FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There are lots of things to know/learn for first-time summer swim families. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions/Answers that might help you get ready for your first summer swim season:
Q: How do I sign up my swimmer for a meet?
On the team website (while logged into your account), click on the "Events" heading. Click the "Attend/Decline" button under each meet to indicate your swimmer’s availability. Please sign up by the following deadlines: For Tuesday meets, you must sign up by Saturday prior to the meet. For Thursday meets, you must sign up by the Monday prior to the meet. If your swimmer is not signed up to attend a meet, he/she will not be entered in the team lineup. If you show up to a meet that you did not respond to on the website, your swimmer will not be entered in the team lineup.
Similarly, parents should click on the "Job Signup" button within the event details to indicate your availability to help work at each meet (away meets too). We need all parents to pitch in so the meets run smoothly and efficiently. Concessions donations are also handled via the “Job Signup” button within the Event details.
Q: What should my swimmer bring to a meet?
All swimmers should wear their team suit, team swim cap, and goggles. They should pack at least one towel (2 recommended) and dry clothing to wear over their suits between events. Many swimmers like to bring sweatpants and a sweatshirt since the temperature drops when the sun goes down. Some swimmers bring lawn chairs to sit on, while others prefer to sit on a towel or blanket. Swimmers may bring snacks or they may purchase food and drinks from the concession stand. There are team pop-up tents, but there is not enough room for all swimmers under the tents.
Q: What should parents bring to a meet?
Parents should bring lawn chairs, Otters Spirit Wear, sunglasses, umbrella, and your camera (say cheese!!). Most of us get hungry too, so don’t forget your cash for the concession stand.
Q. What time do Dual Meets start?
Dual meets begin at 6:15pm; however, swimmers are asked to be at the pool early for warm ups. For home meets, swimmers should arrive at 4:30pm. For away meets, swimmers should arrive at 5:00pm. All pool addresses are located under the "League Pools" heading on the website. There is no cost for spectators to attend a dual meet. There is a spectator entry fee for most invitationals, Divisionals, and League Championships.
Q: How long do Dual Meets last?
The length of a meet depends on the number of swimmers on each team. The majority of our dual meets run for approximately 3-4 hours. Unexpected factors such as inclement weather, official delays, technical difficulties, etc. can occasionally cause a meet to run longer.
Q: What is the difference between a Dual Meet and an Invitational Meet?
Dual Meets are meets between two teams of the summer swim league. All swimmers are expected to swim all dual meets unless the swimmer is on vacation or ill. Dual Meets are held on most Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Invitational Meets are meets that our team has been invited to attend, and they are optional for swimmers. There is an additional cost (usually $4 or $5 per event) to swim in invitational meets. Invitational Meets are often held on weekends.
Divisionals is the year-end championship meet with all teams in our Division. All swimmers are expected to attend unless the swimmer is on vacation or ill. The entry fees for this meet are included in your registration (no additional cost).
League Championships is the final meet of the season with all teams from all Divisions in the Lancaster County Summer Swim League. The team will enter relays on Friday night (selected by the coaches). Individual events are on Saturday. Swimmers for individual events must meet specific time standards for their age and gender to qualify for League Championships. The qualification times are listed on the Members Only page of this site.
Q: Can swimmers leave after they are done with their events?
Dual Meets -- The coaches request that all swimmers stay through the conclusion of the meet. There are multiple reasons for this request. First, the relays are the most fun part of the meet. Even if your swimmer isn't swimming in them, it is fun to cheer on your teammates. Second, sometimes a swimmer has to scratch from a relay due to illness, injury, etc. In that case, we can fill that spot with another swimmer who has not already swum 3 live events. If your swimmer leaves, it might prevent the team from entering a relay. If you need to leave early, please notify the coaches prior to leaving.
Invitationals – These meets are about the individual swimmers. Swimmers typically leave after they swim their final event of the day. Just make sure the coaches know that you are leaving.
Q: What is the order of events?
Dual Meets (and Divisionals) - (1) Freestyle, (2) Backstroke, (3) Breaststroke, (4) Butterfly, and (5) Freestyle Relay. Each stroke begins with the youngest age group and progresses through the oldest age group. The age groups are: 8 and Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18 (or Open). In each age group, the girls swim first (fastest heat to slowest), followed by the boys. Swimmers in the 8 & U and 10 & U age groups swim one lap (25 yards or meters); swimmers 11 & older swim 2 laps (50 yards or meters) for each event.
League Championships is the final meet of the season with all teams from all Divisions in the Lancaster County Summer Swim League. The team will enter relays on Friday night (selected by the coaches). Individual events are on Saturday. Swimmers for individual events must meet specific time standards for their age and gender to qualify for League Championships. The qualification times are listed on the Members Only page of this site.
Invitationals – Event order varies for Invitationals – See meet information packet for order of events.
Q: How many events will my child swim in a meet?
Most swimmers will be entered in 3 events (if they are able). This is the maximum number of "Live" events permitted for each swimmer. Some swimmers, however, may be entered into additional Exhibition events, but this is rare. The coaches like to keep them fresh for the live events to make sure they are at their best. All relays are considered Live events.
Q: How are my child’s events selected for the meet, and when do we find out what they are swimming?
Our coaches put a lot of thought into the lineup. They study the strengths of each of our swimmers, and predict the strength of the other team’s lineup based on past results. Sometimes something that may seem strange to you may have a distinct purpose in the lineup. Because this is so complicated to set the lineup, it is extremely difficult to make last minute changes. Please do not take last minute cancellations lightly.
Swimmers are typically told what they are swimming at the morning practice on the day of the meet, and an email will be sent as well. Swimmers are encouraged to attend morning practice on the day of meets for this reason, and to allow practicing of the actual relay teams for that night’s meet. Please do your best to attend these practices.
Q: What is the difference between a "Live" heat and an "Exhibition" heat?
The Live heat typically consists of the fastest swimmers because the finishing places of the Live heat count toward the team score. Exhibition heats do not count toward the team score, but they are still very important because as swimmers improve their times, they could move to the Live heat for the next meet! Most younger swimmers don’t realize the difference between the Live and Exhibition heats, so they enjoy winning an exhibition heat just as much. Exhibition swimmers may still qualify for League Championships, and may earn exhibition ribbons.
Q: How do swimmers know when it is time for their events?
During the meet, parent volunteers will be "staging" each event. The "stagers" will call out each event and line up the swimmers into their appropriate lanes. It is very important for swimmers (and parents) to be listening for their events to be called. All swimmers are encouraged to sit with their teammates so they do not miss the staging of their events. If a swimmer cannot be located, he/she will be scratched from the event.
Q: What is a DQ?
DQ stands for disqualification, Swimmers must swim each stroke legally in order for their swim to “count”. Everyone has DQ’d. It is nothing to be concerned about or scared of. If a swimmer DQ’s, the coaches will work with them at practice to correct their stroke to make it legal. The coaches will not typically put a swimmer in an event unless they think they can swim it legally.
Q: How is a swim meet scored?
For individual events: First place = 5 points, Second place = 3 points, Third place = 1 point. For relays: First place = 7 points, no points are awarded for second or third place. The team with the most team points wins the meet (Boys and Girls combined).
Q: Why are some pool lengths different?
Typical outdoor pools are 25 METERS in length. Most indoor pools are 25 YARDS in length. Some outdoor pools (like the L-S YMCA Outdoor pool) are also 25 YARDS. Ours is one of just 2 pools in our league which are outdoor yard pools. Because of the length difference, you must convert the times to be able to compare them for improvement. To convert a Meter time to a Yard Time – Multiply by 0.9144 – or divide by the same number to go from Yard time to Meter time. Click on the Members Only tab to see the Meter and Yard qualifying times for League Championships. Swimmers can qualify at either pool length.
Q: What happens if it rains?
If it is raining before a meet begins, keep checking your email and REMIND. If you do not receive an alert stating the meet has been postponed, please arrive as planned. If it begins to rain during a meet, the meet will continue unless lightning or thunder is present. In this case, the meet will be suspended for 30 minutes, and everyone will be required to temporarily vacate the pool area (we suggest going to your car). Please do NOT leave the meet during the suspension period. If the storm ceases after 30 minutes, the meet will resume. If the storm continues, a "Remind" text message will be sent, alerting everyone to the meet's postponement. Again, please do NOT leave the meet until notified of a postponement.
And finally... Remember that summer swim is designed to be challenging and FUN! Everyone must bring their competitive spirits and positive attitudes to every swim meet! Go Otters!
