• HOW TO ENTER A SWIM MEET

• ATTENDING A SWIM MEET

• GENERAL SWIM MEET QUESTIONS

HOW TO ENTER A SWIM MEET

1.0 What is Southern California Swimming?

Southern California Swimming (SCS) is a regional governing body and part of USA Swimming, the governing body of all competitive swimming in the United States. Within the SCS, there are numerous sections. Our section is the Costal Section. In general, we compete against other teams from within our section. The Olympic section incorporates the north western portion of Los Angeles County as well as Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Also in our section are teams from as far north a Santa Maria. In addition to the Coastal section, there are the Metro, Eastern and Orange sections.

1.1 How often should my child compete?

Canyons competes year round. We average about one – two meets a month. It is important that your child attend at least one swim meet a month so his or her coaches can assess their progress. In addition, all swimmers, no matter what their age and skill level, can score points for the team

1.2 What are the different kinds of meets?

There are numerous types of meets. The few listed below are the most common:

Blue and Gold/BC Meets - These are the least competitive meets Canyons attend. Swimmers are only allowed to compete in events that they have not achieved an “A” level or higher. Swimmers may compete in events with a C, B or NT (no time)

ABC Meets – Swimmers of all levels are invited to compete in these meets.

AB Meets – Only swimmers with an “A” or “B” time may compete in this meet. Swimmers with “C” times in a particular event or who have never swum a particular event (NT) may not compete (in that event).

A Max or AA Max: At the end of each season, there are Max meets which limit swimmers to “A” time (or “AA”) and below. These are team scored championship meets and it is important that all eligible swimmers attend.

Age Group Championships: Swimmers who have achieved an AA time or better may compete in an AA championship meet (held twice a year). This is a team scored meet so everyone who qualifies is urged to attend.

Junior Olympics: Starting at the 10 & under level, the season ending championship meet is the Junior Olympics. In winter (short course) the standard to make the Junior Olympics is AAA, in spring, the standard is AA. Occasionally swimmers may be asked to attend the Junior Olympics without having reached these standards in order to round out a relay.

1.3 How do I register my child for a swim meet?

Every few weeks a swim meet application form will be posted at the pool. First, make sure your child is qualified to attend this meet (see 1.2). You will need a white swimming entry card for each child swimming in the meet. Using the chart on the swim meet form, locate the events your child will swim. On the entry card, write the appropriate event number next to the appropriate event. Next write in your child’s BEST official time for that event. If your child has never swum that event, write in “NT” for “no time”.

Send the form as soon as possible to the address listed on the meet sheet. You should include a self addressed stamped envelope which the meet coordinator will send back to you as confirmation.

1.4 My child is new to the sport or is weak in a certain stroke does 
      he/she have to compete against the best swimmers?

No. When a child swims an event for the first time, he/she is listed as a “C” swimmer. At the meet the children are seeded by best times. No Time (NT) swimmers will go first followed by C, then B and so on. While it will not be clear who is competing at what level in the pool, when the results are posted, they will be sorted by level. Generally awards are given to the top 8 swimmers in all three levels.

1.5 How does a Southern California Swimming Swim meet work?

 The swim meets are very organized events that run like clockwork. When you arrive you find your team, check in and warm up. Once the meet begins you will hear periodic announcements about what race is in the water. Before your race, check in with the coaches and then again after the race.

ATTENDING A SWIM MEET

2.0 Where are the meets?

Most of our meets are in a variety of coastal locations including: Simi Valley, Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Long Beach and here in Santa Clarita.

2.1 What are the parent’s responsibilities at a meet?

Each team is assigned a certain number of timing chairs based upon the number of swimmers their team has entered in the meet. It is expected that every family provide a timer for at least one hour of the meet. A sign-up sheet is always posted on-line week prior to the meet.  Please sign up for at least one-hour stint. Timing is actually rather fun and gives you a front row view of the pool. Depending on the pool, your responsibilities will range from pressing a button, to using a stopwatch to writing the swimmer’s time on a sheet. It’s easy and possibly the most helpful thing you can do for your team on race day.


2.2 What should my child wear?

It is always best to represent the team with Canyons apparel. The team has periodic sales of clothing. In addition, team suits, backpacks and parkas can be ordered from Conejo Swimworks all year long. For order information please see someone in the office. Remember to bring several towels to every meet.

2.3 How do I check in at a meet?

First, be sure to arrive early. Your child needs to locate his/her coach and begin warm-ups on time. Usually the coach budgets some time for check-in. A check-in table will be somewhere near the pool. Your child (not you) MUST check in. They will be told their event numbers and marked as present and accounted for. It’s not a bad idea for your child to write his/her event numbers on their arm.

Once a swimmer has checked-in they are committed to swim. If your child does not show up at an event, he/she or the team can be penalized or even fined. If you must leave or your child gets ill, return to the administration desk and “scratch” your child. If the event is about to happen, have your child speak to the starter. The child will be asked to report to the blocks, and then excused.

2.4 How do I find out my heat and lane assignment?

When you arrive at a meet there will be a wall of information usually broken down by boy and girls. Here you will see a sheet (psych sheets) for each event. Locate your child’s events and make sure they are listed. If they are not or they are listed wrong, go to the admin tale. If they are listed correct, do nothing.

A few events before your child is to swim, a new sheet will go up. This sheet will have heat and lane assignments and will tell you what heat and lane your child will swim.

At this time he/she should report to the coaching staff and inform them of the heat and lane. The coaches will give them some last minute advice and send them off.

2.5 How does my child get to his/her event?

The coaches are very busy timing and prepping swimmers for their events and therefore cannot get your child to the starting blocks. This will be your responsibility. You need to keep an eye on the pool and watch what events are in the water. Please have your child around the blocks at least one event (not heat) prior to theirs. It is best to have them check in with the timers on their lane to be sure they’re in the right place at the right time.  Teach your swimmer how to get to his/her event on their own and you’ll have greater peace of mind at future meets.


2.6 What do we do after a race?

Immediately after your child’s race, after you hug him or her and tell them how well they did (not a time for criticism) send them off to the coaches who will review their time and discuss the race. If that was their last race of the day and there are no relays planned, they are free to go (please tell the coaches). If there are more races to be swum, they may want to warm down in the pool.


2.7 When does my child get his/her awards?

Ribbons and medals are usually placed in your child’s folder on the Monday after the meet.

2.8 The meet is outdoors and it looks like rain

Rain does not stop a swim meet since it does not impede the swimmer’s performance. The only exception to that would be an electrical storm.

2.9 Where do we sit at a swim meet? You are allowed to sit anywhere you like that is not roped off. Bring a canopy to stay out of the sun and folding chairs are a must. Tarps, heaters, blankets, sleeping bags are all advisable in cold weather.

GENERAL SWIM MEET QUESTIONS

3.0 Is there food available at the meets?

Yes, most every meet has an extensive snack bar that serves breakfast and lunch at a very reasonable price. Swim merchants are also found at most meets and are the best place to get practice suits and other swim related equipment.  However, lately with stricter Health Department regulations some snack bars can be minimal.  It is always best to bring a cooler and a meal with you. Remember, swimmers eat a lot during swim meets, so pack accordingly

3.1 How does a swimmer get disqualified?

Southern California Swimming supplies numerous official for every meet. Officials pay careful attention to every detail from the start to the finish of a race. Swimmers who false start or do an incorrect stroke or maneuver will, in all likelihood, be disqualified. At the end of the race an official will explain the infraction. Getting DQ’d is upsetting, but it happens to everyone and should be used as an educational experience.

3.2 How long are swim meets?

Most swim meets are two day long events. However, they are split into two sessions, a morning and an afternoon. Each session is carefully planned not to exceed four hours (but sometimes they do). However, there are certain championship meets, in particular A Max and AA Max Championships that have no time limit. These are very big meets and you can expect to spend the better part of your day there. Almost every meet we’ll attend will be at least two days long (Saturday and Sunday). Please attempt to attend both days.

3.3 What is long course and what is short course?

The swim season begins in September with short course. These meets compete in 25 yard pools (usually the width of a 50 meter pool). For 8 & unders these meets offer the 25 yard events that are great for entry level swimmers. Long course is a 50 meter (Olympic sized) pool. The minimum length of events in this pool are 50 meters (1 lap). The long course season begins around March.

3.4 Do we hold any meets at our home pool?

Yes. Currently Canyons sponsors 7 meet a year. We host a Blue & Gold Series of 3 meets between October and January for our newer swimmers.  The Cranberry Classic Meet (the week before thanksgiving), the Red White & Blue Memorial Day Meet and the California/Nevada Long Course Sectional Championship in July. In addition we hold an all comers meet called SWIMfest where local HOA clubs are invited to participate alongside the Canyons swimmers.

3.5 Is swimming too competitive for my child?

No. Unlike other sports, USA swimming has taken pains to insure the swimming is both fun and inspiring. To that end not only do the swimmers compete against children of their own age, but due to the A/B/C system, they compete against swimmers of their own skill level as well.

3.6 When will my child be promoted to the next group?

Promotion is based largely on the swimmer’s skill levels combined with their ability to achieve time standards for their age group. Coaches make periodic evaluation and promote year round. Please contact our coach if you have concerns in this area.

3.7 How often should my child practice?

All levels up to Gold offer two, three or five opportunities to swim each week. Your decision on how many day to swim depends on your child’s determination and willingness to make the commitment. Unlike some other sports, there is little increased risk of injury with additional swimming as there is no impact or contact in this sport, thereby making it the best possible work-out your child can experience.

3.8 Where do I find out more about Swimming online?

Southern California Swimming: www.socalswim.org


USA Swimming: www.usa-swimming.org