Ladner Stingray Swim Club

2008 Swim Meet Schedule

What to do on Your First Meet

May 31/June 1 Richmond Ice Breaker
June 7/8 OFF
June 11 (Wed) North Delta Development
June 14/15 B4
June 18 (Wed) Ladner Development
June 21/22 Burnaby Barracudas A/B
June 28/29 Kelowna

July

July 2 (Wed) Surrey Development
July 5/6 North Delta
July 9 (Wed) Richmond Development
July 13/14 WRASA Pentathlon
July 16 Crescent Beach "B"
July 19/20 Abbotsford A/B/Vancouver Vikings
July 26/27 Surrey A/B

August

August 1,2,3 Regionals Watermania
August 15,16,17 Provincials Trail

We would like to have as Many swimmers as possible at Regionals this year so please put it on your calendar.

*Meets for Development swimmers appear in bold italics

Your First Meet

So, you're going to your first swim meet. And, you probably have some questions.

Here, you'll find information to help you make your first meet a great experience. Read on!

How do I know where to go?

A few days before the meet, your coach will give you an event sheet which tells you which races you're entered in, where the meet is being held, and what time warm-ups are. Make sure you arrive in plenty of time as swimmers who are late risk being scratched from their events.

Meets usually begin around 8:00 a.m., with warm-ups starting as early as 6:30 a.m.

What should I take?
Meets are held rain or shine (and many are held at outdoor pools), so you should come prepared for all kinds of weather. Be sure to bring the following:

a warm sweatsuit, jacket and rain wear
swimsuit, goggles and swim cap
several towels
sleeping bag or blanket
healthy food, or money to buy some
lots of water
sunscreen and hat
playing cards, books, games, etc.

Parents are also advised to bring hats and sunscreen. Lawn chairs are also a good idea as bleacher seating is limited at most pools.

What should I do when I get there?
As soon as you get to the meet, head for the Stingray team tent. Once you've dropped your stuff off, find your coach and let them know you've arrived. The coaches can usually be found on the pool deck, at special tables set up for them. Your coach will tell you if there's been any change in your warm-up time, and what lane you'll be warming up in.

Warm-ups
When it's time for warm-ups, head over to your assigned lane. Your coach will meet you there. Warm-ups usually last about 15 - 20 minutes. After your warm-up, you're free until your first race.

Going to marshalling
On the event sheet your coach gave you, each race is assigned a number. The meet organizers will call out this number when it's time for you to go to marshalling. Marshalling is the area where swimmers are organized into their heats in preparation for the race. Listen carefully to the announcements. When you hear the event before yours being called, go and see your coach for your pre-race pep talk. After your pep-talk, go straight to marshalling. When you get there, you will be given a card with your name on it. Don't lose this card! It's what the timers use to record your time for the race. When it's time for your race, take your card with you and give it to the timers in your assigned lane.

After the race
After you're finished swimming, go straight to your coach for your post-race talk. Your coach will talk to you about what went well in the race, and what you still need to work on. After your talk, you're free until your next event is called.

The results
After the event, your time (and the times of all other swimmers in the event) will be posted near the pool. The results sheet usually indicates your time, what place you came in, whether your swim was a "best time," an "A" time or a PQT time.

Awards
Awards vary from meet to meet. At most meets, ribbons are awarded to swimmers who finish in the top six places. If the meet is held in an eight-lane pool, seventh and eighth place ribbons are also awarded. Usually, there are place ribbons awarded to both "A" and "B" swimmers. At some meets, aggregate and runner-up trophies, plaques or ribbons are awarded to the swimmers in each division who have the best overall results at the meet. Special "great swim" ribbons and goodie bags are usually awarded to all swimmers competing in the 6 & under age category.

In addition to the awards given by the host club, the Stingrays give ribbons to all swimmers who achieve personal best times, or "A" times in an event.

Swimmers generally receive their awards after the first practice session following the meet.

Relays
Coaches select swimmers for relays based on past performances and personal best times. Generally, coaches choose swimmers whose times mathematically could mean a win for the club.

A list of relay participants is posted at the team tent as soon as they are determined. The coaches' decisions are final. If you are chosen to participate in a relay, but are unable to do so, let your coach know right away so that another swimmer can be selected.