Swim Meet 101
AG's Awesome Tips to Help for Young & New Swimmers and their Parents
- In freestyle, once your child surfaces after the dive (and turn if applicable), some part of their body needs to stay above the surface for the remainder of the event. It can be a hand, foot or just their hair. I know it's cute when they swim underwater, but it's one of the few things that disqualifies your swimmer during freestyle.
- In any freestyle or backstroke event, it's okay if you child accidentally touches the bottom. The rule is they cannot gain an advantage from the bottom. So they cannot walk along it or push off from it.
- In any stroke, it's okay to hit the lane line or the side of the pool. It's okay to even stop and hold on if you need to rest. The rule is they cannot gain an advantage from the wall or lane line. So don't push off or drag yourself along the line. (Side note in backstroke, if you stop, you must keep your tummy facing upward to stay legal.)
- In backstroke, you must finish the stroke on your back. You can touch the wall with any part of your body (hand, head, shoulder etc.). Your cute little ones have worked too hard to get to the end of the pool, don't let them flip over to touch. Feel free to yell out "stay on your back". Timers you can help the team by also saying this to the swimmers.
- In breast and butterfly, remember two hand touch.
- For the 8 and under relays, most pools have in-water starts at one end of the pool because it is too shallow to dive. It is critically important that they maintain contact with the wall with THEIR HAND until the previous swimmer touches the wall with some part of their body. THE HAND AND ONLY THE HAND location is the determination used if the relay leaves early. Again, they are too cute to be DQed for something so simple.
Meet Prep Checklist
Things to bring/do to guarantee a fun, successful meet!
- Team Suit
- Team Cap
- Goggles
- Sunscreen
- 2 Towels: Bring at least 2 towels (or 1 towel and something waterproof to sit on).
- Water Bottle: Bring a water bottle - it's important to stay hydrated (swimmers do sweat!).
- Sweatshirt: Bring a sweatshirt/pants to stay warm between events.
- Healthy Snacks: Bring healthy snacks (fruit, yoghurt, granola,...) or plan to visit our concessions; goes to a great cause...us :) !
- Sharpie Name All Important Stuff: Sharpie your child's name on all items, especially team t-shirt/ towel - they all look alike and swimmers lose them often!
- Sharpie Events on your swimmer: Sharpie your child's events on his/her forearm or hand using this format, It's best to do this before sunscreening your swimmer - sharpie doesn't write well on sunscreened skin.
Swimmer Classifications
Swimmer Classifications
1.) NOVICE SWIMMER (N) A Novice swimmer is any swimmer with no time in a given event or who has not achieved a valid Advanced, Junior Varsity, Varsity, or Senior Varsity time in that event in the age group in which the swimmer is competing.
2.) ADVANCED SWIMMER (ADV) An Advanced swimmer is any swimmer who has achieved a valid Advanced time and has not achieved a valid Junior Varsity, Varsity, or Senior Varsity time in that event in the age group in which the swimmer is competing.
3.) JUNIOR VARSITY SWIMMER (JV) A Junior Varsity swimmer is any swimmer who has achieved a valid Junior Varsity time and has not achieved a valid Varsity or Senior Varsity time in that event in the age group in which the swimmer is competing.
4.) VARSITY SWIMMER (V) A Varsity swimmer is any swimmer who has achieved a valid Varsity time and has not achieved a valid Senior Varsity time in that event in the age group in which the swimmer is competing.
5.) SENIOR VARSITY SWIMMER (SV) A Senior Varsity swimmer is any swimmer who has achieved a valid Senior Varsity time in that event in age group in which the swimmer is competing.
6.) Classification of an ADVANCED RELAY All swimmers entered in an Advanced relay must be classified as Novice or Advanced in the stroke and distance that they are scheduled to swim. All points earned for the relay will be awarded in the Advanced Relay category. Advanced relays are limited to Novice and Advanced Swimmers and may be comprised of single sex relay clubs and/or mixed sex relay clubs.
7.) Classification of a SENIOR VARSITY A relay is classified as Senior Varsity when at least ONE swimmer is classified as JV, Varsity, or SV in the stroke and distance he/she is scheduled to swim. The SV Relay must be mixed sex (to contain at least one boy and one girl). All points earned for the relay will be awarded in the Senior Varsity Relay Category.
Classification/Division/Relays/Starts
Classification/Division - There are five divisions or classifications. Unless you have a time from the previous summer or from another GRAL team, everyone starts as a Novice. Then comes ADV- Advanced. Then JV- Junior Varsity. Then V- Varsity. And finally, the top of the line which is SV- Senior Varsity. Each of these divisions occur within each age bracket and gender, so you could have a Senior Varsity six-year-old! Once you reach a JV time you qualify for CHAMPS.
Advanced Relay – All swimmers in an Advance Relay must be classified as Novice or Advanced in the stroke and distance that they are schedule to swim. Advanced Relays may be single sex or mixed sex. Having a JV, V or SV swimmer swimming a section of the relay will cause it to be disqualified. For example, if Suzie is a JV swimmer in 25 free, but novice in everything else, she can legally swim any leg of the Advanced Relay except the freestyle. Classifications are based on the previous meet or season. If someone classes up during a meet, they can still swim their leg of the relay.
In-water Start - Pools that are shallow like The Federal Club may require an in-water start for safety during a portion of the 8 and under relay. Children must hold on to the wall with their hand until the previous swimmer has touched the wall in some manner or portion of their body. The hand must stay on the wall until the touch or the team will be disqualified.