See the Team Calendar for Meet Schedule!

Swim Meets General Information

By its very nature, the purpose of competitive swimming is to compete and that means attending swim meets. For many new swimmers, taking the first step and going to their first competitive meet is a big undertaking. Our coaches understand this and are happy to share information about each meet and what meets may be good for beginners.

Summer season practices start in April. Swim meets begin in late May and run through August. They are from one to three days in length.  Swimmers are not required to attend any meets - they are strictly optional.  However, meets are often a reward for the hard work our swimmers put in weekly.  Swimmers are encouraged to attend some priority meets (particularly our own during the summer).   Meets are a lot of fun and a great experience, but they do involve traveling, so it can get expensive.  Most of the meets are within a four-hour drive of Salida, and there are usually onsite camping, campgrounds, and hotels nearby. For more detailed information regarding meets, ask the Head Coach, a board member or view the meet schedule listed on the calendar or click on the Meets tab (not meet general info).

Procedures

As a competitive swim team, we encourage but do not require all of our swimmers to attend swim meets and compete in events recommended by their coaches. Swim meets provide an opportunity for the swimmers to measure the progress of their training and practice. They are also a social time, which enables the swimmers to build friendships with fellow teammates.

• Each swim meet will have a meet sheet that will provide information such as location, date, time, directions, events, cost of events, etc. Please consult this meet sheet prior to signing up. Typically the meet sheet can be accessed through the Salida Cyclones website, TEAM INFO tab/Team Calendar page. This will take you to the Team Events page where you can select the meet and see a brief description. The meet sheet may be found under the Forms/Documents heading, as .pdf document listed in blue. Click on the .pdf heading and the meet sheet will open.

• Typically, sign ups will be posted 2 weeks before the meet and will be due 1 week before. Don’t forget to declare your swimmers even if you will not be attending. Under the TEAM INFO tab/Team Calendar page on the Salida Cyclones website select Team Events to either commit to the meet or decline entry. The Team Events page will list the meets, select the corresponding Attend/Decline button. The Athlete Signup page will bring up a chart with the swimmer(s)’ name(s) from your family. Click on the swimmer’s name in the bottom left column. A commit to the event heading will appear for that swimmer. When accessing the pull down bar, there will be a choice of “yes, please sign (name) up for this event” or “no, thanks (name) will not attend this event.” Please mark NO if you do not plan on attending, so that the coach knows that you have considered your attendance at the meet. If you mark YES, you will have a choice of session to attend. If the meet is held on Saturday and Sunday, you may select one or both days to attend. Make sure to select the rectangular box on the bottom right corner that states “save changes” or your request will not be processed. The screen will change to show the athlete’s name, a box with a check mark, and “committed.” You must repeat this process for each of the swimmers in your family.

• Expect to swim a variety of events over the season. Unfamiliar ones may seem daunting, but your limits are often far beyond where you think they are, so keep an open mind and a willing attitude.

• Be present and engaged. Whether it’s cheering at the end of the lane, celebrating a victory, or coming together after a loss, support your teammates!

• Model good sportsmanship at all times. Never show disrespect to an official or a member of the opposing team.

• Follow the “5 minute rule” – whether you have a great race or a lousy one, you get 5 minutes to obsess about it tops. After that, let it float away and focus on what’s next.

• Meets allow spectators. For home meets, we will need timers and scorers and volunteers are greatly appreciated.

Meet Fees

A meet entry fee (approximately $6.00) and event fees (approximately $3.00 per event) are required for entry in a swim meet. The Cyclones cover those fees for our swimmers. Meet fees for regular swim meets are covered by the initial fees collected at the beginning of the season. Championship meet (League, State) fees are the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Upon passage of the meet sign up deadline, Salida Cyclones Swim Team submits all entries and meet fees to the hosting team. Meet fees are non-refundable to Salida Cyclones Swim Team once they have been submitted. 

SECAL Meets and other Meet Pool Locations