New to swim team? Welcome! Swim meets can seem overwhelming at first, but once you understand the flow and terminology, you’ll be a seasoned swim parent in no time. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
What is a Swim Meet?
A swim meet is where swimmers compete against another team in organized races. The Dahlgren Sharks participate in dual meets throughout June and July, competing against one team at a time. These meets are exciting events where swimmers get to showcase all the training they’ve put in during practice.
Our meets are “timed finals,” which means swimmers compete once in each event they’re entered in. Your swimmer’s final time and placement is determined by how they perform compared to all other swimmers in their age group across all heats of that event.
Meet Timing – When to Arrive
- Home Meets (6:00pm start): Swimmers arrive at 4:30pm
- Away Meets (6:00pm start): Swimmers arrive at 4:45pm
- Home Meets (5:00pm start): Swimmers arrive at 3:30pm
- Away Meets (5:00pm start): Swimmers arrive at 3:45pm
Arriving early gives swimmers time to warm up, check in with coaches, and get settled before the meet begins. It is important for volunteers to attend meetings prior to the meet starting.
Meets normally finish before 9 pm, but this does vary depending on the number of swimmers and any weather delays that may happen.
How Meets Flow
A swim meet follows a predictable flow that helps everything run smoothly. Once arriving at the pool, families can set up their chairs and pop-up tents. Before the meet officially starts, swimmers warm up in the pool while volunteers meet with their position leaders to review procedures for the day. Once everyone takes their positions, the meet begins with events proceeding through age groups and strokes in a set order. Younger swimmers go first.
Before each event, swimmers check in at the Clerk of Course, then heats swim one after another with times recorded by our volunteer timers. After all heats of an event finish, the next age group starts swimming. The meet concludes once all the relays are done! All swimmers and families help to clean up the space they were sitting in before leaving.
Weather & Cancellations
Meets are rarely canceled unless there are ongoing lightning and thunderstorms. Once a meet is suspended due to weather, it should be rescheduled when cumulative delays exceed one hour. Final cancellation decisions aren’t made before 7:30pm, and suspended meets cannot restart after 10:00pm.
If a meet is suspended, wait in your cars until official word is given. Do not leave until you have been given official word!
Tips For Success
Practice makes perfect – The more your swimmer practices proper technique, the more confident they’ll be on race day
Get there early – Rushing creates stress; arriving early helps swimmers relax and focus
Stay hydrated and fueled – Swimming burns lots of energy!
Cheer loudly – Support all swimmers, not just your own child
Have Fun – This is summer. This is swimming. This should be a blast!
Learn More About Competition
Age Groups
Swimmers compete against others in their age group. Your child’s age group is determined by their age as of June 1st of the current season. The age groups are:
- 6 & Under
- 7-8
- 9-10
- 11-12
- 13-14
- 15-18
The Events
Individual Events
Swimmers compete in individual races of different distances:
25 yards – One length of the pool
50 yards – Two lengths (down and back = one lap)
Swimming has four competitive strokes, each with specific rules:
Freestyle – Swimmers can use any stroke, though most use the front crawl. This is the most flexible stroke with the fewest disqualification possibilities.
Backstroke – Swimmers must stay on their back except during turns. When turning, they may rotate to their front for one arm pull, then must immediately execute the flip turn and push off on their back.
Breaststroke – Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously at every turn and at the finish. The pull cannot go past the hipline, and both feet must be turned out during the kick with legs kicking simultaneously. This is often called a “frog swim”.
Butterfly – Both arms must come completely out of the water during the recovery phase. Swimmers must use a dolphin kick (both legs moving together), not an alternating kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously at turns and finish.
Individual Medley (IM)
The IM combines all four strokes in one race in this specific order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. It’s a test of versatility and endurance! These are 100 yards (four lengths of the pool)
Relays
Relays are team events where four swimmers each swim one leg of the race. They’re often the most exciting and loudest cheered events at the meet! Relay order for medley relays is: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle (different from individual medley to accommodate the backstroke start).
Common Disqualifications & How to Avoid Them
The best way to avoid disqualifications is to practice correct form every single time at practice. Muscle memory developed in practice will help your body remember to do it right on race day! This is why showing up to practice is so important!
Butterfly
– Using alternating kick instead of dolphin kick (usually happens when tired)
– Not bringing both arms entirely out of the water during recovery
Backstroke
– Flipping onto the front too early before the turn
– Flipping onto the front during the swim
– Taking more than one pull after turning to the front
Breaststroke
– Not touching the wall with both hands simultaneously
– Pulling past the hipline
– Using scissor or an alternating kick
Starts & Turns
– False start (moving after “Take your mark” command)
– Early relay take-off (leaving blocks before teammate touches wall)
Don’t worry if your swimmer gets a DQ! It’s a learning experience and helps them improve their technique!
* These are common DQs, but are not ALL the possible DQs a swimmer can get.
The Finals Meet
At the end of the season (typically late July), the Rappahannock Swim League hosts Finals! A championship meet where swimmers who have achieved qualifying times throughout the season compete. This is the exciting culmination of all the hard work put in during practices and dual meets! Finals bring ALL the teams in our division together at the same time. It is a long day, but there is nothing like seeing our swimmers out there rocking it!
Key Meet Terms
Heat – A group of swimmers (usually 4-6) swimming at the same time, one per lane. An event may have multiple heats depending on the number of entries.
Seeding – The process of organizing swimmers into heats based on their previous times in that event.
Seed Time – A swimmer’s previous best time in an event, used to determine lane assignments.
DQ (Disqualification) – When a swimmer breaks a stroke rule, they’re disqualified from that race and won’t receive an official time or placement. DQs are learning opportunities! They help swimmers understand proper technique. When in doubt, officials give the benefit to the swimmer.
Clerk of Course – The area where swimmers check in before their races and get organized by event, heat, and lane.
Strobe Start – Our meets use a strobe light combined with a horn to start races.
What Swimmers Need
Swimsuit – Team colors (black and purple) are recommended but not required. Suits cannot have logos from other teams (except small brand logos under 4.65 square inches). No ties, zippers, or fastening systems.
Goggles – Essential! Bring a backup pair!
Towels – At least two
Swim Cap – Provided with registration. They do not HAVE to wear these but it is a good idea.
Healthy Snacks & Water – Meets can last several hours
Positive Attitude – Most important!
Important: Changing into or out of swimsuits on the pool deck is NOT permitted. Use the locker rooms.
Pro tip: Parents, keep a backup bag in your car! We have all gotten to a swim meet and seen that something was forgotten!