Who enters my child in swim meets?
Parents are responsible for completing the entry forms and returning them along with a check for entry fees made payable to the YMCA. All entry forms may be located here, and completed entries should be turned in to the YMCA Front Desk along with payment NO LATER THAN THE DUE DATE.
What races should we enter?
Races are referred to as "events" and are broken down by gender, age group, stroke, and distance. Check with your coach on which strokes they feel your child is ready to compete in, and the yardage. Newer or younger swimmers usually start with shorter distances and move up to longer distances as they progress.
The entry forms will have abbreviations for each stroke as follows:
FR = Freestyle BK = Backstroke BR = Breaststroke FLY = Butterfly
IM = Individual Medley
How do we prepare for a swim meet?
The best way a swimmer can prepare for a meet is to get plenty of rest before the meet. Sleepovers the night before is not recommended. Eating a healthy meal the evening before is also important. Most swimmers prefer to eat only a light carbohydrate enriched breakfast or snack before they warm up and continue eating healthy snacks throughout the meet. Common snacks include bagels, granola bars, whole-wheat crackers, goldfish, string cheese, fruit, and yogurt. Never send your swimmer to a meet with donuts, candy, junk food, or sodas!
What should we bring to a meet?
Most swimmers have a "meet bag." It must be large enough to hold 2 towels and a dry change of clothes. A small cooler is also advisable to hold healthy snacks and drinks. During the winter months, pack extra warm clothes to wear between events. Pool decks can get cold, and it's important for a swimmer to stay warm. During summer months, pack a t-shirt, shorts, and always remember sunscreen for outdoor meets. Bring healthy snacks and plenty of water or sports drink (hydrating throughout the meet is a must). In a pinch, a Concessions area is usually located at most meets where extra drinks or snacks may be purchased (bring some cash). The only swim equipment a swimmer is required to have at the meet is a black competition suit, a Riptides team cap, and goggles. Most experienced parents have learned to always have an extra pair of goggles and swim cap on hand. Goggle straps break and caps split at the most inopportune moments.
What time should we arrive at the meet?
Always make sure your swimmer is on deck ready to swim no later than fifteen minutes before warm up begins. At YMCA meets, swimmers age 11 and older swim in the Morning Session and swimmers age 10 and under swim in the Afternoon Session.
What do we do when we get there, and why should I purchase a Heat Sheet?
When you first arrive at the swim meet, you should purchase a "heat sheet". Most meets have heat sheets available for purchase at the Concessions table for just a few dollars. These will list the events in numerical order, and each swimmer entered sorted by event. Each event is broken down into "heats" grouped by similar times. The heats are swam slowest times to fastest times. All swimmers entered with "NT" (no time previously recorded) will be in the first heats. Most YMCA meets are "pre-seeded," which means your swimmer's designated heat and lane assignments may be listed on the heat sheet. If your child is 10 years old or younger, you should write each event, heat #, and lane # on the swimmer's arm or leg with a waterproof pen (Sharpies work well for this). This helps the swimmers keep track of what and when they are swimming, and also helps the volunteers at the ready bench (for swimmers age 10 and under) to seat the swimmers more quickly and in the correct heat and lane. Older swimmers also find it helpful to note their events, heat, and lane on their arm or leg. Your swimmer will then report to the coach and await instructions for warm up. All swimmers should be dressed, ready to swim, along with cap and goggles in hand prior to their warm-up time.
How does a swimmer know when it's time to swim?
Parents and swimmers age 10 and under should listen for your child's event to be called to the ready bench (rows of chairs or bleachers where younger swimmer are seated before their event). Before heading to the ready bench, the swimmers report to their coach for last minute advice. For those swimmers 11 years and older, the ready bench is not used; therefore, these swimmers should check in with their coach and then report behind the blocks at least several heats ahead of time. Each swimmer will give the appropriate lane Timer their name. Timers help ensure each swimmer is in the right place at the right time. Immediately after each race, swimmers should ask the lane Timer for their time and then report back to the coach where they are given quick feedback on the race.
How long do swim meets last?
This depends on how many swimmers entered the meet. YMCA meets usually take less time than the U.S. swim meets, and are often broken down into morning and afternoon sessions, each lasting 3-4 hours. If a swimmer is NOT entered in relays (be sure to check with the coach regarding relay assignments), then a swimmer may leave after swimming their last event.
Should a parent volunteer as a timer in a meet?
Swim meets cannot run without volunteers. Timers usually get the best seats in the house, and free drinks. No previous timing experience is needed. Just let the head timer know it's your first experience as a timer and you will receive simple rules to follow. If you need a restroom break, notify the head timer and they will ask for a replacement timer. Each team has a responsibility for providing volunteer timers. A meet cannot start until all timers are in place. At all Rockwall YMCA home meets, parents are asked to "sign up" before the meet to volunteer in various capacities, including timers.
How does a swimmer know how they finished overall in an event?
Standings will be posted throughout the meet, grouped by age group, event and gender. Awards are usually given to the top 8 swimmers in each category. Once the complete list of results are made available to the coaches, the information is posted on the Riptides website on the meet information page).
What is a DQ?
DQ means disqualification. Swimmers are disqualified for performing an illegal technique on a stroke, start, turn, or finish. It's important for your swimmer to find out from their coach why they were DQ'd to ensure they don't make the same mistake again. It can be very embarrassing for the swimmer, so it's important to reassure them that every level of swimmer has received their share of DQ's.
How can parents best support their swimmers during and after a meet?
Try not to be overbearing. Swimmers look to their coaches and parents for support. If they are not having a good meet, reassure them that next time will be better. Reminding them over and over of mistakes may discourage them and possibly hurt future performance. Even the best swimmers have an "off" meet occasionally.
How does a swimmer know if they had a good meet?
The goal is to improve your time in each event. If that is done in any one race, it is a good meet. Most swimmers strive to achieve new category designations, such as moving from a "C" time to a "B" time. Time standards are highly motivational and are considered a real achievement to move up in category.
If you have questions after reading this information, please email Ashley Free at afree@ymcadallas.org so that additional information can be provided to you. Good luck, and have fun at your first swim meet!
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