Swimming 101 - New to swimming? Everything you need to know is here.

2023 Updates are Ongoing

Age Requirements

• Members of the West Howard Swim Club ages 5-18 years old can join the Swim Team.
• To swim in a meet novice swimmers must be able to swim a length of the pool
• Swimmers will be divided in to age groups as follows:
  • 6 and Under
  • 8 and Under
  • 9-10 years old
  • 11-12 years old
  • 13-14 years old
  • 15-18 years old

MEETS

The term Meet is used to describe a competition between two or more swim teams. We are a team competing in the Central Maryland Swimming League (CMSL) Division IV consisting of 5 teams. A swim meet averages 3 to 4 hours. We have 5 regular swim meets in our swim season. We have three home meets and two away meets. We are hosting the Division IV Championship Meet this year.
 

Meet Basics

A Swim Meet is conducted at a pool. For summer swimming, we compete in 25-meter pools (that's the measurement for one length of the pool). Our pool at West Howard Swim Club is a 25-meter pool with 8 lanes. At a Swim Meet you will notice the following changes take place to convert a Recreational Pool to a Competition Pool:

1. The far section of the pool will be divided into six (8) sections, called Lanes. Floating ropes called Lane Lines separate these Lanes. The Lane Lines are designed specifically to reduce the amount of movement in the water between swimmers. For example, the splashing and movement of a swimmer in one Lane, will not affect the speed of a swimmer in another Lane. After the Lanes are divided by the Lane Lines, they are numbered 1 through 8.  The numbers are located on the Starting Blocks, and on the Backstroke Flags suspended over the water.
2. Now, the Starting Blocks are added. Starting Blocks are fixed into the cement pool deck at the beginning of each Lane. They are above the cement deck and are used as diving platforms for the swimmers at the beginning of most events.
3. Backstroke Flags are hung at each end of the pool, 5 meters from the wall. Because swimmers swimming backstroke are on their back for the duration of the event, these flags help them judge the distance to the wall when swimming. Since backstrokers cannot see the wall behind them when swimming, they use Backstroke Flags to count the number of strokes it takes them to get from the flags to the wall prior to a turn and/or finish without having to turn to the side.
4. An Announcer's Stand is installed. The Announcer is sometimes located at a table, depending on the pool. The Announcer relays important information and announces the beginning of each event.
5. Ladders are removed. Competition rules state that no lane can be obstructed during a swimming competition.
6. Ropes and Stands are installed on the pool deck around certain areas of the pool for swim staff and volunteers during the meet and to keep spectators at bay.
7. A Starting System consisting of a speaker and strobe light are in place near the Announcer's Stand for starting events by the Meet Official.
8. Awnings and Chairs are set up behind the Starting Blocks on the grass. The awning is used to shield waiting swimmers from the heat. Chairs are grouped by Lane, in a number of rows, to accommodate swimmers awaiting their event.
9. A Table is transformed into a computer station to process meet results and ribbons.
10. A Concession Stand is set up which will serve refreshments before and during the meet

Swimmers take your marks

We have both Home and Away Meets. They are conducted in the same way, with a few exceptions. On the day of a meet, the day follows this pattern:

• Swimmers are asked to arrive at the pool at a designated time for Warm-Ups. The Warm-Up time is determined by the coaches for each meet. During that time, EVERY swimmer is asked to Warm-Up. This gives each swimmer the ability to stretch their muscles and refine strokes for competition. The length of time for Warm-Ups is 30 minutes with swimmers warming up with their age group.
• During the Warm-Up period, other activities are being performed by volunteers (yes, that's you). If you have been instructed to report in the first shift of a volunteer job, you will receive direction, otherwise you will be asked to report to your volunteer job at the assigned time. Immediately following Warm-Ups, swimmers that are swimming in the first couple of events are called to the Clerk of Course where volunteers will assist them with their event and lane placement. Please pay special attention throughout the meet, as the Announcer will call event names and age groups to report there at different times during the meet.
• Swim Meets begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. with the National Anthem. Each team decides how the Anthem will be performed. At this time, the first swimmers will be behind the Starting Blocks and will be ready to enter the water, as well as all first shift volunteers will be in place.
• Swimmers may be entered in no more than 3 individual events and 1 relay. The events for each swimmer are carefully determined by a combination of ability of the swimmer, and how our team is seeded against our competition.
• The Order of Events is:
  • Individual Medley
    Individual Medley(IM) is swum by swimmers 9 years and older. It includes one length (25 meters) of each stroke; Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle, in that order for a total of 100 meters. Swimmers begin by diving off the Starting Blocks. . (Events 1-8)
  • Freestyle
    Freestyle is swum by all age groups. Ages 6 and under, and ages 7-8, swim one length of the pool (25 meters). Ages 9-10 and 11-12 swim two lengths (50 meters). Swimmers 13-14 and older swim four lengths (100 meters). Timers will stop their watch when swimmers touch the wall with any part of their body. Swimmers begin by diving off the Starting Blocks. (Events 9-18)
  • Backstroke
    Backstroke is swum by all age groups. Ages 6 and under, ages 7-8 and ages 9-10 swim one length (25 meters). For ages 6 and under, the timers are permitted to place their hand, palm side down, against the side of the pool to cushion the head when finishing. Ages 11 and older will swim two lengths (50 meters). Swimmers begin by stepping into the water, holding on to a bar under the Starting Blocks, and placing both feet under the water line. At the beep, they will push off with their feet and hands. Timers will stop their watches when a hand and/or a head touch the wall.  (Events 19-28)
  • Butterfly
    Butterfly is swum by swimmers 7 and older and the occasional 6u. Swimmers 7-8, and 9-10 swim one length (25 meters). Swimmers 11 and older swim two lengths (50 meters). Timers will stop their watches when two hands touch the wall simultaneously. Swimmers begin by diving off the Starting Blocks. (Events 29-38)
  • Breaststroke
    Breaststroke is swum by swimmers 7 and older and the occasional 6u. Ages 7-8 and 9-10 swim one length (25 meters). Swimmers 11 and older swim two lengths (50 meters). Timers will stop their watches when two hands touch the wall simultaneously. Swimmers begin by diving off the Starting Blocks. (Events 39-48)
  • Freestyle Relays
    Freestyle Relays consist of four(4) swimmers from each age group. The 6 and under and 7-8 swimmers swim a mixed relay consisting of 2 girls and 2 boys. Each swimmer swims one length (25 meters) of the pool, with the swimmers on the end without Starting Blocks diving off the side of the pool. (Swimmers are also permitted to jump off the side and/or start in the water at the discretion of the Official.) The 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 age groups consist of four(4) swimmers of the same sex and age group, each swimming two lengths (50 meters). The 15-18 swimmers are also mixed with two(2) girls and two(2) boys, each swimming two lengths (50 meters). Timers will stop their watches when the wall is touched by any part of the body. Swimmers begin by diving off the Starting Blocks and/or poolside. . (Events 49-56). For a relay to count all members of the line up must swim the event.
• Heats are used in each event. A Heat refers to a group of swimmers swimming at the same time. The First Heat contains the slower swimmers, with the Last Heat containing the fastest swimmers. Within each Heat, the fastest swimmers will be in Lanes 3 and 4. Sometimes there will be multiple heats for an event, and sometimes, only one. Keep in mind that winners of individual Heats, may not necessary place first, second or third in an event, because the times in all Heats are taken into consideration when scoring an event and the top times will be awarded places. However, most pools reward the winner of each Heat with a Heat Ribbon. West Howard rewards Heat winners with a snowball too!
• Scoring for each event is as follows: Each winner placing 1st through 8th will receive a ribbon.
  • 1st Place 5 points
  • 2nd Place 3 points
  • 3rd Place 1 point
  • 4th through 8th no points
    • Swimmers 6 and under will receive ribbons for placement; however, will not receive team points unless their individual time beats the time of an 8-U swimmer in that event.
• The swimmers will be guided by the Starter, or Official. They will blow a whistle, announce the event and the distance, and instruct as to when they are to Step Up on the Blocks, and Take Their Mark (bend down into the starting position). A beep sound will signify the beginning of the event. Swimmers do not go at the sound of the whistle. In the case of a False Start, (determined by the Official as a swimmer violating start rules), multiple beeps will sound to stop the swimmers and the swimmers will be asked to return to the Starting Blocks to re-swim the particular event. Any swimmer incurring two(2) False Starts will be unable to swim that event.
• As the swimmers swim, three(3) groups of individuals pay close attention:
• Stroke and Turn Judges, indicated by orange vests, and/or white shirts/shorts with a patch on the arm are at different locations around the pool. Their responsibilities range from watching for correct swimming of strokes to correct turning (on 50 or 100 meter events), body placement on finishes and correct relay take-offs. Should a Stroke and Turn Judge see a violation of any of the above-mentioned, they will signify by raising an arm with the lane number on their fingers (with the exception of relays, when they will wait until the end). The swimmer with the violation will be met by a Stroke and Turn Judge immediately after exiting the water and will have the violation explained to them. This is commonly referred to as a DQ, or disqualification. No points will be awarded for a DQ. Many swimmers are not as concerned about a DQ as are the parents.
• In addition, the Meet Official will also be monitoring the swimmers for strokes. Should there be a discrepancy in a call by a Stroke and Turn Judge, the Meet Official will make the final determination. The Meet Official is also required to "sign off" on the paperwork at the end of a meet to ensure validity of the meet results and any records set during that meet.
• And finally, Timers will record the times in each Lane for that Lane's swimmer. Each Lane will contain three(3) Timers. In most cases, each team will place their swimmers in specific Lanes, which determines which Timers will be there. For example, a swimmer from Hammond will, in most cases, swim in a Lane containing one(1) Timer from Hammond and two(2) Timers from the other team; and vice-versa for a visiting team. Each Timer's time is recorded onto the swimmer's card, and the middle time becomes the swimmer's recorded time. In the case of only two(2) Timers in a Lane, the time is averaged.
• The entire meet will follow this procedure, and periodically the Announcer announces the score. Many times, final scores are only determined after a meet has ended and when some families have left the pool. The score will always be posted on the bulletin board at the pool on the day after a meet.
• Immediately following the meet, if a home meet, those volunteers assigned to Take Down will be asked to assist in preparing the pool for general membership. At this time, the Table Workers will prepare final results and ribbons. Final results will be posted on our bulletin board, in OnDeck and ribbons will be put into swim team mailboxes as soon aspossible the following week.