Swim Meet Video Tutorials

How To Sign Up For Meets on Commit  - Commit Tutorial

How To Sign Up For Meets on Commit - Video Tutorial

How to Read a Heat Sheet 

Viewing Meet Results on Commit

Common Swim apps/websites:

Meet Mobile (yearly fee) - most meets are on Meet Mobile and it can provide you with event information, times, placement, time improvements, etc. We highly recommend this app for swimmers who will participate in many meets.

HAST Meet Records

SwimCloud - follow your swimmer and HAST on SwimCloud.

Swim Meet Types and Fees

Here's a breakdown of the main types of meets, along with information about fees:

Practice Meets (All Ages, Free)

• These are internal meets for HAST swimmers only
• These meets do not result in official times, they are simply for practice purposes
• We typically host one at the beginning of each season for new swimmers and parents to experience a club meet format
• We encourage new parents to learn how to time at these meets

Intrasquad Meets (All Ages, Free)

• These are internal meets for HAST swimmers only
• They're official meets with recorded times

GVSL-Only Meets (All Ages, Varied Fees)

• These meets involve only current Genesee Valley Swim League (GVSL) teams
• Entry fees typically range from $5-$10 per swimmer, with additional per-event charges of $5-$10 
• These fees are billed to your account

Invitational Meets (All Ages, Varied Fees)

• These meets are listed on the Niagara website, and coaches select a few throughout the season
• Attendance is generally optional but encouraged for competition experience and to gauge training progress
• These meets often include all age groups, sometimes in different sessions
• Deck and event fees are listed in the meet packet

 Championship Meets (All Ages,Time Standards, Varied Fees)

• These culminating events occur towards the season's end
• Qualification times may or may not be required for entry, depending on the championship level
• The levels progress from GVSL Championships to Silver, Gold, Age Group Champs, Zones, Speedo Sectionals, Futures, and finally Olympic Trials
• All championship levels above GVSL will have qualifying times
• Qualifying times can be found on the Niagara website (Silvers, Golds), Eastern Zone Swimming website (Zones, Speedo Sectionals), USA Swimming website (Futures, Nationals, Olympic Trials)

Athlete's Swim Bag

• Team competition suit and spare suit
• Team swim cap and one extra
• Two pairs of goggles
• Two towels
• Spare clothing to stay dry or keep warm
• Water bottle
• Healthy snacks
• Sharpie: Swimmers keep track of their events by writing them on the back of their hand /arm/ leg

Parent’s Swim Meet Survival Essentials

• Highlighter/Pen: these are helpful to mark your swimmers events in the meet program
• Dress for the humidity and heat
• Padding to sit on
• Cash - most meets do not charge for admission but concession and program sales are often cash only
• Support your child unconditionally. Not every race will be a best time. If your swimmer comes out of the pool with a personal best time and a last place finish, help him/her to understand that this is a “win”. Swimming is more about constant improvement than what place your child finishes.

Before the Meet Starts

• Know location of pool – Many warm up sessions for 10 and under meets start around 8:00 a.m.
• Arrive at the pool no more than 5 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time 
• Have swimmers write each Event# / Heat# / Lane# on the back of his or her hand/arm or leg with a Sharpie (if you aren't sure the coaches will help with this - in most cases this info will be sent to parents prior to the meet in the form of the heat sheets) 
• Make sure your swimmer checks in with his or her coach before entering the pool
• Purchase a program
• They generally run from $3-$8 and are vital to following what is going on during the swim meet
• The program lists all swimmers in each event in order of "seed time"
• The program will usually also provide a rough estimate of the time your child will swim their event
• Many meets are also on the app Meet Mobile. If you child plans to swim competitively this app is very helpful. There is a yearly fee. 

During the Meet

• Getting to the Blocks
• For younger swimmers, at larger meets, a Clerk of Course is used. They will call out the event numbers well in advance of the events usually in a separate room (gym / cafeteria).
• When your child hears the event number they will go to the setup chairs and find a card with their name on it for the heat / lane they are in. The Clerk of Course will keep the children organized and ensure they get to the right lane. 
• Race (Heat) Starting Sequence
• Series of brief whistles - these signal the end of the previous heat and tell the swimmers to exit the pool and the next heat of swimmers to get ready to go onto the blocks.
• One long whistle – signals the swimmers to step up onto the blocks for all forward start swims or enter the water for Backstroke.  
• Starter says “Take Your Marks” – swimmers will take the starting position on the blocks or in the water
• Buzzer and Strobe – Swimmers leave the blocks, race starts
• The scoreboard will show the elapsed time and pause on the split time each time the swimmer returns to the touch pad 
• Swimmers will generally stay in the water until signaled by the referee with the series of brief whistles or an announcement to exit the pool
• Times are recorded via a touch pad in the water, manually depressed stop watches as well as a plunger operating an additional timer. In the event that the touch pad doesn’t work or a swimmer misses the pad, there are several back-up times that will be used to record an accurate time for the swim. Talk to your swimmer about the possibility of a score borad malfunction and that there is no need to panic when this happens.   
• Keep track of the swimmers times 
• The swimmer should go immediately to his or her coach after every race
• Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility or are on the swim app Meet Mobile
• Awards are often gathered for a team and given to the coach at the end of the meet
• The swimmer should stay with the team until the coach says they can go

Understanding Disqualifications

Swim meets are overseen by trained officials, identifiable by their white shirts and blue pants. These officials watch each event closely to ensure swimmers follow the technical rules.

If an official observes a potential rule violation, they'll raise their arm to signal a discussion with another judge. If a violation is confirmed, the swimmer will be disqualified (DQ). This means their time won't be counted, and they won't be eligible for an award in that event. The swimmer and coach will be informed of the specific infraction.

Common Disqualifications for Beginners

Disqualifications can be more frequent for new swimmers, especially when they're trying a new stroke for the first time. Here are some common reasons for DQ in beginners:

• Delayed Start: Not reaching the starting block on time
• False Start: Starting before the starting signal
• Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Behavior that disrupts the meet or is disrespectful to other swimmers
• Improper Technique: Strokes not performed according to the rules for that specific stroke
• Freestyle: Walking on the bottom, pulling on the lane rope, not touching the wall on a turn, or not completing the distance
• Backstroke: Pulling or kicking into the wall once a swimmer has turned over to their breast on the turn. Turning onto the breast before touching the wall with the hand at the finish of the race.
• Breaststroke: An illegal kick, alternating movements of the arms, taking two arm strokes or two leg kicks while the head is under water, touching with only one hand at the turns or finish
• Butterfly: Alternating movements of the arms or legs, pushing the arms forward under instead of over the water surface, touching with only one hand at the turns or finish

A disqualification shouldn't be seen as punishment, but rather a learning opportunity. It highlights areas where the swimmer's technique needs improvement. A supportive attitude from officials, coaches, and parents can help a swimmer learn from a DQ and turn it into a positive experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If an official in my child’s lane raises their hand, does this mean they are disqualified?

A: No – An official’s raised hand indicates a potential rules infraction in one of the lanes they are watching. These observations are reviewed with a more senior official to determine if a disqualification should occur. Remember that officials cover multiple lanes, so it can be difficult to know which lane they observed a potential infraction.

Q: The scoreboard didn’t show a time for my swimmer when they finished - does this mean they didn’t get one?

A: No – It usually indicates that the pad didn’t record the swimmer’s touch. A back-up button and if all else fails, two stop watches will be used to determine your child’s time.

Q: What if my child forgets which lane they are supposed to race in?

A: Timers in each lane have a list of swimmers for their lane. The timers should help your swimmer find the right lane.

Q: How do I know which meets to enter my child in and if my child is ready?

A: Check with one of the HAST coaches, but generally if your child is enjoying the swim meets you should try to enter them in as many as possible.

Q: Can I take pictures or video tape my child swimming?

A: Definitely. The only restriction is that no flash photography is allowed because the flash can be confused with the starting strobe light. There is also no photography or even cell phone use from behind the starting blocks. So if you are timing, you cannot photo/video your swimmer. 

Q: How do I find the pool the meet is in?

A: The meet announcement usually has directions. Once on the campus of the school there are typically signs for the pool. When in doubt - look for an entrance with a bunch of kids with swim bags walking in.