Swim Meet FAQs

Meet Attire

Swim Suit Requirements

• A team suit (the one you were given at the beginning of the season) is required for standard meets.
• Technical suits can be worn for (see site for models/ages):
  • Championship meets (ie Age Group State, Senior State, Divisionals)
  • Last Chance meets - the team designated final meet for achieving championship meet time standards
  • Staff designated exceptions (ie In-Season national-level travel meets, substitute meets for a last-chance opportunity, etc.) 

Swim Caps

• Caps of any design are fine for practice
• For meets, all athletes who choose to wear a swim cap are required to wear our blue team cap with the SSC crown
• Team caps are available from coaching staff (cost is $15, will be billed to your account)

SSC Team Shirts

• Each swimmer will receive three shirts at the beginning of the season, and these are to be worn at meets:

Bring Athletic Shoes

All athletes should arrive at the competition wearing athletic shoes, as we activate with a dynamic warm-up prior to all sessions. This includes Super Splashes. No athlete will be permitted to take part in dynamic warmup without athletic shoes, to avoid the risk of injury. Please be prepared.

Championship Suit Regulations

SSC has a technical suit policy. Why? There are several reasons. We don’t believe in putting extra financial pressure on our families to race every meet in an expensive suit. We believe it’s important to create an even playing field for all athletes who are competing over relay spots. We believe it’s important to learn you can race at a high level without the pressure to put on an expensive suit (just like our high school team does every dual meet). We ask that you respect this policy and wait for the appropriate opportunity to “suit up.”

Technical suits shall only be worn during:

• Championship meets (ie Age Group State, Senior State, Divisionals
• Last Chance meets - the team designated final meet for achieving championship meet time standards
• Staff designated exceptions (ie In-Season national-level travel meets, substitute swim meets for a last-chance opportunity, etc)

13 & Over: You may wear any of the Speedo tech suits available at Elsmore or online. If for some reason you need an alternate brand suit, you will need clearance from your group coach before purchase. 

12 & Under: Effective September 1, 2020, you may only wear USA Swimming 12 & under approved tech suits. Again, we expect you to purchase the Speedo brand of the allowable suits, if at all. Please understand it is the SSC Coaching Staff position, in line with the philosophy of the USA Swimming rule, that tech suit purchases should be delayed until 13 & over. What suits are allowable under the 2020 rule?? Click here to redirect to the USA Swimming suit page. Also, Elsmore Swim Shop is a great resource and they will help you find the correct suit. As a general rule, if you are absolutely set on purchasing a tech suit for championship-level meets as a 12 & under, we recommend the most affordable Aquablade suits for both males and females.

 

Meet Formats

• Swimmers are encouraged, but not required to attend meets
• All swimmers are eligible to swim at SSC-hosted meets (Except championship meets - must meet qualifying times to swim)
• Coaches will advise when an athlete is cleared to swim at non-SSC hosted meets

Super Splashes (Timed Finals)

• Developmental/instructional meets for SSC swimmers only
• Held at HSE Natatorium
• All SSC athletes eligible to swim
• Much more relaxed environment than an invitational
• Practice groups take turns organizing parent volunteers to run the meet
• Ideal opportunity to learn volunteer meet positions
• Sessions do not count towards your volunteer sessions
• Flat $10 swim meet participation fee

Invitationals (Prelim/Final)

• Hosted by SSC or another club
• SSC usually hosts at least one invitational each season
• Short Course Season Hosted Meet:
  • SwimFest           Oct       HSE Natatorium —  All swimmers eligible to swim
  • MLK Invite          Jan       HSE Natatorium — All swimmers eligible to swim

      Alternating years

• December Invite          Dec     HSE Natatorium — All swimmers eligible to swim (this year)
• Northside  Invite          Feb      HSE Natatorium — All swimmers eligible to swim

• Long Course Season Hosted Meet
  • Summer Sizzler Jun      HSE Natatorium — All swimmers eligible to swim

• Coaches will advise when an athlete is cleared to swim at a non-SSC hosted meet
• Fees range from $4-5/event. This will be charged on your monthly invoice
• You are responsible for all meet fees associated with your swimmer’s entry whether they actually attend the meet or not
• Generally a 3-day meet—may sign up for one or more days. Please comment in the notes section on which days your swimmer would like to swim

Championship Meets

• Athletes must meet qualifying time standards to participate. These times can be found under the “Meets” tab at the top of the home page
• These meets are usually held near the end of the season
• Age Group State is hosted by SSC in March.
• Only swimmers that have achieved the State Qualifying time standards are eligible to swim at this meet

 

Meet Procedures

Pre-Meet and Warmups

• Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to warm-up
• Highlight your swimmer's name on the sign-in sheet
• For younger swimmers, write events on your swimmer's hands or arms with a permanent marker
• Swimmers to report to their coach on deck
• The Warm-up is necessary to get the muscles ready for competition. The warm-up is done with their practice group
• Parents are not allowed on deck per USA Swimming
• Parents—psych sheets are sold at the entrance or sometimes can be obtained online
• “Meet Mobile” App—many teams push results to this app during the meet

During the Meet

• Swimmers will report to the Clerk of Course or directly to their lane when their event begins.
• Many younger swimmers will write their events and heats on their arms to help them remember what they are swimming
• Swimmers swim their event and then report to their coach after each swim
• Cool Down
• Focus is on technique, not speed, in the new and younger swimmers
• Disqualifications—The DQ
• Following the last event, your swimmer is free to leave. They do not need to stay until the end of the swim meet. Relays are usually held at the end of a swim meet. Make sure you are not on a relay before leaving

Parents at Meets

• No Parents allowed on deck unless in a volunteer position
• Volunteering at a meet—Wear your blue SSC volunteer shirt. Upon arrival check-in with the Volunteer Coordinator
• Hospitality room—Meals and snacks are provided while you are working your shifts. NO Swimmers are allowed in hospitality
• Cameras/Video are permitted, but no flash photography at the start of the race. The timing system works off of a strobe light and flashes in the stands will be a distraction
• Let the coaches do the coaching
• Stay positive and give encouragement
• Most important—Have fun and get to know the other parents

 

Meet Tips

Parents

• Dress comfortably. Generally, the seating area is very warm and humid. Even in the winter, you may want short sleeves. Wear SSC sportswear if you have it!
• Look for other SSC parents in the stands. We take great pride in the way our community feels like one big family, so this is a great opportunity to get to know other SSC parents.
• For younger swimmers, you may want to write their event #s on their hands. After heat sheets are posted, you can add the heat and the lane. There is a link to more info about this below.
• Pack light snacks for your swimmer (and possibly yourself). Most pools have concession stands but typically do not sell healthy snacks during a meet.
• Swim meet warm-ups generally last about one hour and meet sessions up to four hours. You may want to take your laptop, book, etc. to pass the time.
• Parents are not allowed on deck. If your swimmer needs something they will need to come to you.
• Purchase a psych or heat sheet so that you can follow along with the meet. At some meets, these are posted online ahead of time or at the time of the meet.

Here's a handout explaining how swimmers write down their events, heats, and lanes: Writing Your Heats and Lanes on Hands / Arms

Swimmers

• Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of warm-ups. This will give you time to get signed in, settled in, and ready for warmups.
• Always check to see if there is a swimmer sign-in sheet. If so, highlight your name. This lets the meet personnel know that you are there and that you intend to swim.
• Find the team seating area. At most meets, this will be on the pool deck in the bleachers. At some meets, swimmers will actually camp out in a nearby gym or hallway. The team sits together during the meet.
• Wear athletic shoes to the meet. Most groups will do dynamic exercises prior to getting in the water.
• Know our team t-shirt order. This can be found in the table above.
• Some pool decks and swimmer camping areas can be cool. Bring a sweatshirt or sweatpants.
• Write your event numbers and lane and heat assignments on your hand. Have a parent or more experienced teammate help with this

 

Meet FAQ

What happens if my birthday is on or near a meet day?

A swimmer's age for a meet is determined by their age on the first day of the meet. If a swimmer's birthday is on Day 1 of a meet, they will swim the age group of their new age. If a swimmer's birthday is on Day 2 or later in a meet, they will swim in the age group they swam in or would have swam in on Day 1 of the same meet.

What happens if I get DQ'd?

If you are DQ'd at a meet, your time will not count towards a championship meet or show on USA Swimming. A DQ is a disqualification for not swimming in a race legally per the rules for USA Swimming. If you want to know what you got DQ'd for, ask your coach!

Can I only swim 1 day at a meet instead of all days?

Yes! Just tell your group coach in the "Notes" section any preferences for races and days you cannot swim and they will take care of the rest!

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