Swim Meet 101 - International Country Club Gators

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Listed below are some general guidelines geared to help you through your first couple of swim meets. It may seem a little overwhelming, but after your first two meets you will be a pro! If you have any questions, please ask your coach or team reps.

BEFORE THE MEET STARTS

Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes BEFORE the scheduled warm-up time begins. This time will be listed with the meet information and emailed out as well.
Upon arrival, your swimmer should go to the team area. The ICC GATORS sit in one place together, so look for the green ICC GATORS pop-up tent or some familiar faces. The designated team area is for swimmers and coaches only.
Your swimmer now gets his/her ICC GATORS cap and goggles on and reports to the coach for warm-up instructions. It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. A swimmer's body is just like a car on a cold day-he/she needs to get the engine going and warmed-up before he/she can go all out.
After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to the team area and wait there until his/her first event is called. This is a good time to go to the bathroom if necessary, get a drink, and get settled in.
The meet will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are over.
A meet sheet is usually available at all meets and will list the heat and lane the swimmer is competing in. It lists all swimmers in each event in order of "seed time". When the team entry is sent in, each swimmer and his/her previous best time (up to the date that the entry was submitted) in that event is listed. If the swimmer is swimming an event for the first time, he/she will be entered as a "no-time" or "NT". A "no-time" swimmer will most likely swim in one of the first heats of the event.

DURING THE MEET

It is important for any swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming. He/she may swim right away after warm-up or they may have to wait awhile.
A coach will call the swimmer's event (Example: "Event #1, 8 and Under Boys 25 Freestyle) indicating to the swimmer that it is time to swim. When this occurs, swimmers should report to the coach calling their event with his/her ICC GATORS cap and goggles. At this time the swimmers will receive their event card. It is important that the swimmer does not lose or damage this card as this is where their official time is recorded. A coach or senior swimmer will escort the younger swimmers to the Clerk of Course.
- The clerk will line up all the swimmers and take them to the pool in correct order. You can expect at least 2-8 heats for each event.
The swimmer competes in his or her race.
After each swim:
- The swimmer should always look to shake hands with the swimmer/opponent on each side of their lane.
- He/she may ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time.
- The swimmer should then go immediately to his or her coach. The coach will discuss the swim with each swimmer.
Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims:
- Positive comments or praise
- Suggestions for improvement
- Positive comments
Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:
- Tell her or him how great she/he did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique. You only need to share how proud you are.
- Swimmer should then return to the team area and relax.
The swimmer now waits until the next event is called and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of her/his events, she and her parents get to go home. However, please be sure you as a parent, check with the coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed to swim on a relay where your swimmer is expected to be a member and he/she is not there. Please confirm before leaving!
Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility. Ribbons are often gathered for a team and given to the coach at the end of the meet. Ribbons are then filed by name in the ribbon box and can be retrieved before or after practices the following week.

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International Country Club Gators

BEFORE THE MEET STARTS

Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes BEFORE the scheduled warm-up time begins. This time will be listed with the meet information and emailed out as well.

Upon arrival, your swimmer should go to the team area. The ICC GATORS sit in one place together, so look for the green ICC GATORS pop-up tent or some familiar faces. The designated team area is for swimmers and coaches only.

After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to the team area and wait there until his/her first event is called. This is a good time to go to the bathroom if necessary, get a drink, and get settled in.

The meet will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are over.

DURING THE MEET

It is important for any swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming. He/she may swim right away after warm-up or they may have to wait awhile.

The clerk will line up all the swimmers and take them to the pool in correct order. You can expect at least 2-8 heats for each event.

The swimmer competes in his or her race.

After each swim:

The swimmer should always look to shake hands with the swimmer/opponent on each side of their lane.

He/she may ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time.

The swimmer should then go immediately to his or her coach. The coach will discuss the swim with each swimmer.

Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims:

Positive comments or praise

Suggestions for improvement

Positive comments

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

Tell her or him how great she/he did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique. You only need to share how proud you are.

Swimmer should then return to the team area and relax.

Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility. Ribbons are often gathered for a team and given to the coach at the end of the meet. Ribbons are then filed by name in the ribbon box and can be retrieved before or after practices the following week.