Swim Meet 101

New to the team? Read below to know what to expect at a swim meet.

Meet Declarations

You must "declare" (sign up) your swimmer on SwimTopia by Tuesday at midnight or they cannot swim in the meet. Coaches use this information to create the meet lineup. Families can leave a note with event requests but meet entries are ultimately the coach's decision.

Meet Entries

Swimmers can compete in up to 4 individual events and 1 relay event per meet. The meet lineup will be shared with all families once finalized.

Volunteering

It takes a lot of volunteers to run a meet! Families are required to complete 4 shifts (points) over the course of the season. Sign ups will be posted prior to each meet - subscribe to the signup calendar to stay up to date on opportunities!

What to Bring

Swimmers should arrive already wearing their swimsuit (warm clothing is suggested for early mornings)
Swimmers should bring:
- goggles, swim cap, and hair ties (for long hair)
- at least two towels (1 to use and 1 to sit on)
- something to pass the time (cards, books, games, etc.)
Families should bring:
- camping chairs
- shade canopy's
- plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, hats

Order of Operations

Swimmers must check in with Head Coach upon arrival
Before or after warm ups, swimmers should visit the assistant and junior coaches. They will write their event specifics (event number, heat number, and lane number) on their arms. This helps the Clerk of Course volunteers get each swimmer to where they need to be and keeps the meet flowing smoothly.
The team will do a cheer just prior to the start of the meet
Before a swimmer's event, swimmers will report to the Clerk of Course. Parent volunteers will organize swimmers by their event/heat/lane and they will be escorted to the to chairs.

Meet Results

As the meet progresses, results are typically posted on the "Meet Mobile" App. This app is not free. Final results will be sent to the team after the meet and also shared on the FSSL website. Ribbons for 1st-8th are distributed at practices following the meets.

Quick Notes

Plan to be at the pool & checked in at least 10 minutes before warm up begins
Meets generally last 4 hours
After each heat, swimmers should remain in the pool until the last swimmer finishes the race. If possible, shake the hand of the swimmer next to you and tell them “good swim.” It is very courteous and promotes good sportsmanship.
When you are not swimming, cheer on your fellow teammates and congratulate them when they are finished with their races.
Swimmers are expected to stay for the duration of the meet.
Food and drinks are sold at 9th Lane Concessions.
We must leave the host pools in the same condition we found them, so everyone must pitch in at the end of meets to clean up the team area and all trash.