Salt Lake Tennis & Health Club
Swim Meet Info
Diving: Check-In 3:00 pm, Warm-up 3:30pm,
Meet 4:00pm
Swimming: Swimmers check-in at 4:45 pm
Warm-up 5:00-5:25 pm
Meet Begins at 5:30 pm
Each event has a number, but understanding the general overview of the meet is paramount for understanding how the meet will flow and how when to expect different events to run. Some meets run faster than others and some events get combined spur of the moment, so knowing the flow of the meet will help swimmers report to their block on time and parents to know when their child is swimming.
In each meet there are seven categories of events:
1. Medley Relays—there is one heat assigned per gender and age group, but often boys and girls in the same age group will be combined to fill the lanes of the pool and help the meet run faster.
2. Freestyle Events—each age group swims the freestyle and most have up to 3 heats of swimmers. Almost all swimmers will swim this event because coaches are not required to limit the number of swimmers. This event takes the longest of any in the meet.
3. Breaststroke Events—Only ONE heat for each gender/age
4. 50 Free/100 IM—50 Free is for the 8& Under; 100 IM is for all other age groups; Only ONE heat for each age group
5. Backstroke—Three heats per age group are allowed. Many swimmers will swim this event regularly for this reason.
6. Butterfly—One heat per age group.
7. Freestyle Relays—same information as Medley Relays
Events ALWAYS run first girls then boys and from youngest to oldest. Swimmers swim the entire season as the age they are on June 1 of that year.
Age Groups are as follows:
6&Under—only swim Freestyle and Backstroke
8&Under Girls/Boys
9-10 Girls/Boys
11-12 Girls/Boys
13-14 Girls/Boys
15-17 Girls/Boys
There is usually an Event Number Chart or sign somewhere on the pool deck that tracks the Events of the Meet. It is important for parents and swimmers to find the location of this number as soon as possible after arriving at the meet. Swimmers should report to
their block NO FEWER than 3 events PRIOR to their race. Some heats, especially in the older age groups, will be combined and events may pass rapidly. An easy rule to follow is to notice WHO IS IN THE WATER and determine how soon to report to the blocks based on who is swimming. For example: If an 8&U swimmer is entered in Breaststroke, they can watch the freestyle races, and when the older kids get to the blocks, they would know that it is time to report.
In the younger age groups (6&u, 7-8, 9-10), coaches will be behind the blocks to help swimmers find their lane. Swimmers need to know before they report to the blocks which lane they should go to. Once they get there, timers and coaches can help make sure they are in the correct order. However, coaches don’t have enough time between races to look for roaming swimmers who don’t know it’s time for their race or who don’t know their lane number.
If a swimmer misses their race, SOMETIMES coaches can get them in another heat. However, often the pool is full and we cannot find another lane for an extra swimmer. Parents, please remember that if a swimmer misses their race, it is NOT because the coach was not doing his/her job. It is because a SWIMMER was not doing his/her job! Always keep in mind that summer league swimming is full of learning experiences, and missing a race can be a valuable one. Missing a race can be traumatic, but is often not a mistake that is repeated!
IMPORTANT: It is the responsibility of the SWIMMER to know their heat and Lane. Swimmers as young as 5 years old can learn those two numbers. The primary job of a coach at a swim meet is to WATCH the swimmers race and prepare and give feedback before and after races. Swimmers are responsible for managing themselves and parents are responsible to help them. Younger swimmers who need assistance need to bring a responsible adult with them to the meet who can help them figure out where they need to go until they are ready to take over that job for themselves. It is also the responsibility of a swimmer to see a coach prior to and following their race to receive feedback. We try to give feedback to kids, but when a swimmer approaches us immediately following their race, it is much more likely that they will receive more specific and applicable feedback.
DIVING WELL AND BABY POOLS: When we host meets at our club, the diving well is not open for swimming. The baby pool is left open but is not supervised by coaches. Swimmers are encouraged to conserve their energy for their races. At other facilities, we strongly discourage swimmers from venturing away from the competition pool and wasting their energy in playtime in other pools. If they do, parents are responsible to locate them and return them in time for their races.
EQUIPMENT to bring:
Team suit
Goggles (it’s always a good idea to pack a spare pair)
Towel (or two)
Healthy snacks (trail mix, sandwiches, string cheese, fresh fruit, etc) and water
Team apparel and any additional needed clothing
