WHAT TO EXPECT AT A MEET

I know that swim meets can be very intimidating, especially for all of you new swim families. The swim meet environment looks very out of control and unorganized, but I assure you it is not. Things do not always run smoothly, but there is a method to the madness. Below area few tips that I think will make your swim meet experience more enjoyable.

1. Expect to Arrive Early: Most meets start at 9:00a.m. Warm-ups generally start at 7:45a.m. Depending on which group you swim, warm-up may require as much as 45 min. to an hour in the pool.

2. Check-In: Most meets will have a check-in table where swimmers need to report and sign in for the day’s events. Please do this as soon as you get to the meet. If you miss check-in, you may not get to swim all the events you signed up for.

3. Find your Coach: Generally the coach will be seated at a coach’s table next to the pool. If you are unable to locate your coach there, try looking in the "team area." The "team area" is not an official area. This is just where most of the team members and their families meet and sit together through out the meet.

4. Warm-UP: Every swimmer should be doing some type of warm-up prior to their first race of the day. Each group will have their own specific "meet warm-up." We will have gone over it at practice and it will usually not change throughout the season.

Crowds: Meet warm-up is usually very crowded. Do the best you can and KEEP MOVING. Do not stop in the middle of the lane. When you stop, do so on the walls and move right. The crowded conditions of warm-up is something that you will get use to. Don't get frustrated. When at all possible find lanes with swimmers of your ability, and remember: You have just as much right to the warm-up pool as they do.

Diving: Diving is not permitted in the warm-up pool except in "start lanes." Please do not practice starts with out a coach present. "Start lanes" or "Sprint lanes" are One-Way traffic only. Please pay attention when you are in the pool.

Pace: Pace Lanes are set up for swimmers that are moving faster than warm-up pace. Only enter these lanes when asked to do so by a coach.

5. Event Numbers: The event number corresponds to the race that you are swimming. (Ex. 100 Fr) Girls will always swim ODD Events, Boys will always swim EVEN Events.

6. Heat and Lane: Since everyone cannot race at the same time, events are broken into heats.

Heat and Lane Assignments are posted on a wall or bulletin board somewhere in the competition area. The coach can generally help you locate this area. However, the coach will not know the heat and lane assignments of every swimmer. It is the swimmer's job to check heat and lane assignments throughout the day. Assignments are done by event and posted approx. 10-20 minutes prior to the start of that race. The swimmer's name will be on a list, with all the other swimmers in that event, with their heat and lane assignments.

(Ex. Heat 3-Lane 5) After checking heat and lane assignments, check in with coach.

7. Prior to Race: Swim meets seem very chaotic at first, but there are things to help you out. If you listen to the announcer, he or she will be announcing what event and heat are in the water throughout the day. You should be ready to race, and have checked in with your coach, a minimum of two events prior to your race. Checking in with your coach is very important. It allows a final discussion of race strategy, tips and ideas before the race. It also lets the coach know that you are ready to swim, not off napping or playing. There is nothing that will upset your coach more than missing a race.

8. After Racing: Check with coach IMMEDIATELY. After race discussions are very important. Discussion about what worked and what didn't needs to happen while the race is fresh in both the swimmer's and the coach's mind.

DQ's: If a swimmer is judged to have broken a rule during the race, an official may give the swimmer a yellow slip of paper indicating that the swimmer has been disqualified from that race. Don't freak out. This is not a final decision. The coach has the opportunity to discuss the ruling with the Head Referee. There are numerous occasions when the disqualification is overturned. However, if the swimmer does not bring the DQ slip to the coach nothing will be done and the DQ will stand.

9. Down Time: As many as 350 swimmers may be participating at the swim meet. There will be down time in between a swimmer's races. I encourage all swimmers to bring water, snacks, blankets, chairs, books, magazines, homework, headphones and anything else that will occupy you during down time. However, don't let these become distractions from the primary task at hand.

RACING: Be aware of the meet around you and pay attention to what is going on.

10. Ask questions: You will have questions. Where do the answers come from?

-Other Piranha Families

-Other Piranha Swimmers

-Piranha Coaches.

If you don't ask for an answer, you won't get the answer.