Swim Meet FAQs
1. Is my child swimming in all the events they signed up for in the upcoming meet?
Not all team members swim in every event they elect due to the restriction on the number of swimmers allowed per event (6 per age group per stroke). The Head Coach will determine which swimmers will be placed in each event based off of ability of each swimmer and the past performance.
2. What is my child swimming in the meet?
The Head Coach will post meet entries at practice the morning of the meet, but remember that there may be last-minute changes, especially to relays, right before and even during the meet.
3. What time does my child need to be at the meet?
Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up begins (HOME 4:45 p.m.; AWAY determined by host team).
4. Where can I ask directions to the meet?
Directions to pools/meets and more information about the Rappahannock Swim League can be found on the RSL website at rsl.swimtopia.com.
5. What if I said my child would not be at a specific meet and now can attend?
Give this information to the Head Coach in writing ASAP. It may be too late to include the team member as a scoring swimmer in the meet, but they may be eligible to swim exhibition.
6. What is an event?
It is the age group, length of swim and type of stroke or relay to be swum. All events are numbered from 1 to 68.
Ex. Event 1 is the 12 & Under (age) Junior 100 meter (distance) Freestyle (stroke)
7. What is a heat?
As there are often more entrants in an event than lanes in a pool, they must divide the total number of swimmers into different heats, or groups of swimmers with comparable swim times from previous experience if applicable.
8. May we leave the meet when my child is finished swimming?
Please see the coaching staff prior to leaving a meet to make certain that your swimmer has not been entered in a relay. If for some reason your swimmer is entered in a relay but must leave early, please notify the coaches as soon as possible so that the swimmer may be replaced or the relay scratched.
9. Does my child have to dive off the blocks?
No, if a swimmer is not comfortable going off the starting blocks, he or she may jump or dive from the side of pool next to the block.
10. What length does my child swim in a meet?
The 10 and Under Age Group events are one length (25 yards/meters) but 10 and Unders may swim the 12 and Under 100 Free or Individual Medley (IM), which are four lengths (100 yards/meters); 11 and Older Age Group events are two lengths (50 yards/meters) or more.
11. What is a heat sheet?
This is a program of events listing the event numbers, number of heats, and lane assignments for each swimmer.
