We know your first swim meet can be intimidating.  Here are answers to some common questions for first-time meet participants.  If you have any others, please do not hesitate to contact the coaches.

How long is an average swim meet?

Swim meets vary depending upon the events and the number of swimmers attending the meet. The usual time frame is four hours for dual meets and for each session of longer championship meets.

What do I need to bring for the meet?

Make sure you have your suit, goggles, cap, and a few towels! Bring something to help pass the time and keep you relaxed. Bring healthy snacks that will help refuel you after your swims.

What is a heat, and how do I know what heat I am in?

A "heat" is subsection of an event.  A pool cannot accommodate more swimmers than their are lanes.  Where an event has more swimmers than lanes, the swimmers in that event will be divided into groups, each group competing consecutively with the others in that event.  Each group is referred to as a "heat."  Ask a coach or refer to the heat sheet to see what heat you are in for your events.

What is a DQ?

A "DQ" is a disqualification. This means that a swim was swum with incorrect form.

Is there anything special I should do for my child the night before a meet?

Feed your child a healthy, fully-balanced dinner, and make sure he or she gets plenty of rest.

Will there be food?

At most meets food will be sold at concessions.  You can also pack a healthy snack for your swimmer.

What role do parents play at meets?

Parents play a critical role in the ability to run meets and parent volunteers are often needed. The most common job is a lane timer at most meets.   Jobs are posted in the event site for parents to volunteer.

Where do swimmers sit when parents are on deck?

Swimmers must sit with the team during swim meets. This helps to build team spirit and better sportsmanship. It also enables the coaches to ensure the swimmers get to their events in a timely fashion.  Parents sit in the bleachers and cheer on our team. 

How early do I need to get my child to the meet?

All swimmers should arrive at a meet 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time.  This is very important so that your swimmer does not get scratched from the meet.

Does my child need to wear a swim cap?

All swimmers, regardless of gender or hair length, must wear a team cap at meets.  It is our team uniform.

Who am I notifying if my child is sick the morning of the meet?

Please email, call, or let one on the coaches know if your child will not make it to the meet due to illness.  The meet announcements page will include a cell phone number for the coach on deck at the meet