Competitive Swim 101
Handy Dandy Swimmers Checklist and Guide
Competitive swimming can be overwhelming and confusing at first. Listed below are numerous tips and tricks to help you navigate the world of competitive swimming. Please never hesitate to reach out to our coaches, board and leadership team if you have any questions or need clarification.
What does a swimmer need for practice?
- A swimmer should come to practice prepared with a suit (1 piece for girls, jammers or brief cut for boys), goggles, swim cap, water, towel and sunscreen.
Where do I get the equipment such as suits, caps, and goggles that my child needs?
- There are a number of places to acquire swim equipment. Swimville and Swim Outlet are great options. Amazon also has a great selection. Of course, you are always welcome to purchase equipment at any local retailer of your choosing.
Do I drop my child off or may I stay and watch practice?
- Parents/Guardians are always welcome to stick around and watch practice. We just ask that you please be a spectator and not an active participant. If you have any questions or concerns to discuss with the coaching staff please hold them until after all practices are finished or see a board member for assistance. We want to ensure our coaching staff is able to maximize instructional time during each practice session.
When and how do I declare my child for a meet?
- The deadline to declare your swimmer(s) for each meet will always be clearly communicated. If your swimmer is not declared by the deadline, they WILL NOT be able to be added and will be unable to swim in the meet.
How to declare your swimmer:
Log into swimtopia
Scroll down to upcoming meets
Click on the meet you are declaring for
Click on meet sign up
Click on edit
Select your swimmer
Select your response
How do I know what events my child will be swimming at a meet?
- All event entries will be communicated via a heat sheet which will be sent out before each meet. A heat sheet serves as the swim meet program and typically follows the following format…
Example:
#4 Girls 9-10 25m (or yd) freestyle
Heat 1 of 2 Est. Start: 6:58 PM
1 Hermione Granger 9 GRF 30.18
2 Luna Lovegood 9 RVC 27.07
3 Minerva McGongall 10 GRF NT
4 Bellatrix Lestrange 10 SLY 30.77
Heat 2 of 2 Est. Start: 6:59 PM
1 Ginny Weasley 9 GRF 20.56
2 Cho Chang 9 RVC 19.57
3 Sybil Trelawney 10 RVC 19.03
4 Nymphadora Tonks 10 HLP 21.10
- The event listed has two total heats. The number in front of the swimmer’s name indicates the lane they are in. The time listed is the swimmer’s seed time. A seed time is the fastest time that a swimmer has swum that event in the past. If a swimmer has not previously swum a particular event NT (not timed) will be listed as their seed time. So, Ginny Weasley is swimming in event 4 (the 9-10 girls 25 Free), is swimming in lane 1, she is 9 years old and swims for Team Gryffindor with a seed time of 20.56.
- Meet entries will also be posted at practice on the day of the meet and heat sheets will be posted at the meet itself. Our coaching staff will make sure all swimmers are aware of all events our swimmers are swimming at the practice on the day of the meet.
Where do I sit at a meet?
- At home meets: We occupy the area to the left of the pool (when facing the pool upon entry to our facilities). Our guests occupy the grassy area closest to the diving well.
- At away meets: Guest camp areas are communicated via email on the Monday before a meet and are specific to each pool.
What do I need to bring to a meet?
- Meets are long and there can be a lot of waiting between events. Please plan accordingly. Many families bring a sport tent, camping chairs, picnic blankets, plenty of snacks and warm clothes for when the sun begins to set. We also recommend card games or travel games or easily transportable activities. Extra goggles, cap, towels and suit are also recommended.
What if my swimmer gets sick or suddenly cannot attend a meet?
- If your swimmer is unable to attend a meet, please be sure to inform the Head Coach ASAP so that any necessary adjustments can be made before the start of the meet.
How will I know what is going on at a swim meet?
- Event numbers are typically posted near the bullpen (a fancy name for the area used to organize and line up swimmers before each event). Event and heat are always announced before the start. We will also have a team dry erase board stationed in the Kingfish Spirit Tent that will be kept updated throughout the meet.
How will my child keep track of what events they are swimming at a meet?
- Sharpies are your new best friend! Write your child’s name on their back shoulder and their events for the meet on their arm in the following format - event number, heat, lane, stroke
Example:
| E (event) | H (heat) | L (lane) | S (stroke) |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | 25 Free |
- We will have a bullpen which is a fancy word for the area used to organize and line up swimmers before each event. Volunteers will be in the bullpen to get swimmers lined up correctly. Please be sure to have your swimmer headed to the bullpen area 2 events before their event begins.
How are swim meets organized?
- Youngest swimmers always swim first and girls always swim before boys. Typically our meet events run in the following order…
100 Medley Relay
200 Medley Relay
100 IM
25 Freestyle
50 Freestyle
100 Freestyle
25 Backstroke
50 Backstroke
100 Backstroke
25 Breaststroke
50 Breaststroke
100 Breaststroke
25 Butterfly
50 Butterfly
100 Freestyle Relay
200 Freestyle Relay
*Number of lanes as well as number of swimmers in each event will dictate how many total heats are run. Swimmers are grouped with other swimmers who have similar personal best times. The slowest group will be the first heat and the fastest group will be the last heat. Grouping swimmers of similar abilities gives every swimmer a chance to be a heat winner.
How do relays work?
- Freestyle relays are made up of 4 swimmers each swimming Freestyle. Medley relays are made of 4 swimmers each swimming a different stroke in the following order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle.
- A, B, C relays are typically based upon speed, with the A relay being the fastest on down.
How do coaches decide relay placement and what if my child is not on a relay?
- Our coaches do their best to ensure that ALL swimmers have the opportunity to swim in a relay during the season. Relays are 100% a judgement call decision made by the coaches. When coaches decide who to put in what relay, it is not always based upon who has the fastest time. Sometimes changes are made on the fly at the meet. There are times when a swimmer may be removed from/added to a relay at the meet. Sometimes an entire relay team may be scratched if certain athletes are unable to attend at the last minute. These things happen. It is important you remember the following things:
- Relays will always be fluid.
- Coaches always make the final call.
- Part of being a member of a team is to support coaches/teammates. Sometimes a swimmer may not be on a relay, on the A relay or swimming the stroke that they want to swim. That is ok. We are a team – a family and we support and encourage one another.
What if my swimmer gets a DQ (disqualification)?
- Competitive swimming is a highly technical sport. It is highly likely that your swimmer will receive a DQ at some point during their swim career. This is nothing to be concerned with or to feel bad about – it happens. Always remember to be encouraging and supportive of your swimmer. Just like mistakes, DQs happen and are a way to learn and grow.
What if my swimmer does not drop time or adds time in an event?
- Please hear this: Swimmers will not drop time in every race. They may even go long periods of time without a time drop, and that is ok!
- Keep in mind the following: Sometimes coaches are teaching swimmers a new skill or technique. They may do this new skill or technique perfectly during a meet, even though they added 2 seconds to their best time. Please always focus on what your swimmer did well – when you focus on what they did well, your swimmer will too!
*If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the board. We will gladly help in any way we can!
We are looking forward to an amazing season! WE ARE THE KINGFISH!
