Swim Meet 101

Swim Meet Schedule

Approximate start time: 8:30 – 9:00 AM

Swim Meet Activities

1.Swimmers are expected to be at the meet location at the time designated by the coach.

2.Swimmers must locate their team area and check the list of events they are to swim.

3.Our team will warm up in the pool prior to the start of the meet.

4.Swimmers must remain in the designated team area and must be alert as to which events are occurring so they can be ready when their turn arrives. The swim team parents, “zoo keepers” will help the very young swimmers get to the ready bench at the proper time as long as these swimmers are in the team area.

5.Swimmers must be at the “Ready Bench” at least two events prior to the event in which they are swimming.

6.After each event, swimmers are to return to the team area.

7.It is not advisable for swimmers to eat immediately prior to swimming an event. Questions concerning this may be directed to the coach.

8.6 & Under swimmers participate in only the first half of the swim meet. Families with only 6 & under swimmers are allowed to leave after the backstroke event.

9.There are two basic categories of races: individual events and relay events. All relay races involve four swimmers on each team. The meet starts with the 6 & Under Freestyle Relay and the Medley Relay for all other age groups. The meet ends with the Freestyle Relay.

10.The individual races are broken up into six categories: freestyle, long freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley (IM). The IM consists of equal lengths of the four strokes in the following order: butterfly (fly) backstroke (back) breaststroke (breast), and freestyle (free).

Many swimmers bring:

• Sun block & a hat or t-shirt for protection from hot sun
• Two or more towels
• A sleeping bag for warmth
• Healthy drinks & snacks for hydration & energy
• Folding chairs
• Money for snack bar
• Games to keep amused between events

Meet Descriptions and Scoring System

The Northern California Swim League (Nor Cal) season is a series of two team (Dual) meets. The fastest swimmers generally swim in the first heat of each event. Points are awarded for the first heat in each event.

Dual Meet Scoring System

Only the first heat of Individual and Relay Team scores points for the team.

Only the winning relay team scores seven points.

Championship Meet Scoring

Scoring will be explained in the Championship Program.

Northern California Swim League Championships

The Northern California Swim League, Nugget Championship Meet is held at the conclusion of each swim season. Each team has specific organizing responsibilities (starter, ready bench, snack bar, etc.). Parent participation / volunteers are needed to fill operational needs in all areas in addition to the team needs.

In order to swim in the Nor Cal League Championship, a league participant must swim in at least two individual events in at least two League Dual Meets during the regular season. For the purpose of complying with this requirement, it does not matter whether the swimmer participated in an official or unofficial heat of an event.

A swimmer may:

Enter all of the individual events in his / her age group and may participate in one freestyle relay and one medley relay. The first Freestyle Relay team is made up of the four fastest swimmers in each age group or at the coach’s discretion. The Medley Relay team is made up of the four fastest swimmers of each stroke or at the coach’s discretion.

Championship events

This meet lasts for two entire days, Saturday and Sunday. Preliminary heats are conducted in the morning with the ten (10) finalists competing in the afternoon. Saturday’s events include the individual medley, short freestyle, backstroke, medley relay, 6 & under freestyle relay. Sunday’s events include long freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle relay. Parents should come prepared for a long, hot day.

Final participants

Each member of a relay team that competes in finals shall receive a place medal. A highpoint trophy will be awarded to the high-point boy and girl in each age group. Team trophies shall be given to the teams placing first, second, and third at championships. More detailed information regarding finals will be available prior to the meet.

Swim Strokes

Each of the four strokes, Back, Breast, Fly, and Free have rules governing the proper way to swim the stroke. At every meet, four stroke and turn judges will be posted, one at each corner of the pool, checking to make sure the stroke rules are being followed. Should a swimmer violate these rules in a race, he or she will be disqualified (DQ) from the race.

Individual Medley

The swimmer shall swim the prescribed distance in the following order: first one-fourth, butterfly; the second one-fourth, backstroke; the third one-fourth, breaststroke; and the last fourth, freestyle.

Freestyle Relay

Four swimmers on each team, each swim one-fourth the prescribed distance using any desired stroke(s). Freestyle finish rules apply.

Medley Relay

Four swimmers on each team, each swims one-fourth of the prescribed distance continuously in the following order: first, backstroke; second, breaststroke; third, butterfly; and fourth, freestyle. Rules pertaining to each stroke used shall govern where applicable. At the end of each leg, the finish rules for each stroke are to be applied in each case.

Rules Pertaining to Relay Races

A. No swimmer shall swim more than one leg in any relay event.

B. In relay races a swimmer other than the first swimmer shall not start until his/her teammate has concluded his/her leg.

C. Any relay team member and his/her relay team shall be disqualified from a race if a team member other than the swimmer designated to swim that leg shall jump into or enter the pool in the area where the race is being conducted before all swimmers of all teams have finished the race.

D. Each relay team member shall leave the water immediately upon finishing his/her leg, except the last member.

E. In relay races, the team of the swimmer whose feet have lost touch with the starting platform (ground or deck) before his/her preceding teammate touches the wall shall be disqualified.