EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR A SWIM MEET
1. Should I sign my child up for a meet?
- The more experience the better.
- Typically the first meet is 6 to 8 weeks after the start of practice (mid-October for short course season [see below] or mid-May for long course season [see below])
- Short course season (mid September to early March) means that all meets are swum in a 25 yard pool (like Rocky pool).
- Long course season (early April to end of July) means all meets are swum in a 50 meter pool (like Rose Park). In other words, there are no 25 yard events for 8 and under. The shortest event is 50 meters (though there some short course meets in the season as with our teams long course meet).
- The meets close to home (Billings YMCA, BAC, Hardin) should be attended because they are easy to get to. Usually swimmers are supposed to swim at 2 to 3 meets per season.
- Most meets are 2 days, (Saturday & Sunday) but you do not have to go to both days.
- Away meets are a great experience for kids and parents (meet others).
- Meets can however cost money-usually $25-30 for the meet entry plus for away meets, the cost for the hotel ($50-100/night), driving/gas, and food, totaling $200 or more per meet.
- For away meets, they usually start early in the morning
2. Once I decide to go, what do I do? (see #3 also)
- Usually an e-mail will be sent to everyone with a registration form.
- If no e-mail, you can pick up forms on the BAC Board at the pool.
- These are due on a certain date which is strictly enforced (meet hosting will not allow entry if not on time).
- Turn form and check for entry into meet entry box in cage in the back of storage room behind lane 1 at Rocky.
- Team hotel(s) with discounted rates are e-mailed to everyone. It is up to you to make those reservations.
3. What should I sign my child up for?
- Ask coaches and they will usually recommend events.
- Do not sign up for the relays since the coaches will do that.
- In general, sign up for the maximum events if possible but…..
- 8 & U-usually advised to swim only 25’s (Free, Back, Fly, Breast) and possibly 50 Back and Free their first meet (50 Fly & Breast usually not recommended).
----The 100 IM as well as any other 100’s or 200’s are usually not advised for first few meets (unless you want your child to be unhappy).
----During long course season, usually swim 50 meter free, back, breast and possibly 50 fly (ask the coach), also consider 100 free or back.
- 9 & 10’s, & 11 & 12’s-Usually sign up for all 50’s (Fly, Back, Breast, Free) as well as 100 Free.
----If their strength and endurance in the pool are good, the 100 IM and possibly the 100 Back or Breast could be considered depending upon how their strokes are.
----For a beginner swimmer, NEVER sign them up for 100 Fly or your child will never forget/forgive!
----During long course season, usually 50 meter free, back, breast, and possibly 50 fly (ask coach), also consider 100 free or back.
4. What do they eat the night before and morning of the meet?
- Night before: Generally a well balanced meal possibly with a bit more carbohydrates such as pasta.
- Morning of: Generally a higher carb and smaller content of fats is recommended (cereal with only a small amount of skim milk), toast with jelly, bagels, pop tarts, waffles with minimal syrup, fruit (bananas are good), juice rather than milk, sport drinks.
- At the meet: Mostly carbohydrates and some protein. Fruit, bagels, cereal bars, Cup of Noodles (from snack bar), sport drink, sport bars (cliff bar, power bar etc.).
- Ideally, no cheese, milk, chocolate and fats.
- Try to eat light to moderate balanced lunch if there is a lunch break at the meet. If your child is bloated, they will not swim well. Try to have some carbs, protein and a bit less fat.
5. What to bring?
- Suit (of course)
- Goggles (2 pair in case one breaks)-see #8 for goggle tips.
- 2 towels
- 2 sets of warm-up clothes (in case one gets wet)
- BAC swim cap (if used)
- Things to do (books, Gameboy, cards etc.). There is usually 15-60 minutes between events.
- Fold up chairs (if desired)
- Food/snacks/sport drinks, etc.-There is usually a snack bar if you wish to purchase items there.
- Blankets for the kids to sit on
- Winter hat (if child tends to get cold)
6. When do I need to be there?
- Usually 10-15 minutes before warm-ups start (the time is normally sent out in the sign up information.
7. The Meet
- Warm ups usually are 20-30 minutes long. Very important to get swimmer comfortable with the pool and get their muscles warmed up.
- Frequently there are 2 or 3 warm up periods (e.g.
- After warm-ups, get into dry clothes and have a small snack.
- Usually team will do some cheers before the meet starts.
- The meet program will show which heat, lane and event your child is in. The heat depends upon seed time with the fastest swimmers in the last heat.
- First group to swim an event are the 8 & U then the 9 & 10, etc. Girls before the boys.
- Can estimate how long each heat will take by looking at the slowest time in the heat.
- Try and get your child to their coach 10 minutes or so before they swim (much longer and they will have to sit around, much shorter and they may miss their race). The coach will give them pointers.
- After the swimmers race, have them go and talk to their coach (more pointers).
- Disqualifications (DQ’s ) are common especially in breast and fly so let your swimmer know it is ok ahead of time.
- Official time will usually be posted about 20 minutes after they race. It is not uncommon for young swimmers to not touch the pad hard enough to stop the clock (thus the back-up system).
- If 2 parents are at the meet, timing can be a way for time to go faster for one of them. Additionally, it lets you meet people and helps the meet run smoothly. Finally, it allows you to be down with your swimmer when they swim.
8. Goggle Tips
- They have a tendency to fall off it not put on correctly, making the swim more difficult.
- If goggles fall off in a race, leave them where they are or the swimmer will be disqualified.
- To prevent this from happening: bungee cords (instead of the strap already on the goggles) can help to really tighten goggles down (can get them them at swim meets or through the teams swim shop). The swim cap can also be put over goggles with front coming just over top of goggles.
9. When can you leave?
- Once your child’s last race is done (check first to see if they are in a relay).
10. Meet Weekend
- Coaches would prefer for kids to not be in hot tubs.
- Ok to swim in the hotel pools
- Eat a good dinner.