All swimmers are encouraged and expected to compete at swim meets. Beginner swimmers can get recommendations from their coaches on which races to enter.  Swim meets provide an opportunity for the swimmers to measure the progress of their training.  They create social time for all swimmers to build relationships with fellow teammates and other teams and also provides a wonderful opportunity for family time.  

Swim meets are listed in the event calendar on the team website.  There is a general meet schedule posted every season and can be found at the Event Schedule Link on the website. 

In the event calendar and home page you will find what meet it is, where it's located, registration deadline, the dates of the meet, meet information file, and there is an Edit Commitment button.  Every swimmer should be declaring their commitment to each meet. Just click on the Edit Commitment button and follow the prompts.  This is where you would pick events as well.  If you don't know which events then leave blank and the coach will assign events.  If for some reason you are not attending all day, please note that.  When the meet offers relays, the coach will assign them accordingly.  Here is video to show you how to signup for meets and find meet information.

There are meets that require a certain time to enter.  The meet software stores the swimmers times.  You will be able to tell if the swimmer can enter if there are races that show up to enter.  Please pay attendtion to how many races a swimmer can enter per day/per meet.  

All meets have fees (ex. surcharge, individual race, relay, and digital heat sheet fee).  These fees are charged to accounts before the meet because NST pays host for these fees before the meet.  There is a $15-$30/swimmer coach travel fee for every away meet. Fees are not refundable if swimmer misses the meet once registered.  

Home Meets

NST currently hosts two home meets a season.  The Wray Open in late April and the Seahorse Invitational the second weekend of August. These are big events and take the entire team to help. They are worth the work as the swimmers get to race in their own pool and they are fundraisers for the team.  

 

Tips for attending meets

What to take to a swim meet

  • Arena team suit, an NST cap, goggles, towels.  Always good to have a back up for all of those items. 
  • Warm ups-swimmers need to stay warm before warmups, after warmups and inbetween races.  This can be sweatpanst, sweatshirt, warmup pants, etc.  Arena makes great stuff.  Pool areas can be warm as well.  
  • Spectator areas are usually warm.  Dress accordinly.  Layers is good! 
  • Cell phone and tablet use is not allowed during swim meets.  The Head Coach feels this is a distraction.  Team bonding and focus on the swim meet is important.  Travel games, cards, coloring books, books, etc. are a great way to pass the time.  Cheering on team mates and watching the meet is encouraged and a great way to learn.  
  • Healthy snacks/lunch and drinks. There are concessions at some meets but not all, and some are limited.  
  • Sharpie markers for swim tattoos. Swimmers/coaches write out what events they will do on their arms with markers.  
    • E H L = Event Heat Lane
  • Most meets use the Meet Mobile app for heat sheet event information.  This is a wonderful app!  A must have! 
  • You can take chairs if you don't know the pool.  

At the meet

  • Be on time. Arriving at least 15 minutes prior to the warmup time is a good recommendation.  Warmup times can be found in the meet information and the coach will send out a notice the week of the meet.  
  • The team normally sits together.  Some meets don't allow parents in the swimmers area.  
  • Check in with coaches upon arrival. 
  • You can always check the OnDeck app (mimics our team website) for the events. 
  • On Meet Mobile you can look up the meet and/or our swimmer.  Sometimes it can take a little while for it to show up.  The coaches will always have event/heat/lane info.  Results show in Meet Mobile also.
  • Swimmers need to allow enought time before races to check in with the coach before the race and then after.  
  • Swimmers can also verify with the lane timers that they are in the right lane. 
  • Parents are not allowed near or behind the blocks unless they are timing. 
  • There is no video or pictures allowed behind the blocks, USA Swimming rule.