What you need to know about swim meets
Meet Information: This is the document that is attached to the swim meet listed on the app/website. It has information on the location, dates, times, EVENTS the athletes can enter, entry fees, and deadlines. It also gives information on how the meet will be conducted, how it will be timed, how awards are presented, and information about the hosting facility.
Event: An event is an individual swim race. The amount of entries will determine the number of HEATs in the event.
Heat: In each event, there can be several swimmers competing. Depending on the size of the pool (number of lanes) only a limited number of swimmers can race at a time. If the pool has 6 lanes, only 6 swimmers can swim at a time, which is called one “heat”. If there are 60 swimmers swimming the 100 backstroke, in a six-lane pool, there will be 10 heats.
The heat order typically has the slowest SEED (entry) times in the first heat and fastest swimmers in the last heat.
*This is not always the case. Check the Meet Form for details on every meet.
If a swimmer wins their heat, they may not have won the entire event. Check the official results sheet (posted), or use MEET MOBILE APP to see where they placed. Meet Mobile results are not official until the swim meet has concluded.
Seed Time: The swimmer’s fastest time prior to the meet. Seeding is the method in which swimmers are placed in lanes according to their entry times.
*If the swimmer does not have an established seed time it may have either an “NT” or a time entered by the coach.
Psych Sheets: A ranking of swimmers by event and time.
Heat Sheets: Provides information on when (heat number) and where (lane) swimmers are swimming. This will be printed out and taped up on the pool walls. The coaches will send heat sheets out when they receive them (a couple days before the meet), or you can access it on Meet Mobile.
Lane Number: This is the assigned lane in the pool that the swimmer will be racing in during their heat. Typically, the fastest swimmer in each heat gets assigned to the middle lanes.
Warm ups - Before the race the swimmers will swim for about 30-45 mins to get their muscles loose and ready to race.
Touchpad: The touchpad is the area at the end of each lane in the pool where a swimmer’s time is registered and sent electronically to the timing system and the scoreboard. The touchpad is very sensitive and works best when a swimmer pushes their fingers into it aggressively at the end of their race to ensure the time is recorded.
Lane Timers - These are team volunteers (two per lane) that record times from a stopwatch and depress the lane buttons connected to the electronic system. The timers provide times used as secondary and tertiary back ups to the time captured by the electronic system.
*Each team is expected to supply 2-4 timers. This is a great way to support the team and earn hours towards the required minimum 10 hours per season.
Meet Official/Referee: A judge on the deck of the pool. Various judges or officials observe the swimmer’s strokes, turns, and finishes.
DQ (Disqualification): A DQ is a disqualification from an event. Stroke and turn judges observe the swimmers to ensure that the starts, strokes, turns, and finishes are performed according to the rules.
*If a swimmer is disqualified in a race, it means that they have broken one or more of the rules designated for that stroke for that event. The judge will raise their arm, then fill out a DQ slip. The swimmer will be notified of the DQ after the race and their time will not be counted.
How Swimmers keep track of their races:
Swimmers will write their Events, Heats, and Lanes on their arms/legs to track their races.
How Spectors can track swimmer’s races:
MeetMobile APP: The app is free. Some features require a fee.
Meet FAQs
When should the swimmer arrive?
15 -30 mins before warm ups
BAAC Coaches request swimmers to arrive at the pool 15 minutes before their scheduled Warm up time. * See Meet Form for warm up schedule
What should the swimmers bring to the meet?
- Swimsuit (consider a back up)
- BAAC Swim Cap (2)
- Googles (2 pairs)
- BAAC paraphernalia (sweatshirts, shirts, tanks)
- Towels
- Robe/Cover up/Swim jacket
- Book, Playing Cards
- Chairs (depends on facility)/mat
- Snacks
- Water bottle
- Change of clothes
- A sharpie
Do the swimmers need to bring the swim gear (fins, kick board) they bring to practice?
No. Swim gear is not allowed at a swim meet.
Where do swimmers sit during the meet?
Depending on the facility the team will usually sit together in a designated team area. *look for the BAAC shirts and pink caps.
Where do spectators/parents sit during the meet?
This depends on the facility. *Please review the entire Meet form for specific information.
Restricted areas -, sometimes, only athletes, coaches, officials, and designated volunteers are allowed on the pool deck.
Transitional Seating - seating designated for spectators while their athlete is swimming in a race. Once your swimmers have completed their race, it is courtesy to leave the seats to allow other spectators to view the next race.
Bring your own chair/canopy - some facilities will allow space for spectators to set up their own chairs or tents (outside).
Which bathrooms can spectators (non-athletes) use? There are designated bathrooms for spectator use. Spectators are NOT ALLOWED in the locker rooms. This is for athletes only. At some meets (like at Hillsboro) they have family changing rooms. Parents are allowed with their kids in family changing rooms). Please note these rules are established to keep all our athletes safe and protected.
Do the swimmers have to be there for warm ups, it is so early?
Yes. Warm ups are crucial to race performance. Additionally some events need positive check in. The coaches need to confirm who is racing before the heats in that event can be finalized.
When should my swimmer line up for their race?
BEFORE their heat. The heats will proceed if they are not present. *Recommendation - Have the swimmer check in with their coach 5-6 heats before their heat and then be in the lane area 2-3 heats before their heat. They might even want to check in with the lane timeser to make sure they are lined up in the right lane.
When can the swimmers leave?
When the swimmers have swam all their events, they should check in with their coaches before leaving.
My swimmer received a DQ, should I speak to the official?
No. Coaches will be notified of DQs and can follow up with swimmers when the meet is over.
What if my swimmer is sick and cannot make it to the meet?
Please contact the coaches directly. See website for contact information.