Don't be overwhelmed by all the unknowns about being on a recreational swim team. Most of all the information you could ever want to know is organized right here. Simply click on a section below to jump to FAQs.
Age Groups
Awards Guide
Disqualifications
Meets
Mini Sharks Program
Practices
Recreational Swim
Registration
Relays
Ribbons
Shark Buddy Program
Swim Gear
Time Trials
Volunteering Requirement
Water Safety Evaluation
How are age groups determined?
Age groups are determined by a swimmer’s age on June 15th of the season in which he or she is swimming.
What are the different age groups?
6 & Under, 7-8 year olds, 9-10 year olds, 11-12 year olds, 13-14 year olds, 15-18 year olds.
Will my swimmer be competing with younger and/or older swimmers?
Swimmers compete in dual meets based on the age groups listed above. However, at the end of the season SSL Champs meet, swimmers in the 15-18 age group compete in two separate groups: 15-16 and 17-18
Does the team provide awards, trophies, or other forms of recognition at the end of the season?
Please click here to read our Awards Guide and learn all there is to know about end-of-the season recognition.
Why did my swimmer get DQ'd at a meet?
A DQ is a disqualification due to an infraction. Swimmers are disqualified if they do not swim with proper form or complete the strokes as required. In general, the SSL follows the rules of USA swimming, with only a few exceptions.
DQ’s are an extremely important part of the sport of swimming because they ensure fair competition and reinforce areas where swimmers need to improve technique. Younger swimmers are generally not given leniency because this can, in turn, lead to long term negative patterns that have to be undone later in their swimming career.
How do I find out why my swimmer was DQ'd?
If your swimmer is DQ’d, it will first be listed on the mobile app that posts results. You may approach your coach to ask them about the DQ. Never approach a Stroke & Turn Judge or Meet Referee to contest a DQ. There is a process for formal a protest, and you may consult your coach for more details.
Will the coaching staff work with my swimmer to help correct the infraction?
Yes. Meet officials will provide the Sharks coaching staff with copies of all DQs so they will know who DQ'd and why. A blank DQ slip can be reviewed here. Together at practice, the coaching staff and your swimmer will discuss the infraction and work towards correcting it. Depending on the type of infraction, it may take up to a few weeks (and meets) to correct.
Where can I find out more information about why my swimmer is being DQ'd?
For those who may not have a background in swimming, understanding why your swimmer is being DQ'd may be frustrating. There are two ways to learn more about DQ's: You can click here to go to a dedicated Stroke & Turn page or email us here and someone from our Stroke & Turn team will get back to you with helpful information.
How do I register my swimmer for a meet?
Registering your swimmer for a meet is easier than you think. We've got the process all laid out for you right here.
Our family has never been to a swim meet, so how will we know what to expect?
Swim meets can be a bit overwhelming for new swim families. But not to worry. Click here to read through our Meet Survival Guide.
How many swim meets are there in the season?
There are 7 meets against other teams. These meets are called “dual meets.” There is also a Time Trials at the beginning of the season to orient swimmers and families on how a swim meet works, and to get seed times established for future meets.
At the end of the season there are two multi-day “championship” meets. The Suburban Swim League Championships (Champs) pits all 8 teams in the league against each other in a 3-day swim meet. All team members who have swum in at least 3 dual meets can participate in Champs. The second meet is Meet of Champions (MOC), a Sacramento regional swim meet for any league or team in the greater Sacramento area. To swim at MOC, swimmers must qualify by either posting a qualifying time or by placing in the top ten at Champs. This means that a swimmer potentially will swim in 10 meets during the season.
Do swimmers swim every stroke?
No. There are stroke restrictions for every race. During registration, please be aware of stroke restrictions. In general, these are the following restrictions:
Time Trials
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No restrictions. Swimmers can swim all individual strokes. (No relays events are held at Time Trials)
Dual Meets
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Mini Sharks: Freestyle & Backstroke (Mini Sharks only swim at home meets).
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6 under: 1 Freestyle event, 1 Backstroke event and free relay at coach discretion (up to 3 total). Events are at the coach's approval and may change.
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All other age groups: 1 Freestyle (short or long free), 2 specialty events (IM except 7/8, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly), Freestyle relay and medley relay at the coach's discretion (up to 5 total). Events are at the coach's approval and may change.
Champs
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6 and under same as dual meets
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All other age groups: 1 Freestyle event (long or short), all other specialty events are eligible. Potential of 4 total for 7/8, 5 total for 9/10 and above.
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Relays are at the coach's discretion and are at the end of each day (Freestyle end of day 2, medley end of day 3)
What is the order of the swim events?
The good news is that the order of events is the same at all dual meets. Click here to see the order of events.
What time do swimmers need to arrive at the pool and when do meets start?
6:30 AM: Swimmer and volunteer check-in (Swimmers MUST sign in before 7:00 AM or they will be scratched from the meet)
7:00 AM: Swimmer warmups (home teams typically warm up first)
7:50 AM: Sharks team cheer
8:00 AM: Swim meet starts with Event #1
What does it mean to be scratched from the swim meet?
If your swimmer is signed up to attend a swim meet and are a “no-show”, this forces team officials into a last-minute process known as a scratch session in order to remove your swimmer from the meet. Every effort should be made to avoid having this happen to your swimmer. When a swimmer does not show up for a meet in which they have signed up for, each event in which that swimmer was scheduled to swim in must be re-arranged. Because of complicated eligibility rules, if these events include a relay, it is possible that the other three swimmers scheduled to swim in the relay may not be able to swim.
Do swimmers warm up before meets?
Yes. Coaching staff expect all swimmers to warm up before the start of the meet. Home teams
How long do swim meets last?
It really depends on the size of the two teams and how many swim lanes there are in the pool. Team sizes range from 200-400 swimmers. The pools we swim in range from 6-10 lanes. Most meets last 4‐6 hours, and in some cases, they have been known to go a bit longer.
6&Unders only participate in the Free Relay (2nd event of the meet), individual Free, and individual Back. Once your swimmer’s events are complete, you are free to leave, assuming you have completed your volunteering committment for that day. Approximately 2 hours after a meet has started, is when 6&U families begin to leave.
Swim meets can be long, and if the weather is hot, they can be less than pleasant. Please keep hydrated and make sure everyone is wearing sunscreen.
How do I let the coaches know my swimmer will not be at a swim meet or an event?
We have a swim meet signup procedure. You must either sign up or opt out for each meet through the website. In addition, you will also be given the choice to sign your swimmer up for individual events (7/8 and above can participate in no more than 3 individual events per swim meet). It is advised that your swimmer have the opportunity to swim each event, at least once during the season.
What should I do if my swimmer is afraid to swim in the race?
In most cases let the coaches handle the problem. They will encourage the swimmer to complete the event, thereby allowing your swimmer the satisfaction that comes with the finish. Normally when a swimmer is in the water it is best to allow the coaches the chance to solve any problem before getting involved. They will call you if they need your help. Your young swimmer will gain confidence faster if you allow the coaches to do their job.
Is there an easy way to track my swimmer’s results?
Funny you should ask! We recommend you download the Meet Mobile App. This App will sync with our computer ops system and will update swimming results within 15-20 minutes of a race. Otherwise, you will have to wait until the meet results are published 24-48 hours after the completion of a meet.
How are relays formed?
The swimmers who compose the relay teams for any given swim meet are selected by the coaches, at their discretion, on the basis of team needs within the age group for the strokes involved. Relays fluctuate throughout the meet. Please do not assume your swimmer is not in a relay. For meets with 10-lane pools, we often are allowed to field 4 or 5 teams, which means 16-20 swimmers.
What are the different relay events?
There are two group relays:
Free Relay (All age groups)
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Each swimmer will swim one leg of the race using the Freestyle stroke.
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6 and under: 25 yards each, 100 yards total.
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9/10 and up: 50 yards each, 200 yards total.
Medley Relay (7/8 and above participate):
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Each swimmer will swim one leg of the race, each swimming a different stroke.
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Stroke order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle.
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7/8 and 9/10: 25 yards each, 100 yards total.
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11/12 and up: 50 yards each, 200 yards total.
What is the difference between the Medley Relay and the Individual Medley?
Swimmers in the 9/10 age group and up are allowed to swim in an individual medley race. The individual Medley consists of one swimmer swimming 25 yards of each stroke. The order of the strokes is different than the Medley Relay.
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Order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle
How are meets scored?
Swim meets use a cumulative point scoring system... the team with the most points wins! The top three times overall for each event are awarded points. Points are awarded as follows:
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Individual Events: 1st = 5 points, 2nd = 3 points, 3rd = 1 point
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Relays: 1st = 7 points, 2nd = 3 points, 3rd = 1 point
What is the Mini Sharks program?
The Mini Sharks program is for younger swimmers who are not yet comfortable swimming across the length of a 25-yard pool. The program focuses on water safety and basic techniques in swimming, using a variety of equipment and coaching strategies to get the athletes comfortable swimming alone. Mini Sharks will be accompanied by an in-water coach who will help guide them in the pool.
When do Mini Sharks Practice?
Mini sharks will practice during the 4-6 age group practice time. Mini Sharks are separated to provide them with the extra attention to promote confidence and the environment to progress their swimming skill. Our coaching program is structured to be effective and efficient in providing our Mini Sharks the skills and assertion to be promoted into the swim team.
Do Mini Sharks swim at meets?
We welcome our Mini Sharks to swim at all home meets. We pause meets so that the crowd can root on our Mini Sharks during their 25-yard Freestyle and Backstroke events. It is completely optional for Mini Sharks to swim at these meets. Please note that Mini Sharks do not participate at away meets. In addition, Mini Sharks do not need to register for meets.
When do Mini Sharks swim at home meets?
Mini Sharks are invited to swim before event #20 for their 25-yard Freestyle and again before event #42 for their 25-yard Backstroke.
Do Mini Sharks swim at Time Trials?
Yes. All Mini Sharks are invited to come swim at Time Trials. This is a great opportunity for our newest swimmers to get the sense of what a meet would like, but without the presence of the other team. Please keep in mind that relay events are not run at Time Trials, so we skip events #9 through #19. This means Mini Sharks will swim their 25-yard Freestyle following event #8, much sooner than a typical dual-meet.
What if my Mini Shark catches on quickly and becomes a stronger swimmer?
Depending on how well a Mini Shark progresses throughout the season, the head coach may promote them on the team so they can participate as a regular Sierra Shark swimmer.
How do practices work?
Practice is offered every day of the week, with practice times based on age groups. Please refer to the practice schedule to determine what time your swimmer's age group practices.
How many practices does my swimmer need to attend?
Our swim team’s philosophy is recreational and personal improvement first and foremost. We want children to be excited about coming to practice. Certain age groups are advised to make as many practices as possible. However, for our younger age groups, we recommend they make 3 practices consistently. More practices should be attended when the child is excited and wants to go. We do not want any of our swimmers to become burnt out from attending too many practices.
Do I need to let the coaches know when my swimmer will not be at practice?
In general, no. If your swimmer is going to miss a significant number of practices, over a period of time (i.e. vacation), you may want to let the coaches know. This will provide the coaches knowledge of your swimmer’s absence, rather than concern as to the well-being for your swimmer if they are missing for more than a week.
In the summer, do we attend both morning and afternoon practice?
Your swimmer is only expected to attend the morning or the afternoon practice. Please communicate with the coaching staff if you would like to attend more than one practice from time to time. Swimming both daily practices can lead to swimmer burnout and/or injury.
Can my swimmer practice at a time other than their established age group practice time?
Unless specifically requested or approved by the head coach, your swimmer must practice with his/her age group. This enables the coaches to ensure that each practice session focuses on the skills and techniques appropriate for that age group. This also helps eliminate the possibility of over-crowded practice sessions.
What do we bring to practice?
Your swimmer, who is wearing a swimsuit, cap, goggles and towel. Swimmers should bring a water bottle to remain hydrated during practice. Depending on how many swimmers you have at practice and what age groups, bring stuff to entertain your non-swimming swimmer, as they may get bored.
Sunscreen, water, light snacks, swimmer’s medicine (inhaler), books, puzzles, games, balls, toys for siblings, and anything extra as many families will be so thankful if you can share that something they might be missing.
