ALL ABOUT MEETS

ISL teams compete against each other in head-to-head competitions called swim meets. A swim meet typically involves 2 teams, the “home” team and the “visiting” team - but can sometimes have three teams competing (a "tri-meet").

The meets are held at the home team’s neighborhood pool (or in some cases at a swim facility - like Woollett - if the home team doesn't have a "neighborhood" pool). 

Riptide participates in 5 regular swim meets during the season - some hosted at our own pool (home meets) and some hosted at other pools (away meets).

There is an OPTIONAL meet (Pentathlon) during the season as well - giving swimmers an extra chance to log a qualifying time for Champs.

And finally- the ISL Championship meet (aka "Champs") - hosted at Woollett. 

To start the season - we also have a PRACTICE meet. This is just our team - hosted at our home pool... but we go through all of the events and jobs and swimmers get a chance to log "seed" times for their events. Think of it as a dress rehearsal! The primary goals of our practice meet is for swimmers to learn how to sign in, report to the Ready Bench, move to the deck or blocks appropriately, and begin to understand how meets work.  And, for parents to gain experience running the Ready Bench, handling sign-in, timing, working the snack bar, and supporting the head table. This is exactly why we have a practice meet, to give everyone a chance to learn the process before its GO TIME! 

When are the meets?

The current summer's schedule is listed on the home page of our website. 

Regular swim meets are hosted Saturday mornings. Check in time USUALLY begins at 7:30 AM and the day concludes between by 1 PM - but it's possible that the time will be modified for some away meets. Exact timelines for each meet will be sent in an email the week of the event. 

Meet Timeline

<This is the typical timeline - please note that it's possible that some meets may be modified. Watch your email the week of the meet for the real timeline.> 

7:30am:  Swimmer & Volunteer check-in

Find the CHECK IN table (in the parking lot at home meets - and we will clarify the location for each away meet in an email prior to the meet).

First - confirm your swimmer(s) events and let us know they are here:

• Our check-in table will be staffed with volunteers. We ask that the SWIMMER check in so we can review their events with them... don't just send a parent to say they are here.
• You (or our check in volunteer) will write your swimmer(s) events on their forearm with a sharpie marker (it comes off later with soap and water). 
  • For the fastest check in- please write the events on before checking in. You'll find the info on the heat sheets at check in, and emailed to you the night before the event. If your swimmer is in Butterfly Event #7, Heat 2, Lane 8, you would write: #7 Fly 2/8".
• Heat sheets boards will be posted at check in. We recommend taking a photo of each event your swimmer is in for easy reference during the meet - and in case the sharpie smudges off! 

Then - check the "MEET JOBS" clipboard posted to confirm your job (and shift) for the day and get your nametag.

• Taking your nametag is how you "check in" as a volunteer.
• PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers who fail to show up on time will NOT receive credit for your volunteer position for this meet. 

8:00am:  Swimmer warm up

Coaches will lead the swimmers in their warm up in the pool. This is usually done by age group but can vary. Just isten up as the coaches can your group. Swimmers should bring their swim caps and goggles, and of course they should wear their official Riptide swimsuit.

8:55am:  National Anthem
 

At this point our "first shift" volunteers should be in their places - ready to officially start the meet. 

9:00am:  Start of racing

Swim Events

A swim meet consists of 68 events (see below for the list of all events - the progression of events is the SAME at every meet). The four swim strokes that are used in a meet are freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke. The events can be broken down further into certain categories:

• Individual - where a swimmer competes against other swimmers using one stroke
• Individual Medley - where a swimmer competes against other swimmers, using all four strokes. This is only done by age groups 9+. 
• Free Relays - where a group of 4 swimmers competes against other groups of 4, using the freestyle stroke
• Medley Relays - where a group of 4 swimmers competes against other groups of 4, with each of the 4 swimmers using a different stroke

Each event is referred to by age group and stroke (example: "5-6 girls freestyle"). Events of the same stroke are repeated through all age groups - going back and forth between boys and girls. For example, 7-8 girls freestyle is followed by boys 7-8 freestyle, which is followed by girls 9-10 freestyle, until 15-18 boys freestyle is reached. It then starts all over with another stroke.

The Ready Bench

The Ready Bench is simply a staging area, and is typically located under a canopy on the pool deck. Swimmers line up at the ready bench when they see the number of their event posted on the placard at the Ready Bench area. 

• Event numbers are displayed on a placard near the Ready Bench. The number displayed refers to the event that is being called to Ready Bench. For example, if the placard number is 47, all swimmers participating up and through event 47 (e.g., 43, 44, 45, 46, 47) should immediately proceed to the Ready Bench.
• It is the parent’s responsibility to get their swimmer to the Ready Bench when their event # appears on the Event Placard (it is often called by the announcer too - but we highly recommend watching the numbers on the placards). Swimmers who do not arrive on time at the Ready Bench risk missing their race. 
• Once your swimmer has arrived at the Ready Bench and received their card, we ask that parents return to your seat or campsite to keep the area clear.
• Volunteers and coaches will confirm lane cards and stage the swimmers by event, heat, and lane - and then lead them to the starting platforms. 

The meet events begin at 9:00am. Swimmers for the first 2 or 3 races will be called to the Ready Bench about 10 minutes before the meet begins. Swimmers are put into order depending on their event by the Ready Bench volunteers, and then led to the starting platforms.

What to Bring to a Meet

You will be at the pool for several hours. For home meets, families may set up their pop up tents the night BEFORE the event at the Forest Glen pool. Come by around 7 PM to save a space! In the morning, bring your chairs/blankets and any other comfort items you'd like. 

Consider bringing cards, board games, books or other things your kids will enjoy doing during the down time. Swimmers will also have fun playing with their friends. Bring suntan lotion, hats, snacks, drinks, and beach towels just like any day at the pool.

For the swimmer: bring two pair of googles, sunscreen, team swimsuit, a towel, and something for cover in between/after events. This could be a parka, t-shirt, sweats, etc. You won't need the kickboard, fins or other swim accessories.

Please note we have areas that are appropriate to set up (this will be clarified for each meet in an email the week of the meet)...but please do not set up right along the pool edge. Please also be curteous to others - many families will share one pop up tent... we have a LOT of families on the team, you might be asked to share space so that everyone can fit. 

The home team operates a concessions table with food and drink available for sale during the meet. Prices are established by the home team. Items typically include pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, donuts, candy, water, Gatorade, and soft drinks.

Swim Meet Jobs

Please visit our Meet Jobs page for information about these important required positions. 

What if we're going to miss a meet? Or if we know we have to leave early or show up late? 

Please edit your swimmer's commitment for each meet on this page. Find the event date and click "edit commitment". Then, for each swimmer, click on their name... and you'll see a drop down menu appear - allowing you to let us know if they will be attending or not. IF YOU DO NOT COMMIT BY THE DEADLINE - we will decline your swimmer and they will NOT swim. 

Have a special circumstance? Write it in the notes! (Need to leave early? Have to come late - just let us know!) 

Our coaches and stats team create each meet lineup based on these commitments. If you commit to the meet, your swimmer will be placed in appropriate events (including a possible relay!)  If your swimmer is assinged in a relay and they don't show up.. it means our other swimmers on their team don't get to compete. We rely on families to tell us their intentions so that we can make our event run smoothly. 

What if something happens and we can't come to the meet (swimmer gets sick, sudden change of plans)?

If it's BEFORE the commitment deadline - just edit your commitment as described above. If it's after commitment has closed - please TEXT our Stats lead and let them know - including your swimmers name, age and gender - so they can remove them from the meet. You'll find the phone # in the emails leading up to the meet. 

If you scheduled a volunteer meet job - please EDIT that in the job signup ASAP... and then email the volunteer coordinator at [email protected] to let her know. 

Home Meet Parking

Give yourself time to get to the pool. If feasible, consider walking to the pool. If you do need to drive:

• Be careful when parking your car. Some sides of certain streets around the pool are zoned for FIRE, and parking is not allowed (such as on Fair Oaks, by the playground). Please do not park in these areas.
• There will be several spaces reserved in the pool parking lot for officials, coaches, concessions drop-off, etc, so it is best to avoid the parking lot altogether.

Good to Know

The team has exclusive use of the pool during a home swim meet. Riptide or visiting team swimmers are NOT allowed in the BABY POOL or HOT TUB. These areas will be blocked off and we ask you to respect the closure. 

A certain amount of trash is generated during a meet. This trash will be periodically double-bagged and moved to a point outside of the main gate.

We ask for everyone's help to keep our neighborhood pool clean - return chairs to their proper place, pick up small pieces of trash, and in general do what you can to make the place look nice. Let's be respectful to the Northpark community!

List of Meet Events

1 Mixed 5-6 100 Medley Relay
2 Mixed 7-8 100 Medley Relay
3 Mixed 9-10 200 Medley Relay
4 Mixed 11-12 200 Medley Relay
5 Mixed 13-14 200 Medley Relay
6 Mixed 15-18 200 Medley Relay
7 Girls 5-6 25 Fly
8 Boys 5-6 25 Fly
9 Girls 7-8 25 Fly
10 Boys 7-8 25 Fly
11 Girls 9-10 50 Fly
12 Boys 9-10 50 Fly
13 Girls 11-12 50 Fly
14 Boys 11-12 50 Fly
15 Girls 13-14 50 Fly
16 Boys 13-14 50 Fly
17 Girls 15-18 50 Fly
18 Boys 15-18 50 Fly
19 Girls 5-6 25 Back
20 Boys 5-6 25 Back
21 Girls 7-8 25 Back
22 Boys 7-8 25 Back
23 Girls 9-10 50 Back
24 Boys 9-10 50 Back
25 Girls 11-12 50 Back
26 Boys 11-12 50 Back
27 Girls 13-14 50 Back
28 Boys 13-14 50 Back
29 Girls 15-18 50 Back
30 Boys 15-18 50 Back
31 Girls 9-10 100 IM
32 Boys 9-10 100 IM
33 Girls 11-12 100 IM
34 Boys 11-12 100 IM
35 Girls 13-14 100 IM
36 Boys 13-14 100 IM
37 Girls 15-18 100 IM
38 Boys 15-18 100 IM

HALFTIME BREAK 

39 Girls 5-6 25 Breast
40 Boys 5-6 25 Breast
41 Girls 7-8 25 Breast
42 Boys 7-8 25 Breast
43 Girls 9-10 50 Breast
44 Boys 9-10 50 Breast
45 Girls 11-12 50 Breast
46 Boys 11-12 50 Breast
47 Girls 13-14 50 Breast
48 Boys 13-14 50 Breast
49 Girls 15-18 50 Breast
50 Boys 15-18 50 Breast
51 Girls 5-6 25 Free
52 Boys 5-6 25 Free
53 Girls 7-8 25 Free
54 Boys 7-8 25 Free
55 Girls 9-10 50 Free
56 Boys 9-10 50 Free
57 Girls 11-12 50 Free
58 Boys 11-12 50 Free
59 Girls 13-14 50 Free
60 Boys 13-14 50 Free
61 Girls 15-18 50 Free
62 Boys 15-18 50 Free
63 Mixed 5-6 100 Free Relay
64 Mixed 7-8 100 Free Relay
65 Mixed 9-10 200 Free Relay
66 Mixed 11-12 200 Free Relay
67 Mixed 13-14 200 Free Relay
68 Mixed 15-18 200 Free Relay