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INFORMATION ABOUT SWIM MEETS
DST engages in a multi-level
competition program that attempts to provide success-oriented competitive
situations for swimmers of all ages and abilities. Swimmers are taught to set realistic, yet challenging goals for
meets and to relate those goals to practice in order to direct their training
efforts.
Swimmers are prepared and
encouraged to compete in all swimming events, distances, and strokes. This
policy promotes versatility and encourages the swimmer to explore his/her
potential in the wide range of events offered in competitive swimming. Often, a
swimmer's "best" stroke or event distance changes as he/she matures
and his/her body goes through physical changes.
Q: When are the swim meets?
A: Meets are held throughout the year. There are two seasons, Short course (25 yards
and Long course (50 meters). Meets are set by the LSC and the coaches/team
administrative staff decides which meets the team will attend.
Q: How do I know which meets my child should
attend?
A: A meet schedule is handed out at the beginning of each season listing the team meets.
There is generally a meet for each level of competition approximately one a month or
once every 6 weeks. If you child achieves qualifying times to enter a meet, your
coach will put a meet information sheet in your folder. Since the coaching staff
places the most emphasis on team meets, swimmers who are qualified, are strongly
encouraged to attend. However, it is up to you to send in the meet entries if you want
to attend. Non-Team Meets are meets listed on the Middle Atlantic or other LSC
website that a swimmer may choose to participate in, but the meet itself has not been
targeted by the DST coaching staff. At these meets, there will not be a coach present.
For various reasons, it is not recommended that swimmers participate in non-team
meets except in extenuating circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns
please ask the coaches.
Q: Who enters my child in the meet? How is it done?
A: A meet information sheet will be put in your child’s folder at your practice site. Meet
announcements are also available on the website. Please pay attention to the entry
deadlines as some meets fill up quickly and we need to get our entries in as soon as
possible. You and your child may pick which events they would like to swim. Your
coach will advise you as to which events and may change your entries as they feel
necessary. You may complete an online entry form or have your child return the
forms to the coach. The coach will check that all entry times are accurate and send
the teams entries electronically to the meet director.
Q: Where do we go when we arrive at the meet?
A: Have your child go to the locker room and change. They may enter the pool deck and
find the team. We usually have our DST banner hanging to make
it easier to locate us. Parents are not allowed on the pool deck unless they are
an official or a meet
volunteer worker.
Q: If my child becomes ill and cannot attend the meet whom should I call?
A: Call the coach. If you do not reach them directly, call a friend who you know is
attending the meet.
Q: What is a heat sheet?
A: A heat sheet lists the order of events that will be swum in each session. Swimmers
are seeded according to their entry times. Heats are usually swum slowest to fastest.
Q: What should we bring to a swim meet?
A: Pack a chair for your child to sit on unless told otherwise. Pack two towels and
warm clothes. Pool sandals or sneakers are a good idea also. We always pack an
extra suit, goggles and caps just in case. Pack dry clothes for after the meet. Pack a
healthy snack and water or a sports drink. Video games, CD players, cards, books,
or puzzle books are a good idea to keep swimmers occupied between events.
Q: Is it my
job to get my child to each event?
A: Generally, the swimmers will sit in the specified team area and will be directed to
their events when the coach tells them to.
Q: How do we
know how he/she performed in their events?
A: Often you will be able to see your child’s time on an electronic scoreboard.
However, what is displayed on the scoreboard is never the official result.
Once an entire event is completed, the official results will be posted in an easily
accessible area, generally near the viewing stands, so that parents and swimmers can
find out how they did.
Q: How many
swimmers get ribbons? When do they
receive them?
A: A swimmer may or may not receive ribbons depending on what type of meet it is. At
meets such as an A/BB/C meet, swimmers in each level will receive ribbons based on
how they placed in their category. At higher level meets, awards are generally
handed out to the top performing swimmers in each event or each age group.
At DST, swimmers who have earned ribbons will generally receive them in their
folders, a day or two following the meet.
Q: Can we
leave the meet as soon as my child’s events are over?
A: It is always a good idea to double check with the coach before leaving. Sometimes a
coach may decide to enter a child in a relay, which generally comes at the end of a
meet session. If he/she is not entered in one, then you are free to go.
Q: Who gets chosen to swim relays?
A: The coach will decide who gets to swim in a relay. Often, this is decision is based on
previously documented times, but also subject to the discretion of the coach on the
meet day, based on how each swimmer has been performing during that particular
meet.
Q: How many
coaches will be on deck at swim meets?
A: Oftentimes, there are two or more coaches on deck at the meet. This, however,
depends on what sort of meet it is (senior, A/BB/C, mini). Generally, there are more
coaches available to help at meets with younger children.
Q: How do I find the results of the meet?
A: The results of meets that we participate in will be posted on the Middle Atlantic
website, as well as our own website. The results are also printed and posted at
practice sites.
Q: Do I have
to volunteer at meets?
A: We ask that all parents try to volunteer time during a meet, especially if it is one that
we host. A list of available positions can be found in this handbook and on our
website.
Q: Do I have to attend swim meets with my child?
A: Children often like the support of their families at meets. However, if there is a
situation that prevents you from attending, sending your child with a friend is a great
alternative.
Q: How do I
find out if my child qualified for Junior Olympics?
A: The time standards for this meet are posted on Middle Atlantic’s website. Also
available on the site is a database with every swimmers top performance in each
event. You can compare you child’s times with that of the standards to find out if
he/she qualifies. Also when the meet information comes out, the coaches will know
who has qualified and who has not.
Q: Where do I find tables with qualifying
times?
A: Qualifying times for meets that we are attending can be found on Middle Atlantic’s
website, as well as our own. Qualifying standards for meets such as Nationals, can be
found on the USA Swimming website.
Q: What are zones?
A: The country is divided into four zones-Eastern, Western, Central and Southern. At
the end of the season, there is a championship meet for swimmers from all zones. Swimmers from DST
are eligible to represent Middle Atlantic (our LSC) in Eastern Zone Championship Meets. Zone meets are the
highest level of competition available to USA age group swimmers. For short course zones,
only the top two in each event qualify. For long course zones, any number of swimmers achieving
the qualification standard may compete.
Q: How do I find out where my child ranks in
MA or the
A: There is a database available on the Middle Atlantic and USA Swimming
websites that will show where your child ranks when compared with other children
in his or her age group.
Q: How do I find directions to the different pools?
A: Directions are available on the meet information and on our website.
Q: What is positive check-in?
A: Positive check-in is used to eliminate unnecessary heats in lengthy events (such as the
500 Free). By checking in at the scorers table before the designated time, the
swimmer declares his/her intention to swim the event. By not checking in the
swimmer will be scratched from the event with the assumption that they are not
present or do not wish to swim it.
Q: Do I need training to volunteer as a
timer during the meet?
A: No, all volunteers are given instructions prior to the meet.
Q: How long do meets generally last?
A: The length of the meet depends on several factors. These include: type of events,
number of swimmers entered in the meet, weather delays (if outdoors), and
equipment efficiency. Most meets are limited to 4-hour sessions, not including
warm-up.
Q. What happens if my child has a disappointing
swim?
A. It is the coach's job to offer constructive criticism of a swimmer's performance. If
your child has a poor race and comes out of it feeling bad, talk about the good
things. You never talk about the negative things. If your child comes up to you and
says, "That was a bad race, don't tell me it wasn't," there is nothing wrong with a
swimmer negatively evaluating a race. The important thing is for the child not to
dwell on it. You should move the swimmer on to something good. "All right, you
have had a bad race. How do you think you can do better next time?” Try to steer
the conversation towards the positive.
Q. When
should we arrive for swim meets?
A. Arrive at the pool 10-15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. This
time will be listed in the meet information.
Q. What
if I have a question about the posted results or a judgment against my
swimmer?
A. Parents are not allowed "on deck" unless they are serving in an official capacity. All
questions concerning meet results, an officiating call, or the conduct of a meet, should
be referred to the coaching staff. They, in turn, will pursue the matter through the
proper channels.
Q. What is a deck seed?
A. A deck seed is a person who has not entered an event prior to seeding of that event
and printing of the heat sheets.
Q. How does a swimmer deck seed?
A. Go to the scorer’s table and ask to be deck seeded. Give your name and the event
number you wish to be seeded into. If you are not already entered in the meet in
another event, you will also have to give your USS identification number. The scorer
or meet director will seed you into whatever heat has an empty lane available. It may
or may not be a heat matched to your personal best time. Frequently, deck-seeded
swimmers are entered into the earliest heat, often with NT entries. When you get to
the blocks, make sure the timer writes down your name. The fee for a deck-seeded
event is usually twice the normal fee for that event and must be paid to the meet
director by the end of the session.
Q. Does a deck-seed result count?
A. Results from deck-seeded events are official, sanctioned times, however, a deck-
seeded swimmer may not score points or receive awards. An ‘X’ will appear next to
a deck-seeded time in the results posting.
Q. What does it mean to be on stand-by for an event?
A. Stand-by is similar to a deck seed, except no spot for you is guaranteed because
all the heats for that event are full. Go to the scorer’s table and ask to be deck-seeded.
Give your name and the event number you wish to be seeded into. If you are not
already entered in the meet in another event, you will also have to give your USS
identification number. The scorer or meet director will write your name on a card.
When the event begins, stand near the starter and let him/her know you are ready and
waiting to swim. If there is an empty lane after the “step-up” whistle, you will be
assigned that lane. Tell the timer your name and be prepared to get on the blocks.
Your time will be officially recorded, but similar to a deck-seed, will not count for
points or awards.
Q. What
is a scratch?
A. A scratch is when you do not swim an event in which you were entered and seeded.
There are no penalties for scratching a pre-seeded event in an A/BB/C meet. There
are usually no penalties for scratching a pre-seeded event in the prelims of a
championship meet, however, this is not always the case. Make sure you are aware
of the scratch procedures for a meet before you elect not to swim and event.
Q. What if I want to scratch a final?
A. If you qualify to swim a final, your name will be announced during the preliminary
session. After that you will have 30 minutes to scratch without penalty. You must
indicate your scratch during that time period to the official at the scorer’s table. If
you do not, you are obligated to swim that event at finals, or you will be made to
forfeit the remainder of the meet. If the final happens to be on the last night, and
there are no remaining events to forfeit, you will be fined ($50.00 per scratched
event). You may elect to declare an intention to scratch, meaning you wish to wait
until all your preliminary events have been completed before making your
decision. You must, however, still indicate your intention to scratch within 30
minutes of the announcement of qualifying swimmers. You must then report your
ultimate decision regarding your intention to swim at finals by the completion of that
day’s preliminary session.
Q. What is an alternate?
A. An alternate is a swimmer who has not qualified for either the championship or
consolation finals, but is next in line.
Q. What do I do if I am an alternate?
A. If you are hopeful about swimming in the final, report to the session and warm-up
with the team. When your event begins, stand next to the scorer’s table with cap and
goggles ready to swim. Make sure you notify the starting official that you are an
alternate for that event. If there is an empty lane, you will be able to swim. Do not
assume the starter will look for you. Be there and be ready. If you are a second
alternate, do not assume you have no chance to swim. The first alternate may not be
there, or may not be ready to swim.