Swim meets are a lot of fun, but they are unlike most other youth sports competitions. Below is some key information to know about swim meets.

Meet Timeline

Check-In: All swimmers must check in before warm-ups by circling their name on the check-in sheet. At home meets, the sign-in sheet is located on the brick wall next to the pool entrance. At away meets, the sign-in sheets will be located at the yellow volunteer tent. Failure to check-in could result in swimmers being scratched from the meet, meaning they cannot participate that day. 

All volunteers must check in to get credit for their shift. Volunteer check-in is located at the yellow tent.

Warm-Ups: Warm-ups begin at approximately 7 a.m. for the home team and at approximately 7:45 a.m. for the visiting team.

Meet Start: The meet begins at approximately 8:30 a.m. There is a break between events 42 and 43 to allow for the volunteer shift change.

Meet End: The ending time depends on how many swimmers participate and how quickly each event runs, but typically the meet is over no later than 2:30 p.m.

Meet Set Up & Logistics

Team Tents: At time trials and all dual meets, the Marlins swim team sets up tents for swimmers to hang out in while they are waiting to swim. These tents are organized by age group and gender. Parents may also set up in these tents or they can bring their own tent. There are not team tents at divisional or invitational meets.

Bleachers: At home meets, bleachers are set up on the pool deck for spectators to observe their swimmers. There is not enough room for all spectators to sit on the bleachers for the entire meet, so attendees are asked to return to their tent when their swimmer’s event is done.

Ready Bench: The ready bench is key to keeping the meet on schedule. The ready bench organizes the swimmers in the correct event, heat, and lane order. Swimmers must arrive at the ready bench once announced and prior to the start of their event. 

Blocks: Starting blocks are raised platforms on edge of the pool deck. These blocks are used by competitive swimmers to launch themselves into the water at the beginning of a race.

Concessions: A concession stand will be available at all meets with breakfast, lunch, and snack items, as well as drinks for sale. All profits from concessions directly benefit the swim team.

Length of Course: The Mills Branch pool is 25-meter, 6-lane pool. Most of the pools we swim at for away meets are 25 yards. Qualifying times for invitationals are adjusted to accommodate the differences.

What to Bring 

Checklist for Parents

Swim meets are fun, but they are long. Expect to be at the pool for 6+ hours. The team provides pop-up tents for swimmers and parents to sit under, and we encourage swimmers to hang out in their age-group tent. Parents are welcome to bring their own pop-up tent if preferred.

• Chairs
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Hat/Sunglasses
• Shoes that can get wet
• Snacks
• Concession money
• Tent (if not sitting in age group tent)

Checklist for Swimmers

• Team swimsuit (wear it to the pool)
• Goggles (bring an extra pair if possible)
• Swim cap
• Towels (at least 2 per swimmer)
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen
• T-shirt / Shorts
• Shoes that can get wet
• Healthy snacks
• Concession money
• Books / Cards / Games / Toys

Meet Types

Time Trials: Time trials is the first meet of the season. It is a practice meet that allows swimmers to establish a seed time in each event. There are no other teams competing at this meet. If a swimmer misses time trials, they must come to the makeup day. The is important because they need to have a seed time to compete in a dual meet.

Dual Meet: A dual meet is a swim meet between two teams. This is the most common type of meet we will participate in.

Divisionals: All the five teams that we swim against in the regular season swim together in this one large meet to determine the divisional champion for the season. It is usually held at a local high school pool. All swimmers are eligible and expected to participate.

Invitationals: An invitational is a swim meet where swimmers must achieve a minimum time (qualifying time) in an event in order to swim that event at the meet. The Marlins participate in a mid-season invitational and post-season invitational meets.

Events & Heats

Events: An event is an individual swim race. Each event is a different type of stroke and distance. For example, the 50 Free, is the event in which swimmers do 50 yards/meters of the freestyle stroke. Boys and girls in each age group swim the same events, and there 80 events in each meet. Each swimmer may participate in a total of 5 events per meet, including up to 3 individual events and 2 relays. Coaches assign swimmers to events based on swimmer age, ability, and team needs.

Heats: Typically, there will be more swimmers than lanes for each event. For example, if a pool has 6 lanes, then 6 swimmers will race in the event at a time, which is called one “heat.” If there are 60 swimmers competing in the 50 freestyle event in that 6-lane pool, there will be 10 heats.

Seed Times: Heats are arranged according to swimmers’ best times, with the slowest times in the first heat and the fastest times in the last heat of the event. Swimmers must have an official seeding time before they may enter an event in a meet. These times are established during time trials.

Awards

Time Improvement Ribbons: Time improvement ribbons will be given out to swimmers who lower their time from their previous best time. Ribbons are given out for each individual event.

Meet Ribbons: The six fastest swimmers for each age group and gender are awarded a ribbon for each event. Swimmers on the winning relay team also receive a 1st-place ribbon.

Medals: At the Divisional and Invitational meets, medals are awarded to swimmers who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Ribbons are given out for swimmers who place 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th.