Hallsley High Tides Swim Team

How a swim meet works:

Events – swim meets are divided into events based on swimmers' ages, gender, stroke, and distance. For example: Event #5 is Girls, ages 9-10, 100 IM whereas Event #6 is Boys, ages 9-10, 100 IM.

Heats – Each event is divided into heats. Our pool has 6 lanes, so each heat can have up to 6 swimmers, all in their own lanes. Heats go in order from slower seeded swimmers to faster swimmers (heat 3 will be faster than heat 1). If your swimmer has NT (no time) he/she may be in the first heat. At the next meet, after having a time from the first meet, your swimmer may be in a later heat.

Heat Sheets – The event, heat, and lane information can be found on a "Heat Sheet" which is a list/outline of all the events, heats, and lanes for the swim meet. Heat sheets will be emailed prior to each meet and will be posted for reference at the meet. Hallsley does not sell heat sheets, so please print them out prior to the meet. If for any reason your swimmer gets confused on their heat, ALL coaches will have the latest heat sheet.

Entry Report – This report is sent to parents before a swim meet. This report will tell you what events your swimmer is swimming in the meet. This report will not tell you heat & lane assignments. This is something you will need to retrieve off the heat sheet at the swim meet. You can also ask a coach or volunteer as they will have access to their own heat sheets.

How do you prepare for a swim meet?

• Prepare your swim bag: Towels (usually 1 per event), warm clothes (pants, shirts, sweatshirt), extra suit, extra goggles, extra caps, and shoes.
• Eat a healthy dinner; pack in the protein and lots of good carbs (veggies are best, not too much bread).
• Go to bed a little earlier the night before and get some good rest, even if you cannot sleep because you're super excited; try to close your eyes and rest.
• Drink lots of water during the day.

What do we need at swim meets?

• Swimsuit and a backup suit - just in case
• Goggles - 2 pair (both race ready)
• Swim caps - 2 (in case one breaks)
• Towels - usually 1 per event
• Water
• Snacks - good examples include peanut butter crackers, veggies and ranch dressing, fruit, granola bars. Try to limit candy, cookies, etc.
• Chairs/blankets
• Books/cards/entertainment (parents too)
• Sharpie for marking arms and writing in the program
• Highlighter to highlight events in the program
• Money (just in case)

When the MEET STARTS:

• It is important for your swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming (that's why they should have the numbers on their hand or arm). For 8 and under swimmers, please write their last name on the swimmer’s right back shoulder to assist coaches and the clerk of the course in getting the swimmers to the correct event, heat, and lane.
• When the swimmer's event number is called, usually over the loudspeaker, he/she will be asked to report to the "Clerk of Course". Swimmers should report with their cap and goggles.
• The "Clerk of Course" area is where all swimmers check in and get lined up before their events.
• The clerk will usually line up all the swimmers and take them to the pool in correct order.
• Once swimmers have completed their event, they should exit the pool area. Stop and see the coach before exiting the pool area.
• Snack Bar – There will be a snack bar at all swim meets. All of the home meets will accept credit cards. Not all away meets do. So please bring cash.

Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:

• Take them back to the team area and relax.
• This is another good time to check out the bathrooms, get a drink, or something light to eat.
• The swimmer now waits until their next event is called and starts the procedure again.
• When a swimmer has completed all of their events they may go home.
• Prior to leaving, please check with the coaches to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. If a swimmer is scheduled to be on a relay and leaves before the relay, it is not fair to other swimmers who have stayed to swim, only to have their relay disqualified.
• While the meet is in progress, results will usually be posted somewhere in the pool area. Check with concessions or the parent representative for location.
• Awards/ribbons are often available 1-2 days after the completion of the meet. Please look for the ribbon boxes at practice. There will be a folder with each family's name for all swimmers.

Rules and Regulations:

Disqualifications - Just like with any sport, there are rules that pertain to each stroke. DQ (disqualification) slips are filled out by the Strokes & Turns judges. The DQ slips will list the infraction of the swimmer. These slips are turned in to each team after the meet. If your swimmer gets disqualified, IT IS OK!!! This is a learning opportunity and a chance for your swimmer to improve in the next meet!

Strokes & Turns Judges – These are CAL certified volunteers who monitor all events looking for infractions. If you are interested in doing this, we would be happy to train you!

Common Infractions - This is a short list of the common infractions for different strokes. To see more, please feel free to visit the USA Swimming website. There are also great videos on YouTube that go over each stroke.

Butterfly

• Touching the wall at a turn/finish with only one hand
• Kick not simultaneous / feet alternating or not together

Backstroke

• Not remaining on your back during the entire swim (beginning, turn and finish)
• Turns – gliding into the wall
• Turns - taking a freestyle stroke into the turn

Breaststroke

• Head not breaking the surface on each stroke
• Kick not simultaneous
• Doing a butterfly/freestyle/scissor kick
• Touching the wall at a turn/finish with only one hand

Freestyle

• False start (leaving the block early on the start)
• Pushing off of bottom or lane line
• Not touching the wall on a turn or finish

Relays

• Leaving before the swimmer before you has touched the wall
• Swimming the wrong stroke on a medley relay

Time Standards - Our league time standards are determined by the Chesterfield Aquatics League (https://www.teamunify.com/team/swimcal/page/home). Time standards have been loaded into TeamUnify. Under your swimmers (members) you will see results posted along with their Time Standard (Gold, Silver, Qualified, or Bronze). To qualify for the CAL Championship (Champs), your swimmer must participate in at least two meets during the season and reach qualifying times (Gold, Silver or Qualified).

The Hallsley pool is a meter pool. Away pools may be meters or yards.