This document provides information for swimmers and spectators attending a swim meet. It outlines what items swimmers should bring like swimsuits, towels, snacks and entertainment. It describes warm-up procedures, how to find event locations using heat sheets, seeding processes where swimmers get lane assignments, staging before races, backstroke starts, and cheering on swimmers. The overall document prepares attendees for the flow and logistics of a typical swim meet.

1. What to Expect at
a Swim Meet

2. What to Bring…SWIMMERS:
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Swimsuit, swim cap and goggles
Two towels at a minimum
Flip-flops, sandals or similar footwear
Sweat shirt & sweat pants (pajamas are also popular), or some similar
loose-fitting, warm apparel to wear between events.
Stocking caps or hooded sweatshirts
Sleeping bag, large blanket for resting on between events.
Pillow
Healthy snacks, juice boxes, sports drink, bottled water, etc.
Games, puzzles, cards, books, or other relaxing diversions for between
events.
Some swimmers bring music and/or portable DVDs (iPods, MP3
players, etc.)
Please DO NOT bring: Balls, frisbees, or other throw-and-catch items.

3. PARENTS and OTHER SPECTATORS:
• Directions to meet and time of warm-ups.
• Sharpies for marking events, heats and lane assignments on
back of your swimmer's hand or forearm.
• Highlighters
• T-shirt, polo shirt, or other lightweight clothes for when you're
in the pool area and a sweatshirt for the rest area.
• Reading matter or other diversions for when you're in the rest
area.
• Money for concessions and a heat sheet.
• Collapsible lawn chairs (Rest areas are most often in
gymnasiums, field houses, or hallways.)
• Small Coolers: Some host clubs do not permit coolers of any
kind or size in their rest areas but most do.

4. Warm Ups
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Arrive ten to fifteen minutes BEFORE the assigned warm-up time.
If you are not going to be at warm ups please let the coaches know.
Check in with the coaches.
Locate the club's designated rest area and stake out your space
within that area by laying out your sleeping bag or blanket
Locate the locker room and pool area
Have your swimmer change into her/his suit (many wear their suits
to the meet under their clothes to save time)
Shower (it is state law)
Be on deck when warm-ups begin
Most warm-up sessions last no more than twenty minutes
Write your events down
Team meeting with the coaches right before the meet starts.

5. Heat Sheets
• Heat sheets can be purchased in the concession area or main
entrance.
• The heat sheet includes all events, heats and individual lane
assignment
• Typical cost is about $2.00 - $3.00.
• Events, heats and lane assignments for our team will also be
posted in or near our rest area
• Use the heat sheet, or event postings, to locate all of your
swimmers events.
• Highlight your swimmer’s events
• Don’t forget to check the relays as well!

6. Heat Sheets

7. Notations
37- 4 -3
50FL
37 is the event - 4 is the 4th heat of event 37 - 3 is the swimmer's lane
50FL (50-yard Butterfly)
The above notation reminds the swimmer that he/she will be
swimming the
in
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Commonly used notations are:
FR = Freestyle
BK = Backstroke
BR = Breaststroke
FL = Butterfly
I.M. = Individual Medley
MR = Medley Relay
FRR = Freestyle Relay

8. Another Option
Event
Heat
Lane
Stroke
27
3
2
100 IM
37
4
3
50 Fly
58
5
1
200 MR

9. Seeding
• Events will be called and/or posted in the rest area, cafeteria
or other location designated for concessions and eating.
• Each swimmer is responsible to pay attention to when his or
her events are called.
• When a swimmer's event is called, the swimmer needs to go
to a seeding area (often in a hallway immediately adjacent
to the pool)
• Swimmers will receive a heat and lane assignment card for
that event.
Sometimes changes in heat or lane assignments occur after the heat
sheets have been printed; if there is discrepancy between heat/lane
assignments printed in the heat sheet (which is what the swimmer will
have written on his or her hand or arm) and the lane card, the
information on the lane card is controlling.

10. Staging
• After the swimmer receives their card they will
sit in the staging area.
• This may be in the hallway or on the pool deck.
• They will sit until they are asked by a meet
worker to move behind their appropriate lane at
the start end of the pool.
• When the heat before them has started they will
hand their lane card to one of the timers for that
lane and await the calling of their heat.

11. Swimmers Step Up
• The heat will be announced by an announcer or
other meet official
• The swimmers will hear a single, long whistle blast
and/or the command: "Swimmers step up”.
• The swimmers will step up onto the starting block
• If they are starting from the deck they will step to
their starting location on the edge of the deck, to
one side of the starting block for their lane.

12. Backstroke Start
• The "swimmers-step-up" command is replaced by
the command "Backstrokers (or swimmers) in the
water'
• Swimmers enter the water feet first and take their
starting positions at the backstroke starting grip/s
on the front of the starting block.
• Backstrokers may also grip the edge of the gutter
instead of the backstroke grip.

13. Starts
• The event is announced by one official, who then
turns control of the race over to the Starter.
• The Starter will command "Take your mark”, at
which the swimmers assume and hold their
starting positions.
• The "take-your-mark" command will be quickly
followed by the starting signal, most often a horn
and a light.
• Spectators should be quiet at this time and
should not use flash photography.

14. Reminders
• Call or email a coach or board member if you
have signed up for a meet and are unable to
make the meet at the last minute.
• If you are not going to be at warm ups please let
someone know so that the coaches don’t scratch
the swimmer from their events.
• Ribbons will be available in the swimmers folder
the following week.

15. Have Fun!
Ask Questions
Make Friends
Go Hodags!