Clinton Community YMCA

Otters Swim Team

Help your Swimmer get to the Starting Blocks on time

Kristina Bentz

How Swim Meets Run (Generally)

  • EVENTS: The meet will run each event in the order listed in the meet announcement or meet program. The Girls 50 Freestyle is an example of an event.
  • HEATS: A heat is one race. Every event will run the number of heats needed for all the entered athletes to swim. An event will have one or more heats. Typically, there is one athlete per pool lane. Some heats may not fill all the lanes.
  • LANES: Each pool lane has a number. Often the number is located on the block somewhere, but you may need to look around. If needed, ask. It’s important to know how the lanes are numbered. Some pools may start numbering on a different side than your practice pool.
  • MEET START: Swim meets usually start within 5-15 minutes after the warm-up period ends.
    • Since the break between warm-ups at the start of the meet varies, if you are in an early event, it’s best to be ready to compete before the end of warm-ups.

Get Event, Heat, and Lane Information when available

To prevent mass confusion, promote equitable competition, and cut down the run time of the swim meet, swimmers are assigned a heat and lane in which to swim every race.

Parents: Get heat and lane information for your young swimmer(s). Some meet hosts sell paper heat sheets, others make the information available via an app. 

It helps some swimmers to write their event, heat, and lane numbers on their hand or arm with a Sharpie pen. (See example in 

This step is sometimes saved until after swimmers finish warmups.

TIP:  If the heat and lane information is not yet available 10 minutes or less from the start time and your child is in the first or second event, check with your coach. It may be wise to position the child close to the start end of the pool.

During the Swim Meet

ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT, especially from experienced team parents and swimmers. 

Report to Lane (or Bullpen) Ready and On-Time Before Each Race

Unless told otherwise, swimmers are responsible for getting to their events on time. They need to get to the start end of their lane ready to swim with a cap and goggles well before the previous race ends. The length of the previous race will influence when the swimmer should arrive. If the race length is 50 or less, report early. The time can go fast! Swimmers need to be at their block ready to swim after the start of the previous race (especially for race lengths of 200 or less) — many will be there well before that time.

  • After the start of the race before you, it’s a good idea to check in with the timers in your lane to make sure you’re in the right lane and next heat. Don’t wait until the end of the race before you as the timers will be busy then.
  •  Parents of young swimmers need to help them determine when and where they need to be.
  • “BULL-PEN” NOTE: Some beginner meets with young swimmers have athletes report to a bullpen area instead of the start end of the pool. There, volunteers line them up according to heat and lane. At the appropriate time, a bullpen worker will lead the heat of swimmers to the start end of the pool and set each swimmer at the appropriate lane. At meets using this protocol, swimmers should report to the bullpen instead of the start end of the pool when directed. If not told when or where to report, ask.

Talk With Your Coach After Each Race

After swimming the race, the swimmer should report to their coach to discuss their performance and get warm down instructions. Some teams have the swimmers report to the coach before each race too.

Relax, Wait, and Be Ready

After any warm down, the swimmer returns to the seating area to await their next event. Be sure to follow the meet progress so you will be ready and at the blocks for your next event on time.

  • Time to dry off, put on warm clothes, drink water, go to the bathroom, snack (if hungry), and write next event, heat, and lane information on the arm if this wasn’t finished earlier.
  • Listen for event announcements

 

We highley Recommend The Swim Grid for Big meets where swimmers are responsible getting themselves to the right place!  https://theswimgrid.com/

 

Original Link: https://www.hostgreatmeets.com/2022/06/07/swim-meet-survival-guide-for-newbies/