Basics

Swim Distances by Age Group 

The swim team is divided into gender and age based on their ages as of June 1st of that year. Swimmers do not change groups during the TSA swim season. 

The age groups and race distance are as follows: 

Strokes 

The four competitive swimming strokes are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.  

Dual Meet

Our summer league meets will be in a team vs. team format where we compete against other teams in the Tarheel Swimming Association.  3 of those meets will be intradivision and 3 will from a division above or below.

What to Take to a Meet 

It is important to pack carefully for a swim meet since it may last anywhere from 3-4 hours depending on the number of swimmers on each team. 

• swimsuit, swim cap (required for all with hair shoulder length or longer), goggles
• towel(s) 
• sunscreen 
• folding chair – Sometimes chairs are available at the pool 
• jacket, sweatshirt or warm-ups – depending upon the temperature swimmers may get cold on chilly nights 
• black Sharpie marker 
• food & drinks – host teams provide concessions during the meet, but you want to bring snacks and drinks 
• money to buy food and drinks 
• entertainment –cards, coloring books, books etc.

Before the Meet Begins

• Write the swimmer’s age group and name on his/her right arm using a black Sharpie. Do this before adding sun screen.
• Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the scheduled warmup time begins. (Allow plenty of time for parking.) 

Home Team Warm-up	5:00-5:30pm
Away Team Warm-up	5:30-6:00pm

• Upon arrival find a place to put your belongings. The team usually sits together in one place, so look for some familiar faces. 
• Check-in by circling the swimmer’s name on the check-in list so the coach knows the swimmers are at the meet. 
• After warm-up, swimmers should go back to the area where the team is sitting and wait there until his/her first event is called. This is a good time to go to the bathroom if necessary, get a drink, or just get settled in. 
•  A heat sheet will be posted showing all swimmers. It will list the actual heat and lane a swimmer will be competing in.

During the Meet 

The meet begins at 6:00 pm.

Most meets begin with the medley relay and then alternate girls’ and boys’ events from the youngest age group to the oldest age group. Each event will have multiple heats. If both teams agree, 6 & Unders may swim all their events consecutively so that they will not have to remain at the meet until late in the evening. Swimmers and parents of young swimmers should watch for what events are in the water. Usually the announcer will call the age groups telling them to report to the “Clerk of Course.” (Swimmers should report with his/her swim cap and goggles.) The Kid Pushers will make sure the swimmers are present and will take them to the Clerk of Course in correct order. 

Things parents can do after each swim: 

• Tell your swimmer how great he/she did! 
• Take your swimmer back to the team area and relax. 
• This is a good time to go to the bathroom or get a drink or something light to eat. 

The swimmer then waits until his/her next event is called and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of his/her events, he/she may go home, BUT check with the coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed to swim on a relay where your swimmer is expected to be a member and he/she isn’t there. If during any of the meet you feel lost or confused, be sure to ask other parents for help! We have all had our “first meets” and know it can be overwhelming. Once you have attended one or two meets, it will all become very routine and enjoyable.

Order of Events 

• Medley Relay (6 & Unders do not swim in this event) 
• Freestyle 
• Backstroke 
• Breaststroke 
• Butterfly (6 & Unders do not swim in this event)
• Freestyle Relay (6 & Unders do not swim in this event) 

Scoring 

Points are earned for main events only (the first group for each gender and age group swimming) as follows: 

1st place – 5 points; 2nd place – 3 points; 3rd place – 1 point. 

For relays, 1st place receives 5 points. No other points are awarded. 

These points accumulate during the meet and decide the winning team at the end of the meet. 

Ribbons 

Swimmers may be awarded ribbons for each event they swim in. The home team is responsible for all ribbons for both teams. Swimmers in the Main Event will receive their ribbons the following day - NOT AT THE MEET. 

Those swimming in Heats will receive their ribbons immediately following their race. (Either a heat winner ribbon or TSA Great Swim ribbon) depending on result. Older age groups will not receive TSA Great Swim Ribbons for every event. 

Weather Delays

In the event of thunder and lightning, the pool must be vacated and the pool deck cleared for a specified amount of time (as determined by the home team) each time thunder or lightning occurs. If conditions do not improve after a period of time, the meet will be rescheduled if breaststroke has not been completed. If the delay occurs after breaststroke, the meet is called complete. (TSA Representatives reserve the right to discontinue Heats in order to complete the meet.

Swim Meet Language 

Main Event: The first race of each stroke for each gender age group. Main Events score points for the team. 

Heats: All other races in each gender age group following the first race. Heats are done until all entrants in that gender age group have raced or until the teams and TSA Representatives discontinue running them due to darkness or inclimate weather. 

Medley Relay: Consists of four different swimmers in one relay race, each swimming one stroke. The order of the strokes is: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle. Free Relay: Consists of four different swimmers in one relay race swimming freestyle.

Flip Turn: A quick flip and a twist at the wall when swimming freestyle and backstroke to avoid wasting any time changing directions. 

Mock Meet: A practice swim meet so swimmers will get a feel for what a real swim meet will be like. Only our home team is involved. It is also used to record each swimmer’s time in each event so the coach can place the swimmers appropriately.