Swim Meet Survival Guide

Swim meets are a great family experience. They're a place where the whole family can spend time together. Listed below are some very in-depth guidelines geared to help you through your first couple of swim meets. It may seem a little overwhelming, but we tried to be as specific and as detailed as we possibly could. If you have any questions, please ask one of your coaches.

  1. Arrive at meet locations no later 7:30 am. Most locations prefer that you do not arrive BEFORE 7:00. All parents should receive an email notification with meet details. 

  2. Upon arrival, find a place to put your EZ-up tent, chairs and swim bags. The team usually sits in one place together, so look for some familiar faces.

  3. Check-in! Look for the Stingrays Check-In flag. One of our coaches will write your swimmer's event numbers on their arm with a Sharpie. NOTE: Sunscreen will cause your swimmer's even numbers to rub off. Put sunscreen on prior to checking in. If you need to have these events re-written on their arm, see one of our coaches.

  4. Your swimmer gets his/her cap and goggles and reports to the pool and/or 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. Warmups usually start at around 8:00 am.

  5. If you are working a volunteer position at the meet, please check-in with the Volunteer Check-in.

    • Timers – pick up stop watches & Clipboard from the Head Timekeeper  
    • Ready Bench – Pick up Meet Cards from the Head table
    • Concessions – go to Snack Bar 

  6. It is important for any swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming (again, why they have the numbers on their arm). He/she may swim right away after warm-up or they may have to wait awhile. As the meet begins, parents should watch the Ready Bench for the Event Number of the upcoming races. When your child’s race number is displayed, send your swimmer(s) to the Ready Bench to await their race (you will have approximately 5-10 minutes until your child’s race begins).

    • At the Ready Bench, your swimmer will be given a Lane Card that they will take with them to their assigned lane for their event.
    • Generally, girls events are odd-numbered and boys events are even-numbered. Example: "Event #26, 10-Under Boys, 50 freestyle, report to the Ready Bench." 
    • Make sure your swimmer has everything they need to swim their event (cap, goggles, etc). No towels or flip flops.

  7. Each Meet has two SESSIONS (or halves) and follows the same order of events:

    • Medley Relay
    • Butterfly
    • Backstroke
    • Individual Medley (IM)
    • ** Half-time Break **
    • Breaststroke
    • Freestyle
    • Freestyle Relay
    • Coaches Race 
    • The races start with the 5/6 year old girls then boys, followed by the 7/8 girls then boys, and so on until all the age groups have finished the stroke.  It then starts over again with the next stroke in the same order.

  8. After your swimmer swims his or her race:

    • He/she should 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.

  9. Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims:

    • Positive comments or praise
    • Suggestions for improvement
    • Positive comments

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

    • Tell your swimmer how great they did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique with them. You need to tell him how proud you are and what a great job he did.
    • Refrain from coaching your swimmer... your coaches are very qualified, and they will be giving your swimmer one or two things to think about. Please let our coaches coach!
    • Take your swimmer back to the team area and relax.
    • This is another good time to check out the bathrooms, get a drink or something light to eat.

  11. The swimmer now waits until his next event is called and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of their events they (and their parents) get to go home. Make sure, however, 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 they are not there.