Swim Meet 101
New family information (more details on things you may have questions about!):
Signing up for meets: From the website, go to Meets & Events > Signup Calendar, and you will see a green “MEET ENTRY” button next to each meet. Click that, and let us know whether or not your swimmer will or will not be attending that meet. There’s a box to add any notes for coaches. The coaches will put your swimmers in events, and entries will be available usually the night before a meet. From the app: scroll down to the event, click the event, click the button “Meet Signup”.
Meets: They can feel overwhelming at first! We do a great job of announcing upcoming events, so listen for the stroke to be announced to go to Clerk of Course, or follow along with the events as they happen. Clerk of Course are the people lining up the swimmers for their races. At Berrywood, this area is located in the grassy area at the deep end of the pool. If you or your swimmer has ANY questions about their events (kids just mainly want to know when they swim or when to line up), check with the Clerk of Course!
Most pools in our league are 25 yard pools. So for the 25 yard events, that means your swimmer will swim one length of the pool. If a pool feels longer, it probably is! Chesterfield and Fair Oaks are 25 meter pools. Your swimmer’s times at those pools will automatically be converted to yard times.
At meets, events run youngest to oldest, boys then girls. Events go in the following order, with a break occurring at the conclusion of freestyle:
- Individual Medley (available only to 9 & older)
- Breaststroke (25 yards for 10 & under, 50 yards for 11 & up)
- Freestyle (25 yards for 8 & under, 50 yards for 9-14, 100 yards for 15-18)
- Medley Relay (1 swimmer each from four age groups per relay team)
- Backstroke (25 yards for 10 & under, 50 yards for 11 & up)
- Butterfly (25 yards for 10 & under, 50 yards for 11 & up)
- Freestyle Relay (1 swimmer each from five age groups per team. First four swimmers swim one length and the fifth swimmer swims two lengths)
Time Trials: This is run like a regular swim meet, so younger swimmers can get a feel for what the meets will be like, but with just our own Berrywood Swimmers. This also gets swimmers a time for their events, so they are placed accordingly at meets.
Event/Heat/Lane: This is the order things will be written on your swimmer's arm, so they know what they are swimming. The Event is WHAT they swim, every event is numbered (ie, Event 27, Boys 9-10 50 Freestyle), the Heat is WHEN they swim in that event (ie Heat 5 of 7), and the Lane is WHERE they swim (Lane 3).
Swim Buddy Program: Signing up for Buddies is a great way to get to know a younger/older swimmer, cheer for them and get them a little something - usually a favorite candy - for a couple swim meets. Parents are welcome to decide how much or how little to do, but suggested to keep it $5 or less! A nice note or poster for your buddy will go a long way!
Pep Rallies: Before home meets, we will have posters for decorating (great for buddies!), team tattoos, and other spirited surprises.
Medal Meets: The Championship Meets at the end of the season are for all swimmers depending on what they qualify for. A swimmer must swim in 3 regular season meets in order to swim in either the Bronze, Silver or Gold Meet. A swimmer must have two Gold qualifying times to swim in the Gold Meet. The qualifying times can be two different events, or two times in the same event. The same applies to the Silver Meet. A swimmer with only one Gold qualifying time and one or more Silver qualifying times would qualify for the Silver Meet. All other swimmers are eligible to swim in the Bronze Meet, provided they have swam in 3 meets.
The Bronze Meet takes place on the final Saturday morning of the season. The Silver Meet takes place on the Thursday before the final weekend of the Bronze and Gold Meets. The Gold Meet takes place on the final Sunday morning of the season.
Banquet: The team banquet happens the Sunday evening of the Gold Meet. This is where we are able to recognize and celebrate all our swimmers, where you will collect your Medal Meet awards, and have some food and fun with the team!
Social Events, Fundraising, and More: We are always looking for fresh ideas and people who are willing to lead social events and fundraising nights. Ideas may include: teen night, Popcorn and PJs movie night in the clubhouse, Baysox game, or whatever you want to propose!
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