Swim Meets 101

You are all signed up for a swim meet... but now what? Below are some things that are good to know when coming to your first meet.

How do we know what events our swimmers are in?
You can look at your account online or in the GoMotion or Meet Mobile apps a few days prior to the event to see what your swimmer has been assigned to swim in. Swimmers rarely swim every event for which they are qualified in a given meet.  But throughout the season every effort will be made to see that each swimmer has chances to swim each event.  PLEASE NOTE, however, that events can be changed at the last minute (particularly relays) if the coaches learn at the last minute that another swimmer will not be attending the meet. Be sure to double check your events when they are posted before the start of a meet.
 
To download the GoMotion and Meet Mobile apps, please visit our Parent Resource Page
 
What do we pack for a meet?
The following are suggestions for what to pack for a day at a swim meet.
  • Swim suit or jammers - Breakers suit if you have one, otherwise any suit in Breakers colors would work
  • Goggles
  • Swim cap (if swimmer wears one)
  • Sandals or shoes 
  • Sunscreen for swimmers and family spectators
  • Towel - consider bringing two in case one gets wet
  • Permanent marker for writing event information on swimmer's arm
  • Breakers tshirt
  • Adequate warm clothing, like a sweatshirt, for cooler weather like at morning meets
  • Water bottle
  • Swim bag for carrying your gear
  • Blankets, folding “camp” chairs, sun shades/tents, and umbrellas - these all help to make your family’s seating area more comfortable and provide a little protection from the elements
  • Swim meets have lots of down time, so bring travel games, books, cards, etc. to enjoy with friends while you’re not swimming
  • As meets are long, plan on bringing or purchasing food and beverages. Swimming is hard work and your child will need to fuel up and stay hydrated! Most all pools have concessions where food and beverages can be purchased. If you bring your own food and beverages, use a cooler with your name on it. Please see the note below about no food on the Breckenridge tennis courts.
How long should we plan to be at a swim meet and do we need to plan on staying the whole time?
A meet typically lasts roughly 3 ½ hours. Some may be shorter and some longer. Variables that affect the length of a meet include the size of the teams swimming against each other, number of lanes at the pool, how organized a team is in running a meet, and sometimes weather.  If you are not working a job or if your job is complete, you are free to leave after your child swims his or her last event. However, please have your swimmer check in with his/her coach before leaving to make sure he/she is not needed to fill in for a late relay. Events are always held in the same order.  
 
What are the meet arrival, check-in and warm up times
If the meet takes place on a Tuesday or Thursday, meets will be in the evening.
Positive Check-In: 4:30pm
Warm Ups Begin: 4:45pm
Meet Begins: 5:30pm
Meet Ends: Approximately 9:30pm
 
If the meet takes place on a Saturday, it will be in the early morning.
Positive Check-In: 7:30am
Warm Ups Begin: 7:45am
Meet Begins: 8:30am
Meet Ends: Approximately 12:30pm
 
What do we do in the case of bad weather?
If it is storming before a meet starts, a coach or other team leader will send an email notifying everyone of a meet cancellation or delay. During a meet, if lightning is visible, the referee will clear the pool for a minimum of 15 minutes. At Breckenridge home meets, it will be 30 minutes. If there is no lightning or thunder in that time, the referee may resume the meet. During the wait time, swimmers will be directed to take shelter in the locker rooms or their vehicles, but they should NOT leave until directed to do so.
 
When should I arrive for a meet?
It is suggested that you arrive to the meet at least 15-20 minutes before positive check-in to allow time to park, unload your gear, and find out where families should setup their seating areas at. Warm ups will begin shortly after positive check-in in complete.
 

What is positive check-in?

Positive check-in is what lets coaches and officials know that your swimmer is in attendance and will be doing the meet. If your swimmer does not do positive check-in they will be scratched from the meet. To positive check-in, upon arrival at the meet, find the clipboards with our swimmers' names on them. They are organized by age group. Have your swimmer find their name, and then use the provided highlighter to highlight the line that has their name and all of their listed events. At home meets these clipboards will be hung on the fence between the tennis courts and pool deck. At away meets it will depend on how the visiting team area is set up, but typically the coaches will have the clipboards and will call swimmers over by age group to check in. 

 

What happens during warmups?

Each age group warms up in the pool for a few laps before the meet. At this time, swimmers are encouraged to do strokes for the events they are swimming in that day. Warm ups typically start 30-45 minutes prior to the meet. This will be a swimmer's only opportunity to get into the pool prior to their first event.

 

Where do we setup/hang out during swim meets?

For home meets, swimmers and their families will set up on the tennis courts. The Breakers' area is on the side of the courts closest to the gate and the parking lot. The visiting team area is on the other side of the nets, on the far side of the tennis courts. It is through the generousity of our tennis club that we are able to use this for our team area, so it is important we follow one strict rule: Absolutely NO food or drinks (other than water) can be on the tennis courts. It is also important that we leave the courts in good shape, clear of any trash at the end of the meet. It can be hot and sunny out there, so feel free to bring canopies, big umbrellas, pop-up tents, etc to create shade. 

 

We will try to communicate set up areas at away meets with you prior to those meets, but you may have to search them out on your own upon arrival (it is usually pretty obvious, in grassy areas or tennis courts close to the pools). 

 

Where do we eat or drink if not on the courts?

Concessions will be set up in the covered area on the southwest corner of the pool deck. You may consume food and beverages in that area, or in the covered canopy area with the round tables. Please do not bring anything other than water on the tennis courts.

 

I am working the meet, how do I check in?

If you are scheduled to work during a home meet, please find the worker check-in table. You will be given a nametag and will be told when you need to be at your job post. Timers usually have a meeting prior to the meet.

 

If you cannot make it to work the day of the meet, it is your responsibility to find a substitute, and to make sure your substitute knows to check-in for you. Missed jobs are charged $75.

 

How do I find out the results of my swimmers events?

You can follow the event near real time (with a slight delay for inputing results) on the Meet Mobile App. Results will also be posted under your swimmer's profile in your online account a few days after the swim meet.

 

What is disqualification? Why did my swimmer get disqualified?
Just like other sports (soccer, football, etc.), swimming has a set of rules that must be followed in order for the swimmer’s race time to count. Any swimmer can get infractions for their start, stroke, touch-turn, finish, and even bad sportsmanship.
When a swimmer is DQ’d, the reason is recorded on a yellow DQ card. Though they can be disheartening, DQs are common. Especially in younger age groups at the beginning of the season, and especially in butterfly and breaststroke. The best thing to do is learn from them. Also just like in other sports, sometimes officials do not see an infraction. In this case, the swimmer will not get DQ’d.
 
My swimmer placed during the meet, where do I get their ribbon?
Twelve and under swimmers will earn ribbons based on where they placed in their heat. Thirteen and over swimmers do not receive ribbons. Ribbons are placed in family folders sometime the day after a meet, so check there. If your child did not receive the ribbon they were expecting, most likely they were DQ’d. If you have any questions, please contact our awards chair.