Swim Meet 101
What Should I Bring to Swim Practice?
● Towel
● Goggles
● Swim Cap (For swimmers with longer hair)
● Suit
● Water Bottle
● Extra hair ties (Girls)
What Should I Bring to Swim Meets?
● Towels (Recommend one per event)
● Goggles
● Cap
● Extra cap and goggles (In case originals break)
● Water Bottle
● Snacks (Healthy)
● Change of clothes
● Sweatshirt and Sweatpants (Comfortable Clothes)
● Tennis shoes/Closed toed shoes
● Small games or homework in between events
● Chairs
● Extra hair ties (Girls)
https://www.swimoutlet.com/guides/how-to-pack-for-a-swim-meet
How to Put On a Swim Cap
This one is very important! Please practice at home with your children! It is very hard for the coaches to put on caps and coach swim meets at the same time! Swimmers, if you know how to do this, please teach teammates who do not when they ask! Another great way for swimmers to learn to put on caps by themselves is by practicing in a mirror.
Here is a video from SwimOutlet.com for the visual learners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JWonOFKzak
Two people to help
1. Put hair into a bun or ponytail
2. Unfold cap and pull it apart
3. Hold the cap in two hands so that the seam runs down the middle and the logo is on the right and left side
4. Pinch with two fingers leaving about an inch of the inside of the cap
5. Tell the swimmer to hold this to their head.
6. The second person will hold the back of the cap and stretch it a little bit and pull over the swimmers head.
7. Tuck in any remaining hair by lifting the sides of the cap and pushing in the extra hairs.
8. Done!
On your own
1. Put hair into a bun or ponytail
2. Unfold cap and pull it apart
3. Hold the cap in two hands so that the seam runs down the middle and the logo is on the right and left side
4. Place the front of the cap on the forehead and stretch the cap back and over the hair. 5. Tuck in any remaining hair by lifting the sides of the cap and pushing in the extra hairs
How to Tighten/Loosen Goggles
Not all goggles are made the same and adjusting your specific pair may differ slightly from the video. When purchasing a new pair of goggles, save the directions in the packet and immediately adjust them to your swimmers’ head size. This video shows two different pairs being adjusted and even talks about nose pieces.
What to do if it thunders!
Do NOT leave. Do NOT leave. Do NOT leave!!!!!
We need the team to stay put near the pool. If you are going to leave please contact your coach in some form! We work very hard to get the relays together and when one person leaves then that shifts or completely takes out relays. We need four people so if one leaves and we do not have anyone to replace them because of short notice then the three other swimmers can not swim their relay and that is unfair to them and takes points away from the team!
This is also a good rule of thumb to practice before you leave a swim meet. If your swimmer is done with events and does not have a relay it is good to check in with a coach and make sure we do not need your swimmer! People change their plans and sometimes we need people who are not in a relay at first.
MEET RESULTS:
Can be found on the brick wall near the restrooms at Ashcreek or posted on a wall at other meets. This shows you the place, points scored, and final swim time that the swimmers ended with during their race. It is set up by event as well and can be used to double check disqualifications before asking a coach.
The points are awarded to each group:
Each group is broken into time standards. Everyone starts as novice and works towards senior varsity by dropping times through improving their skills at practice. The person who has the fastest time in that category will be first and obtain points for the team. Meaning not just senior varsity swimmers score. If you have the fastest time in the novice category then you are first and will receive a first place ribbon and 7 points for the team! This applies to all groups!!!!
1st: 7 Points
2nd: 5 Points
3rd: 4 Points
4th: 3 Points
5th: 2 Points
6th: 1 Point
*Relay points are worth DOUBLE*
Categories
Novice
Advanced
Junior Varsity
Varsity
Senior Varsity
CHAMPS!!
EVERYONE CAN GO IF THEY WORK HARD!
Champs is a big meet in Richmond where all the teams of the GRAL swim league come together and race each other. Swimmers who achieve a Junior Varsity time or faster will be able to attend champs at the end of the year!
The swimmers who do not quite make the cuts but still show hard work and dedication could be asked to join the team at champs for a relay! So swimmers do not necessarily need to make a qualifying time to participate!
Champs dates will be:
Saturday, July 19 - 12 and Unders
Sunday, July 20 - 13 and Over
The time standards are always posted on the GRAL website but some swimmers like to print out a copy and keep it for swim meets so they can check right after an event! The 2023-2024 GRAL time standards count for 2025 champs as well. No changes from last summer. https://www.gralva.com/_files/ugd/c11850_f4468b2ac94747109c03bb2e375633a1.pdf
Clerk of Course
The meet is organized by event and each swimmer will be called by event to the clerk of course. For home meets, the swimmers will meet under the awning behind the blocks. (please do not send them earlier as it becomes crowded and hard to hear names being called).
Once under the awning, they will be called by an adult who will place them on a row of benches in their heat and lines. The swimmers will move bench by bench as the heats in the pool are swam until they reach the chairs behind the block.
It is very important for your swimmers to know their events and to be aware during the meet so it can be more organized and go by faster!
Starts
If your child has an X on their arm, this means they are starting in the water
If your swimmer has an O on their arm, this means they are starting from the side
If your swimmer does not have anything on their arm, they may start on the block, side or in the water.
