THE HEATING AREA

This area is under the supervision of the Clerk of Course

Since we have so many new swimmers this year, we thought we'd review heating area protocol in anticipation of our first meet.  The heating area is where the swimmers line up to get ready for their race, and at the Wheatlands Pool is located on the grass behind the starting area.  Before each race, the announcer will “first call” and “last call” swimmers by event number to proceed to the heating area. There will also be a first call/last call sign on the east side of the pool.

1.  When the swimmers event is "first called", they should proceed to the heating area behind the starting deck.  They should bring with them their goggles and little else if possible!  If the swimmer is only swimming a 25 m event, they really shouldn't bring a towel with them as they will be getting out of the other end of the pool, and the towels get in the way and can get lost.

2.  An age group helper will help the swimmer get lined up right for the right event. Swimmers will sit in the heating area in line with the rest of the kids who will swim their event and heat.  As each heat in front of them swims, they move up in the benches until they are seated in chairs behind the blocks.  Adult age group helpers keep the kids moving together in line and make sure they are in the right place. 

3.  From the chairs, swimmers move up to the blocks.  They need to be in position to race as soon as the kids who are in the water ahead of them are finished.  The starter will announce the race so that parents standing by the side of the pool will know which event they are watching.  The starter will announce to the kids to “step up” onto the blocks, then when the horn sounds, off they go!

4.  Coaches and Junior Coaches will be in the heating area to review the race with swimmers and help calm nerves!  Parents are asked to watch the race from the sides of the pool and to refrain from coming to the heating area if possible.

5.  Unless you are getting ready to swim a race, YOU SHOULD NOT BE ON DECK BEHIND THE STARTING BLOCKS.  Having a lot of people standing around on deck is very confusing to the age group helpers who are trying to get the right kids up to the blocks, and to the starter who wants to keep the meet moving.  Parents, please plan to meet your swimmer at the SIDE of the pool to congratulate them on their job well done.  If you need to get from one side of the pool to another, please go around the other end of the pool.

If you need to make changes to your race, or there has been some mistake with your entry, you must first go to your age-group coach to discuss whether a change or deck entry needs to be made.  Sometimes the coaches will put a swimmer in a different race than requested to score the most points as possible.  If you cannot swim a race for any reason, please let the coach know so the Clerk of Course can be notified of your “scratch”.  All deck entries or changes need to be prepared by the coach and are due to the Clerk of Course by ½ hour after start-time.  Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to a great first meet!