Swim Meet Sign Up

You must indicate your availability by the swim meet entry deadline (will be set for each swim meet). From this availability list, our coaches will enter swimmers into their individual and relay events. If you have any questions or concerns please ask either your coaches or the board.  We are here to help!

Why it is important that I opt out of swim meets on time?

Our club is large and it is a labor intensive task for our coaches. They set the deadline based on how long they need to get the entries done please respect this. Creating relay teams can be a difficult task as our relays span training groups, and our coaches do a great job at trying to include as many swimmers as possible but this takes time.  So please be prompt if you plan to opt out of a swim meet.

How long is a swim meet?

Swim meets are full day events and often run from 7am-5pm. You are committing to a full day. 

What happens when I don’t show up or leave early from a swim meet?

Your coaches will be entering swimmers in 4 (or less) individual events and relays.  If your swimmer fails to attend a day of the meet they have confirmed entry for, there will be empty lanes in the races which can affect a relay team's ability to compete in the designated race and often delays the meet for everyone involved. If our club continually does this, it does not reflect well and we can be fined by the region. 

What happens if my child is sick the morning of the swim meet or an unforeseeable conflict has occurred?

If this happens please contact our Head Coach and/or your group coach immediately via TeamLinkt, text or email. Our coaches need to know prior to the warm-up time (often before 7am). It is important to do this as our coaches can make some minor changes the morning of the meet withdrawing (scratch) the swimmer and if possible (not always) will modify relays. We understand these things happen and just ask you inform us as early as possible, it can be the day before or the morning of at the latest.

What if I can only make part of the day or may have to leave early on a swim meet day?

We highly recommend that swimmers be at the swim meet for the entire day. However if you have a conflict and could make a morning or afternoon only then please discuss this with your coach PRIOR to indicating your availability for the swim meet deadline. Please note the coaches may or may not be able to accommodate these types of requests and the decision is theirs. If you are attending a meet part time then you may NOT be included in relays as priority is given to the swimmers who are there for the entire day.  Relay teams complete together a team throughout the season and therefore the other swimmers would also be scratched from the relay and unable to race.

Why is my swimmer only in 2 individual events?

Swimmers can swim in 4 individual events at swim meets. However, our coaches will not put swimmers in events they are not capable of competing or are not ready to compete in. Our region also has standard times for certain events: ie. Swimmers cannot swim a 50m event until they have completed a 25m event in a standard time. This means often for our new or younger swimmers they may be in only 2 events, most are ready for 25m Free & Back. We want swimmers to succeed and enjoy the experience and our coaches are very qualified at understanding what your swimmer can have success in.  Please have an open conversation with them if you have questions or concerns.

If my swimmer is only in 2 events, do I have to be there all day?

Again, we highly recommend that swimmers attend full meets. Please talk directly with your coach with regards to this as there may be times when they make alternate arrangements for arrival times depending on when the events are swam. Also, please note, our coaches may have put these swimmers in relays as well, so they maybe swimming 2 relays and need to be there for the full day.

What do we need to bring to a swim meet?

Team-sanctioned swim suit and swim cap(s), team shirt, multiple towels (swimmers compete in multiple races throughout the day), warm/comfortable clothing and clean footwear, food and beverages for your swimmer.  There are often food options available for purchase at swim meets but providing a variety of snack and drink options for your swimmer(s) is highly recommended (see below for some Swim Meet Nutrition Tips).

Some swim meet venues allow bringing in camp chairs, wagons, or other seating options for swimmers between races, others do not. Parents will be informed of which venues do not allow seats and/or parents staying on deck with swimmers.

Swimmers often bring card games, board games, tablets/ipads, books, etc. for entertainment; it is the swimmer's sole responsibility to ensure these items are stored safely/packed away during swim events they are competing in. We are not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged items brought to swim meets for personal use.

Swim Meet Nutrition Tips:
 
For lunch (assuming you're eating around 12:30/1:00pm) your best bet is something balanced like a sandwich, wrap, rice or pasta with lean meats like chicken, turkey, ham, or tuna with a few veggies. Try to stay away from high protein/high fat lunches like steak with a cheesecake dessert. Also be sure to stay hydrated with water or juice throughout the day.
 
During swim meets, simple is best. Since swimmers won’t have more than an hour between races, it’s best to stick with simple snacks like: granola bars, crackers, banana/raisin bread, healthy fruit muffins, fruits and vegetables. Again, be sure to have both water and electrolyte sports drinks before and after races. 
 
Timing is key when eating before a race. If you have less than 15 minutes before a race stick with water or a sports drink.

After swim meets, continue to focus on hydration and enjoy a variety of foods to replace all the energy burned during those races! 

For more nutrition tips for your athlete, please check out Nutrition for Swimmers, a downloadable PDF in Documents.

Last Update: January 25, 2025