2025 Season - Go Piranhas! Frighteningly Fast!

Swim Meet Crash Course
 
What to Wear/Bring/Know!
  • Wear a team suit, bring goggles and team swim cap.  It is helpful to have an extra pair of goggles and an extra cap in case one is lost or broken.  Plain caps can be worn. Caps with logos advertising anything other than Autumnwood Piranhas are not allowed.
  • Each meet will have a theme and swimmers and families are encouraged to dress for the theme. The theme for the week is posted on the website and information is emailed the week leading up to the meet.
  • Bring at least 2 towels and warm clothing to wear after warmups and between events. Swimmers love to wear their PJ pants and sweatshirts!
  • Bring chairs or blankets to sit on. If it is a cool morning, bring a blanket to wrap swimmers in to keep warm.
  • Fitbits/electronic devices cannot be worn during the swim.
  • Remember sunscreen.  Many of the pools are very sunny.
  • Concessions will be available!
  • Last minute changes: Leaving early/coming late:  Please inform the managers of any last-minute changes. Your swimmer may end up swimming in a relay even if he/she is not listed.
Weather
Meets may be canceled in the event of thunder, lightning or heavy rain.  If the storms are expected to be short, we may have a weather delay prior to or during the meet.  Notifications will be sent through an email.
 
Arrival
Parking lot areas may be closed off and used for families to set up. Park on neighboring side streets and be prepared to walk. You can drop off items/kids and then park. Do not block emergency entrances or park illegally, you are likely to be ticketed or towed. Allow time to find parking. 
 
Signing In
Arm Marking is very important, and we encourage families with younger swimmers to write her/his events with a permanent marker on her/his arm. Don’t worry if you don’t get to do this at home, the coaches and older swimmers will help at the pool.
 
Please use a sharpie marker to make a grid like this:      
E= Event number     H= Heat number    L= Lane number    S=Stroke
 
This information will be available on the meet sheet document that will be released the night before the meet. It will also be posted in our team area at the meet.
 
Signing In
  • Swimmers: You MUST sign in your swimmer when you arrive at the meet. Have your swimmer sign in with our volunteer clerk of course so that we know your swimmer is here. 
  • Volunteers: Sign in for volunteer slot at the check in table close to the pool entrance, initial by your name and pick up your name tag. Pay attention to the start time of your volunteer position. For example, the Meet Marshall is expected to be in position prior to the start of warm-ups (home and away) at 6:55 am.  
 
Warm-ups
Please pay attention to the time of our warm-up. The time changes for home meets and away meets.  Typically, home team warmups begin at 7:05 am and away teams at 7:20am. Swimmers will be given an arrival time prior to warmups so that they are on deck and ready to swim at the warmup start time.
 
Clerk of Course
When your child’s age group and stroke are announced, please make your way to the Clerk of Course to sign in.  It is often helpful to listen for events prior to yours so that you can find your children and get them ready.  For example, 8&U swim after 15-18’s so when they call 15-18 boys (first up), it is a good time to get your 8&U ready. After check-in with the Clerk of Course, swimmers will be organized by lane and heat order in the staging area. Staging Clerks and 8&Under Aides will organize the kids and escort them as a group to the pool deck prior to the start of their races. 
 
Watching your Child Swim
Parents are welcome to watch your child swim and stand on deck!
 
After the Race
Tell your child how great a job they did! 
DQ’d: Be prepared for your child to be DQ’d (disqualified) and they will not receive an official time, esp. for the more difficult strokes (Butterfly & Breaststroke).  It is totally OK and is normal for new swimmers.  As the season progresses, you will see an improvement in those strokes and maybe even receive an official time by the end of the season.  Do not let your swimmer get discouraged!   Coaches will work with swimmers who DQ to improve their strokes in subsequent practices.
 
Meet Sheets/Events
Meet sheets will be sent out prior to the meet. Print out the meet sheets so you can follow the meet and know when your swimmer has their races.  They will not be available at the meet.  Highlighting your children can be helpful. Your swimmer will be assigned for 3 races and possibly 1-2 relays. Each of their races will have an event #, heat #, and lane # associated with it. 
 
Relays
Age Group Relays occur between backstroke and breaststroke.  Four swimmers from each age group will be selected to swim one leg of the relay.  8&U swim freestyle.  Older age groups swim a medley relay with each swimmer swimming a different stroke.
 
Mixed Age Relay is the last event of the meet (after freestyle) and has one swimmer from each age group compete as a combined relay team.  All swimmers swim freestyle and relay legs are swum youngest to oldest. 
 
Prior to leaving a meet early, please confirm with the managers that your swimmer is not in a relay.   We often have last minute changes to relays and additional swimmers may have an opportunity to swim. If you are in a relay and need to leave early, please let a manager know as soon as possible. DO NOT leave the meet without telling one of the managers.   
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Results
Results will be posted during the meet on a fence or wall at the pool. Final score and the full results will be sent out on Sat or Sun. Results will be organized by event and then by class. Times will be divided into 3 classes (A, B, C).  Places will be awarded within each class. Award ribbons will be distributed during practice.
 
If you have any questions or you are just feeling lost during the meet, please find Karen, Linda or Emily, our team managers and they will help you!
 
Go Piranhas!!