like cars on a gold day – they need to get the engine going, and warmed up, before they can go all out.
  2. After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to their team area where his/her personal items are and sit there until his/her first event is called. This is when the team parent will make sure his/her goes the bathroom if necessary, gets a drink and gets settled in.

Once the Meet is in Motion…

  1. Generally a welcome will be given over the loudspeaker, followed by the national anthem.
  2. Events are called out, first call, second call, third call, final call, etc. Their team parent will escort the swimmers to the ready bench location. Swimmers are not allowed near their starting block until it is their event and heat.
  3. Get your camera’s out it goes fast. Make sure you do not take any pictures from either side of the pool where the starter blocks are, this is a league rule not ours.
  4. After the swim, look up at the clock see your child’s time write it down to keep track of your child’s progress.
  5. Events are spread out throughout the meet – it’s important to keep paying attention to the heat and to the announcements.
  6. Typically available at meets will be food concessions so have plenty of money kids get hungry when they are swimming.
  7. When a swimmer has completed all of his/her events they can go home. Make sure, however, that you check in with the team parent to make sure that the swimmer is not expected to swim in a relay or your name is not schedule to help with take down of equipment.

Who are all these people?

  1. The Meet Director.
    1. This person has full authority over the meet schedule and events as well as over the other meet officials.
    2. They are typically the one who signals the starter that all officials are in position, the course is clear and that each competition can begin.
  2. The Stoke and Turn Judge
    1. Starters – stand at the end of the pool where the starting blocks are. They tell the swimmers to step up on the blocks, tells them to take their marks, and start the race with the signal. Generally the signal is audible and visual (flashing light).
    2. Stroke and turn officials stand at either ends of the pools and sometimes also walk back and forth along the sides of the pool during events. They are watching for proper execution of the various strokes as well as the turns during the event. If they see an illegal move, they will raise their hand for a period of time, and then proceed to write up the disqualification report.
    3. The Stroke and Turn Judge is the final call on disqualifications.
  3. There are a lot of other people that make a meet but go a little more unnoticed than the people mentioned above. They include the Head Timer (generally wearing 2 stopwatches and keeps an eye on timers), and the Computer Operations team sitting behind the computers with their heads down.
  4. When a child is disqualified for a stroke, turn or start infraction, it’s important to not approach the officials with questions. They are doing their job, and actually doing the right thing by your child by pointing out where they are technically ‘illegal’. Coaches will receive the information and will communicate with the swimmer. You need to be a supportive parent to your child.
  5. In general, avoid disturbing or asking questions of officials while they are on duty – they need to concentrate, for the benefit of all the swimmers, and asking them what heat is being swum, did my child just get d-q’ed, etc., can be very distracting. Also, please be aware they are always monitoring multiple lanes; if you see their hand go out, it may not be for your child, so resist jumping to conclusions. And please always keep in mind – these are all volunteers, and usually parents too, so thank them when you see them! If you have a question reach out to a board member.

Typical Infractions:

  1. False starts
  2. Breaking the surface on a start or turn past the 15 meter mark.
  3. Breast stroke – incomplete cycle of arm stroke/leg kick, non-simultaneous arm stroke or kick; using a flutter kick rather than feet turned outward; non-simultaneous two hand touch on the turn and finish; not being on the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall during a turn.
  4. Butterfly – non simultaneous arm movements or feet movements; scissor or breaststroke kick; non-simultaneous two hand touch on the turn and finish; not being on the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall during a turn.
  5. Backstroke – non-simultaneous turn; not touching the wall on the turn; not being on the back when the feet leave the wall on a turn; not on the back at the finish.
  6. Freestyle – no contact with the wall on the turn or the finish.
  7. Other general disqualifiers:
    1. Not showing up in time and ready at the starting platform for the swimmer’s designated heat.
    2. Not finishing in the same lane as started.
    3. Obstructing another swimmer
    4. Pulling on the lane lines to get forward momentum.
    5. Standing on the bottom of the pool (except for freestyle; may stand on the bottom, but cannot spring from the bottom, that is, gain forward momentum from the standing position).

Now you’re ready – go have a good time, and cheer on your swimmer and go FOD!

Before You Leave the House….Here’s Your Checklist:

  • Swim Suit (we have a team competition suit)
  • FOD swim cap or swim cap
  • Goggles; best to have a back-up pair too
  • Towels – pack at least 2
  • Canopy, Tent, Cooler
  • Something to sit on – both for you and for your child. Old blankets, sleeping bag for him/her; deck chair for you.
  • Seat suits, hoodies, flannel bottoms, etc. Best to bring two sets – they will most likely get wet.
  • T-shirts – 2 is a good number
  • Pool sandals
  • Travel games, decks of cards, Ipod for music, books, etc. However, keep in mind that each swimmer is responsible for his/her items – if it’s expensive to replace, don’t bring it.
  • Snack bag – including drinks such as fruit juice, Gatorade, waters; granola bars, fun fruits, yogurts, cereal, jello cubes, sandwiches, crackers, peanut butter, etc. It’s best not to bring candy, chocolate, etc. – avoid these items before and during a meet.
  • Sunscreen , and a big old hat for your head a must!
  • Money for concession stand 
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