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What is a Swim Meet?
A swim meet is a
competition between two or more teams.
At these organized meets the
participants compete against each other in specific events according to
specific rules.
Swim
meets range
from the most basic novice level dual meet to
statewide and regional championship meets.
Arriving at a Swim Meet...
It is important
to get you children to the meet on time. They need plenty of time
for warm-up swims and to get acclimated with the pool area. Be
sure to check for locker rooms, bathrooms, team area, and
the staging area. You should also show them where you set up your
belongings in the team area. For more information see Allstar
Activities
What to Expect at a Swim Meet.
Swim Meet Structure
At
a meet, swimmers are grouped by age and ability. A maximum of eight
swimmers enter the pool at the same time. There are seven classified
age groups: USS 8 & under, 10& under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 17 & up and
Senior. The Senior age group
includes any age USS registered swimmer who meets a time standard.
Within each age group there are different classifications:
Blue, Red, White.
Time standards
for each are established by USS.
In order to swim in a certain classification, a swimmer must have
achieved the appropriate qualifying time.
This
permits fair and challenging competition at all levels.
The athletes compete in varying distances using one of four strokes:
freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly. The Individual
Medley, is a race which is a combination of these four strokes.
Swimmers may also swim as part of a relay team which consist of four
swimmers. They may swim distances of 25 yards, 25 meters, or 50 meters;
the Olympic standard is 50 meters.
Many meets are designed to be learning experiences
for the swimmers.
It
is a time where they can strive to
improve their
start, stroke, turns, pace, and time. If a swimmer improves
their time then they are considered a winner!
Most Age Group meets except Championship meets are split session meets,
morning and afternoon sessions running approximately 4 hours. Check with
your coach to see what you are entered in. The Meet Sheet will
have information about warm-up times for each session. In addition the
coach will give you instructions regarding what time to arrive for
warm-up.
Family Participation...
A swim meet a family
affair. Parents are there to watch their children swim and cheer them on
but there are also times when you will be needed to take
part in the swim meet through volunteering. |
