Leeland Station Swim Team

Recommended Clothing/Gear to bring to meets:

• Swim suit (team suit optional) Swimsuits must not have zippers or tie-on tops
• Team shirt (optional)
• Swim cap
• At least one good pair of goggles!
• Several towels
• Sharpie to write your child's event numbers on his/her arm before the meet.
• Blankets or chairs to sit on around or outside the pool deck. Many families also bring pop-up tents.
• Sun screen and bug spray.
• Healthy snacks, water! water! water! (being in the water doesn't count), sport drinks, or money for the concession stand.
• Books, playing cards, games, etc. for between events.
• Change of clothes, warm-up pants and a jacket or sweatshirt for cooler evenings and/or rain delays
• LOTS of Express Team Spirit - good sportsmanship ... quiet for the start ... then cheer like crazy during the race!!

Meet Day To-Do’s and Order of Operations:

• Be on time for the meet to allow for check-in and warm-ups. 
• Warm-ups for each team will precede the meet, with the host team swimming first usually around 4:30 p.m. The Coach will provide you with warm-up instructions and when to begin.
• Parents- Check-in with the volunteer coordinator upon arrival. At least one family representative is required to volunteer for at least ½ of each meet.
• First Half Volunteer work events 1-36. Second Half Volunteers work events 37-68
• Some volunteer positions require you to attend pre-meet meetings usually 20 minutes before the official meet start time: ex Lane Timers Meeting & Stroke and Turn Meeting
• After both teams have warmed-up and the National Anthem is sung, the meet begins!
• Swimmers should monitor events and go to the clerk of the course when their event number is posted.
• If you are in a relay, DO NOT LEAVE the relay assembly area until you are lining up for the heat.
• Meets are projected to last four to five hours. Most events for younger children will be completed earlier in the meet.
• Before leaving the meet, check with a coach to see if you’re needed for any final relays.
• Email us at [email protected] if you are running late. We have many relays and entries that will be affected if you are not there.

Meet Signups:

• A few days prior to a meet, the swimmer should discuss with the coaches which events (strokes) they may be “legal” to swim. The swimmer and parent will then be responsible to for signing up for their desired events. Sign-ups for a swim meet are online through our website or the SwimTopia app. By RSL rules, swimmers will only be able to swim a maximum of three individual events and up to three relays. Relay teams are put together by the coaches, but a swimmer should indicate at sign-up if they are available/interested in being considered for a relay event. The events each swimmer will swim are ultimately determined by the coaches.

Entry Limitations for Dual Meets:

• Each team may enter unlimited competitors in the 25 and 50 meter Freestyle events. For individual age group strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke) and junior and senior individual events, 6 swimmers may be entered per team per event. Each team will be allowed to enter 2 relay teams per event.

First Meet of Season:

• The first meet is always a little hectic, but fun! There will be lots of first-time swimmers and parents. If you are new to swimming, it can be confusing. Experienced swimmers and parents are glad to help out, so call on them! After the first meet it will be easier to understand the routine and pace of swim meets. Review the order of events to get a feel for the "rhythm" of the meet.

Event Schedule:

• When you arrive at the swim meet for warm-ups, please check the event schedule to see what events your child will be swimming. The event list is also generally available at practice the morning of the swim meet but sometimes it is  necessary to make last minute changes due to a change in a swimmer's availability for relay's. 

Clerk of Course:

• Clerk of the Course is where swimmers will report before their event to be sorted into their heat and lane assignments. Swimmers need to keep an eye on the posted event number and report to the clerk of course area when their event number is posted. If your child is swimming in a relay, the coaches will gather the relay teams before the relay event.

Stroke and Turn Guidelines:

• During competitive meets, Stroke and Turn Judges will watch the swimmers during their event and make sure all swimmers are following fair stroke and turn swimming guidelines. If a swimmer uses improper technique, a judge may issue a disqualification (DQ) which means the swimmer’s time will not count for that particular event and cannot be scored. DQs are very common, especially with the younger swimmers. Getting a DQ should not be a source of embarrassment but rather an opportunity to learn what a swimmer needs to do to improve their technique.

Disqualification (DQ):

• The RSL complies with United States Swimming (USS) rules, the same rules used at the Olympic Time Trials and the Olympics. To ensure fair competition for all swimmers, these rules are equally applied to all swimmers, regardless of age or experience. During competition, if a swimmer fails to comply with the stroke and turn rules, a Stroke and Turn Judge will raise his or her hand, complete a disqualification (DQ) slip, and present it to the referee for approval. A swimmer is not disqualified until the referee accepts the report and certifies the disqualification. Being disqualified is not a reason to feel ashamed, it is a learning experience and not a failure. Almost all swimmers have received a DQ at some point in time. Swimmers should discuss the DQ with their coaches after the race to help correct the mistake for next time.

What’s My Time?:

• The Time Drops timing system used by the RSL has helped streamline the data entry process. Since the Time Drops devices are a push button device without screens, swimmers may not know their exact time immediately at the end of a race. As data is received and verified by the scorekeeper, race times will be updated in the SwimTopia app (for paid subscribers) during the meet. For all those using the free version of the app, race times are usually posted next day. 

Scoring:

• For all individual events, points are awarded for 1st through 5th place, however one individual team may only be awarded a maximum of 13 points in any one individual event. For relays, points are awarded for 1st through 3rd place however one individual team may only be awarded a maximum of 12 points in any one relay event.

Swim Finals:

• Swimmers are divided into A, B and C Divisions by times at RSL Finals. All swimmers of all levels have the opportunity to win points (and medals and ribbons) for their teams.

Weather Rules

• If the weather is questionable, the Referee and RSL Reps from each team will decide whether or not to cancel the meet. Please note, the lifeguards, who are not affiliated with the team, will decide if the swimmers have to evacuate the pool deck. It is difficult to reschedule meets, so every effort is made to avoid cancelation—often waiting indoors or in cars for the storm to pass. Since safety is a priority, swimmers will not be allowed to enter the water until the absence of lightning and thunder for 30 minutes—even at indoor pools. In the event of stormy weather that lasts the entire day, possible meet cancelations will be posted to the team website and facebook, and will be sent out via email and text alert.

Swim Meet Etiquette:

• Swimmers should exhibit great sportsmanship at all times whether the meet is held at our home pool or at another teams' pool. We will treat all pools respectfully and pick up after ourselves. Support your fellow teammates by cheering for them! Keep your belongings organized and clean up around you before you go home. If you have a dispute with a Referee, Stroke and Turn Judge or another parent, please talk to the Leeland Station Swim Team RSL representative as officials are constantly busy and do not have time to discuss all disputes.