Common Swim Meet Questions and Answers

How do I sign up for a meet?

On the Website/TeamUnify: Login then go to Swim Meets > Meet/Event Sign-Up and click on the title of the event. Then select "Edit Commitment" to declare. 

In the OnDeck App: Login then go to Events & Jobs > Events & Meet Entries and click on "Declare" button for the event.

If you have more that one swimmer on your account, you will need to select the swimmer's name and declare for each swimmer individually. 

Make sure that all events that you sign your swimmer up for have the times in black. Events listed in red mean that the swimmer isn’t eligible to compete in that event. Meet info can be found by clicking on the meet name and at the bottom is a word document with information about the meet. It will give you the fees per event, what events are swum on which day, what ages are swum in the morning vs. afternoon.

Make sure that you sign up by the deadline published. For meets that we don’t host, we don’t have the flexibility to add additional swimmers once our entry is sent to the host team. 

What meets should I sign up for?

If you are a new swimmer, please reference the current season's New Swimmer Meet Schedule. Generally, the recommendation is to compete in at least one meet per month.

What events should I sign my swimmer up for?

Please discuss with your swimmer to see if they have a preference, reference your swimmer's IMX / IMR  (Individual Medley Extreme / Individual Medley Ready) goals, or leave the events blank and the coaches can select events for your swimmer. Some pro tips to keep in mind: try not to select back-to-back events, also more than three events in a day is a lot, regardless of age.

Sometimes, there are "cuts" for a meet or events at a meet. This means that the swimmer must have an existing time from a USA Swimming sanctioned meet in the same event that meets the minimum or maximum requirements. Often times, the "cuts" refer to a NAG (National Age Group) Motivational Time. USA Swimming Age Group Motivational Standards are calculated on a four year, or “quad”, basis. The current Age Group standards started on 9/1/2024 and run through 8/31/2028. 

Any time requirements for meets or events will be communicated in the information for the meet. Also, any events that the swimmer does not qualify for will be red in TeamUnify/OnDeck and ineligable for sign-up. 

Is there a charge for meets?

Yes.  Each individual meet host charges to enter your swimmer into the meet. They may charge by event or a sum for the weekend. There is also a $3 charge per meet that goes to Lake Erie Swimming (our LSC which is defined below in the Terms section) and a $5 charge per meet that goes to Lakeshore that helps cover some of the coaching expenses, etc. Meet fees are determined at registration. If your swimmer signs up to swim a meet in Team Unify but does not compete at the meet, they will still be charged as we have to pay the host team when submitting our meet entry.

What happens if I miss the deadline to register my swimmer for a meet?

Unfortunately, your swimmer will have to miss that meet. Meet hosts close out meets once they have a certain number of swimmers. Typically this will be as soon as entries are allowed as there are many interested teams in these meets.  

Will my swimmer swim on any relays at a meet?

Relays will be determined by the coaches on the day of the meet. Please make sure that your swimmer checks with their coach to see if they are on any relays before leaving.

When should I arrive at a meet?

The coaches will tell you when warmups are for your session. Make sure to factor parking and access to the natatorium to be on time. (For example, you may want to add an additional 10 minute buffer for traffic and parking location for a meet at Cleveland State compared to one at Rocky River High School.) 

Most meets will be deck seeded so your swimmer will need to declare their intention to swim once they arrive or will be scratched. See below on deck seeded vs. pre-seeded. Swimmers should arrive for warm-ups even if their event isn't until later in the session in order to declare their intention to swim as well as warm up as a team.

What is deck seeded vs. pre-seeded?

Pre-seeded means that the swimmers heats and lanes will be determined ahead of time. Often times, this also means that the heat sheet will be available before the meet starts. If a swimmer doesn’t show for presseded meet or event, their lane will be empty. 

If a meet is deck seeded, every swimmer will be required to “circle in.” Circling in entails finding their name on a list and circling the number next to their name to show their intention to swim. If a swimmer doesn’t circle their name, they will be scratched from that day’s events. This helps to eliminate empty lanes. Deck seeding is also very common for distance events like the 400/500, 800, 1000 or 1650.

Where can I find information on a meet?

Meet packets can be found in your Lakeshore Team Unify by clicking on the meet name and then the form/documents section. LESI meet packets are also available on Lake Erie Swimming's home page on the far right under "Meet Information".

Why do swimmers write on their arms? 

It is important for any swimmer to know what events and event numbers they are swimming. Event numbers will be listed on the heat sheet (or in Meet Mobile). Make sure you tell your swimmer or give them a list. Often younger swimmers write events on their hand/arm. Sharpies are the most common method for this. If you are writing your swimmer’s events for them, please do so before they arrive/before warm-ups. Heat and lane assignments can be done on the pool deck if needed. The most important thing is for them to know their events. As an example: If you swimmer was in swimming 25yd Backstroke in Event 13 heat 2 and in lane 4 you would write: 13 Back H2/L4 to ensure that the event, stroke, heats, and lanes are all identified.

How can I see what my bill is?

Go to My Account, Billing Summary. You can look up your current bill as well as past ones.

Am I required to volunteer even if my swimmer doesn’t swim meets or doesn’t swim in the meets that we host or has quit the team during the season?

Yes. As a not-for-profit, hosted meets are a fundraiser for the team. Therefore, we require that every family volunteer so the work is spread around. There are many different jobs available at our hosted meets and they don’t require experience. For the long course 2024 season, every family is required to complete 5 credits or their TeamUnify account will be billed at a rate of $30 per unfulfilled credit as agreed to in registration.

The volunteer requirement is for all groups including our seasonal swimmers. Most of the credits will be offered during our hosted meet in July. We will also have limited opportunities to volunteer at champs. All of our meets that we host are great meets for beginner swimmers and we highly encourage them to enter. Many of the jobs that we offer are 5 credits but it varies depending on the length of time required and will be listed when you sign up in TeamUnify.

Note that we only have volunteer requirements at our Lakeshore hosted meet and champs. While we encourage and appreciate if you do help another team, we are not required to volunteer at meets hosted by other teams and do not give volunteer credits for doing so (our responsiblity is to make sure that our meets are staffed).

Examples of jobs that are needed at meets are: Head Timer, Lifeguard, Timers, Admissions, Clerk of Course, Awards, Meet Set Up, Meet Clean Up, Warm Up Marshall, etc.

Is there an attendance policy?

No. The team does not have a required attendance policy and encourages young kids to be well rounded. Practice attendance should reflect the swimmer’s goals.

If the group that my swimmer is in is determined to be incorrect, can it be changed in the middle of the season?

Yes, however, this determination is made by the coaching staff. While the parents may feel that their child should be in a different group, the coaching staff has the knowledge of where each swimmer stands in relation to the rest of the team. Grouping isn’t only based on times.  Coaches also look at age, ability to follow directions, available space in the different groups, etc.

Is USA Swimming registration required if my swimmer doesn't do meets?

Yes. USA Swimming registration is required to practice even if your swimmer doesn't do meets. It is a requirement by USA Swimming to participate in either practice or meets.

Are there any apps that I should load on my phone?

OnDeck is very helpful. (Download from Apple, or Google) Once the app is loaded, you sign in using your TeamUnify (our website) username and password. The app will allow you to see your swimmers best times, current bill, sign up for meets, etc. Also, MeetMobile (Download from Apple, or Google) is widely used to publish results from meets. It has a small yearly fee, but you will be able to see your swimmers placement, time, etc.

Common Terms

Short Course Season - This goes from the end of August until Mid March depending on the group. Meets that we compete in will be in a 25 yard pool.

Long Course Season - This is from April until the end of July. Meets that we compete in will be in 50 meter pools (Olympic length).

LSC - Local Swim Committee - Our local swim committee is Lake Erie Swimming. It encompases mostly teams in the upper Northeast quarter of the state (the rest of the state is in the Ohio LSC). Lake Erie Swimming is the local governing body of this area's USA Swimming.  Most of our meets with be in the Lake Erie LSC but we will compete in a few outside of this area.