Unraveling the Questions about Swim Team

Kids don’t just join our Swim Team…Families do!

We are ALL Parent Volunteers!

General Swim Team Questions:

• What is the swim team and why would I want my child to participate?
  • It's fun. It's great exercise. It builds confidence. It's a great way for your child to meet other kids in the neighborhood. It's a great way for you to meet other parents.
• Who do I ask questions?
  • Ask a Board Member.
  • You can also email the Carmichael Beavers at [email protected] or
  • Call: 916-546-8221
• What strokes do the swimmers learn and swim at meets?
  • Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.
• What is the length of the Del Campo High School Pool?
  • 25 yards

Swim Team Practices

• How often and when is practice?
  • The practice schedule is Monday through Friday.
  • The Practice time depends on your swimmers age group.
• Should I stay and watch a swim practice?
  • You're welcome to watch. Please refrain from talking with the coach during practice. Practice is when the coach spends time with the swimmers. Please hold your questions for the coach until before or after practice.
• What happens if my child is not able to attend practice?
  • It happens. Practice is not mandatory. However, the more your child attends practice the more they get out of swim team.
• Does my child need to wear the team swimsuit during practice? During a meet? What brand and where do I buy it?
  • Swimmers do not have to wear a team suit during practice. In fact, to reduce wear-and-tear the team suit your swimmer may want to save it for the meets.
  • Swimmers who do not wish to purchase a new suit are welcome to wear red suit.

What your SWIMMER needs for PRACTICE:

o Practice suit (one piece or Swim Trucks), Goggles, Swim Cap, Water Bottle and Towel.

o Sunblock, apply well before practice so it has time to set.

o Arrive on time!

o Don’t forget a positive attitude, good listening ears, and team spirit!

o Parents: Relax on the Bleachers. Get to know other parents, read, scroll through social media, sign up for your volunteer shift for the next meet.

Swim Meets

• What is Time Trials?
  • Time Trials when our team swims against our own teammates. It is an opportunity for our team learn how a meet works and establish a base line times for the season.
• What is a dual meet and what other kinds of meets are there?
  • A dual meet is held between two swim teams. One swim club is the host team and the other is the visiting team.
• What is Championships?
  • Championships is a 2 day event when all the teams in our league compete again each other.
• How many meets will my child participate in?
  • Your child can compete in every meet that is being held by the team.
• When are the meets?
  • Meet Schedule is on the team website under Events. Meets are held on Saturdays.
• How long does a meet last?
  • Meets generally start around 8-9 a.m. and finish between 2 – 3 p.m.
  • Swimmers are required to check in with their Coaches at 6:45 a.m.
  • 6 and under swimmers will swim freestyle, backstroke and relays only.
• What teams will we swim against?
  • We are a member of the Nor Cal Swim League. In the Nugget Conference. We will swim against the other teams in the Nugget Conference.
• What can I do to help prepare my child for a meet?
  • Help your swimmer eat a food that makes them feel good and fuels energy, get plenty of sleep, bring a water bottle to the meet, and arrive on time. Advise them to listen to the coach and to have fun! Cheer them on too!
• What are the events in a meet?
  • Events are the different swim strokes, lengths of competition and ages of the swimmers swimming.
• What is a "heat"?
  • An event may be divided into multiple "heats." Usually a dual meet will only have one heat in each event with 2 to 8 swimmers depending on the number of swimmers and the size of the pool.
  • The championship meet with multiple teams often have multiple heats of each event to accommodate the large number of swimmers.
• What is a relay? And what stroke(s) do the swimmers usually swim?
  • Relays consist of four "legs" with a different child swimming each leg.
  • The distance varies with the age group from 100 meters (four lengths of the pool) for the younger age groups to 200 meters for the older age groups.
  • There are two types of relays: medley and freestyle.
    • The medley relay has four different legs: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle.
    • The freestyle relay has four legs of freestyle.
• How is it determined what swimmers will be on a relay?
  • The coach makes this decision. There are a variety of factors involved.
• How is the winner of a dual meet determined?
  • The fastest swimmers in each event earn points for their team using the following scale:
  • Individual events: 1st = 5 points, 2nd = 3 points, 3rd = 1 point
  • Relay events: 1st = 7 points, 2nd = 0 points

• What does DQ mean?
  • Disqualification - this can happen for a variety of reasons including starting early (false start), leaving the diving block early in a relay, performing an illegal stroke, performing an illegal turn, not touching the wall with two hands during a breaststroke turn, etc. If you'd like to learn more, see the Swim Meet Officials section below.
• Are kids DQed often?
  • No. The younger swimmers, especially the 8 & under age group tend to have more problems early in the season, but you'll see a DQ from time to time in every age group.
  • If your child is disqualified, try not to get upset about it. Your swimmer will be unhappy enough about it without having your emotions adding to the situation.
  • If you think there was an error made, then discuss it calmly with the coach. Do NOT discuss it with the officials. Let the coach do that if it is appropriate.
• What does it mean when my child is "swimming up"?
  • The coach may determine that the team (and perhaps the swimmer) can best be served by having your child swim in an older age bracket. This is a compliment to the swimmer because it shows the coach feels that he or she can swim effectively and will make a significant contribution to the team.
• Does my child have to participate in every meet? What happens if my child has a conflict for a meet?
• Without consistent participation the team will have a poor season, but conflicts happen. Let the Team Manager know in writing as soon as possible if your swimmer will not be able to attend a meet.
• How do swimmers earn ribbons and medals at meets?
  • All Swimmers earn ribbons.
• How are the results of the meet posted?
  • The team results will be announced at the end of the meet.
• oIndividual swimmers will have ribbons in their mailbox following a meet.
• How can I best help the team?
  • Volunteer and get involved.
  • Support your child by bringing them to practice, preparing them for the meet and cheering for them and the team at the meets.

Swim Meet Officials

• How is a meet officiated and who are the officials?
  • A swim meet will have a referee who runs the meet, a starter who announces the events and starts the swimmers, multiple stroke and turn judges, a head timer and multiple timers for each lane.
• Why do the Lane Timers have to go to the other end of the pool for some events?
  • Some events are 25 meters. They dive off the blocks (or start from the wall for backstroke) and swim one length of the pool.
  • The timers have to see them touch the wall so they are located at the opposite end of the pool from the starting blocks.

What SWIMMERS and PARENTS need for SWIM MEETS:

o Team suit or a red suit, goggles and swim cap.

o Sunblock, apply after each event if possible.

o Two or more black Sharpies—they are used for writing event/heat/lane/stroke on arms so each swimmer can be prepared and on time for their race.

o Double the amount of bottled water or beverages you think you need.

o Snacks that make your swimmer feel good and fuels energy (i.e.: fruit, crackers).

o Money for the snack bar.

o Dry wicking shirts, cooling towels, a good hat, and shoes (flip flops, crocs).

o Extra towels as they get used often during a swim meet.

o There is Team Zoo! Bring your EZ-ups and chairs. Don’t have an EZ-up? I’m sure a Beaver Family will share.

o Swim meet mornings will likely be cold, bring blankets, jackets, parkas to wrap up in between events.

o Games, playing cards, electronics, color crayons and paper, or toys to entertain the kids while they wait for their events.

What PARENTS can expect from SWIM MEET DAYS:

o Your coach needs to know ASAP if you’re not able to make a swim meet.

• All swimmers check in at 6:45 am with their coach (home and away meets). The sooner the swimmers get checked in the quicker the computer team prepare heat sheets and the meet can start!

o Heat sheets will be posted for parents to take pictures to help get your swimmer prepared.

• Write events/heat/lane/stroke on your swimmer’s arm with a sharpie.

o Report for volunteer position on time! If you don’t have a volunteer position? Ask where else you can help!

o Stay aware of events and help get your swimmer to the Ready Bench.

• When swimmers are at the ready bench on time meets run faster!

o You will be at the meet for hours! Why not volunteer for both shifts?

o It will more than likely be hot!

o Each race will be exciting! Get out there and cheer for all the swimmers!

o You will burst with pride the first time your kid makes it across the pool and ribbons! Ok…everytime!