Braemar Blasters Swim Team

GENERAL MEET INFORMATION

The events in which each swimmer is entered will be determined by the coaches. Event information will be sent out to the families before each meet, usually Thursday Evening or Friday Morning. Each swimmer is limited to a maximum of three individual events and may participate on two relays. The weekly email will also provide directions (if necessary), specific instructions (parking, etc.), and details of warm-up and start times. 

WARM-UPS

Each team gets a twenty-minute warm-up. The home team always warms up first. For home meets, that means you’ll need to arrive at Braemar around 5:50am. For newcomers, warm-ups resemble organized chaos. Generally, the 10 and under swimmers warm up for the second 10 minutes and the 11-18 year olds warm up for the first 10 minutes. A swimmer’s warm up lane may be different from the regular practice lane, so check in with the coaches. The team gathers around the coaches after warm-ups to cheer, coordinate relays, and get psyched up for the meet.

WHAT TO BRING

Getting ready for a swim meet can feel like you’re packing for a week of camping. Many seasoned summer swimmers bring a tent, tarp, or large umbrella so they can get out of the sun or just to mark their spot. Since there is a lot of “down time” between events, cards, games, and toys help kids pass the time. Write your name on absolutely everything you bring!

Below are suggested items to bring:

● Swim suit (and spare)

● Cap (and spare)

● Goggles (and spare)

● Towels (3 or more per swimmer)

● Extra T-shirt & shorts (sweatshirt for cooler mornings)

● Sharpie/Ink pen (put event numbers on swimmer’s hand)

● Money for concessions–concessions card and venmo accepted

● Cards, games, toys, etc. (waterproof things are best)

● Tent, tarp, umbrella, etc.

● Lawn chairs

● Sunblock

● Small electric fan

WHAT TO EXPECT

If you’ve never attended a swim meet before, here are a few things you can expect:

● Tents, towels, and kids everywhere!

● Chilly early mornings/Hot late mornings

● Extremely limited viewing space (except for deck volunteers)

● A long day that will go quicker if you volunteer for a shift (or two)

● Wet ankles (for timers and officials)

● New friends and a great time if you get involved with the team!

● Lots of cheering and lots of fun.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes before warm-ups start. This way you can stake your tent, find your goggles, and report to the coaches when the announcer calls for warm-ups. Please make sure that ALL swimmers check-in with the coaches upon arrival!

START OF THE MEET

Warm-ups start around 6:00 am, so the meets usually start at 7:00am and finish around 12:30-1:00 pm. After both teams have warmed up, we sing the National Anthem and then the meet begins. If you are interested in singing the National Anthem at a home meet, please contact Kristen Adams ([email protected]). Some relays are first. If you are swimming a relay, report to the relay tentimmediately after warm-ups.

EVENT SCHEDULE

All PWSL swim meet event numbers and schedule will be the same each week in the following order (beginning with event 66). Please note boys go first, then girls:

RELAYS

Relays are a team event, determined by the coaches. Please check the relay tent the morning of each meet to see if you’ve been selected for a medley and/or freestyle relay. The “A”, “B”, & “C” relay teams will be determined by the fastest possible combination of swimmers. As swimmers improve their times, the relay teams may change. Relays can be determined by using times swam during an individual event the current season or relay splits taken during the current season.

CLERK OF COURSE

When the announcer calls your event number over the loudspeaker, you should immediately report to the “Clerk of Course.” This is where swimmers assemble and line up for their event. PARENTS: It’s important to allow your child to remain at the Clerk of Course staging area alone. Clerk of Course can get crowded and seem chaotic based on the number of event entries, so it is important to minimize distractions. Your swimmer will have excellent supervision and direction from parent volunteers who help at the Clerk of Course.

HEAT SHEETS

For all meets “Heat Sheets” will be emailed to the team on Friday. Heat sheets list the individual events, the swimmers entered in each event, their heat, lane, and their fastest time (or seed time). Swimmers will be listed fastest to slowest using their best time for each event. Swimmers who have never competed in an event before will be listed after swimmers with times. The notation NT for “no time” will be typed next to their names. All the information will also be available in the SwimTopia app.

SPECTATING

When it’s time for your child to swim their individual race, you may stand in designated areas around the pool deck. From here, you may cheer on the swimmers.

Please remember good sportsmanship and cheer for all swimmers to do their best. At the completion of the race, please consider the friends and families of other swimmers and move away from the deck area, allowing others to watch their race.

MEET RESULTS

Swimmers learn to ask the recorder for their (unofficial) time as soon as they get out of the pool at the end of a race. The official event results –which include the swimmers’ names, times, and event placing – are usually posted about an hour after the completion of the event. At home the sheets are hung on the porch area in front of the clubhouse. We will try to publicize the location of results for each away meet, but that will be at the discretion of the meet host. All event results are computerized and retained for each swimmer all season. You can also track your swimmer(s)’ results in a more timely fashion on the SwimTopia app.

At the conclusion of each meet, the results are verified and finalized by our team of parent volunteers. Final results will be posted on our website once they are available. Real-time results and top times lists are often available for all league meets at the league website: https://pwsl.swimtopia.com/ Weekly summaries and “Top Times” lists are compiled by the league each week and posted on the Prince William Swim League website.

DISQUALIFICATION (DQ)

Our league complies with USA Swimming rules - the same rules used at all National meets, like the Olympic Time Trials. 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 & Turn Judge (dressed in white shirts and blue shorts) will raise their hand, write up a disqualification (DQ) slip, and present it to the referee for approval. A swimmer is not disqualified until the referee accepts the report. Almost all swimmers in all age groups have been disqualified at some time. This should be viewed as a learning experience and not a failure. Swimmers should discuss the DQ with their coach at practice the week after the race and together they will formulate a plan to correct the mistake.

CONCESSIONS

Concessions are available at each meet and serve as a major part of each team’s fundraising. It may look different this year, but we’re looking forward to providing some tasty options. Selections could include eggs, pancakes, donuts, bagels, fresh fruit, hot dogs, hamburgers (that are available at about 9 AM!), beverages of all kinds, candy, chips, etc. Yes, we know 9 am sounds early for hotdogs, but we promise the kids will ask for them!

MEET SCORING

PWSL swim meets consist of 67 events: 19 relays and 48 individual events. Swimmers compete in one of the following age groups: 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18, as determined by their age as of June 1 for the current year. Each swimmer may compete in three individual events and two relays. Swimmers earn points for their teams by competing in relay events and by being one of the six fastest finishers on their team in individual events.

RELAY SCORING

For a dual meet, first place in relay events is won by the fastest legal swim and earns 47 points. The opponent takes second place (worth 32 points) by completing a legal swim. (The same team cannot be awarded first and second place points, regardless of the order of finish.) Ribbons will be awarded for the fastest three finishing times, regardless of team.

For the Divisional Championship meet (a tri-meet), the top three legal finishes based on time earn 79, 53, and 40 points, respectively. Each competing team can only earn points for their fastest finish, based on time. Ribbons will be awarded for the fastest three finishing times, regardless of team.

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

For dual meets, swimmers can earn individual points for their team in Freestyle, IM, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly events. Individual points are assigned for up to twelve places, but a team can only have six swimmers score in any single event. Ribbons will be awarded for the fastest twelve finishing times, regardless of team. Ribbons are also awarded for the top twelve 6 year olds and younger finishers in Freestyle and Backstroke based on time.

For the Divisional Championship meet (a tri-meet), swimmers can earn individual points for their team in Freestyle, IM, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly events. Individual points are assigned for up to eighteen places, but a team can only have six swimmers score in any single event. Ribbons will be awarded for the fastest eighteen finishing times, regardless of team. Ribbons are also awarded for the top twelve 6 year olds and younger finishers in Freestyle and Backstroke based on time.

SWIM MEET AWARDS

At our Dual-Meet and Divisional Tri-Meet swim meets, heat ribbons are awarded to the fastest swimmer of each heat, usually as they exit the pool.

All ribbons (other than Heat Ribbons) will be placed in the ribbons box by the table area at Iona Sound pool and will be available throughout the season only at practices at Iona Sound pool. The ribbon box contains a spot for each family, organized by the last name of the parent/account holder (please note if your child has a different last name). Otherwise, they will be held until the end of season Awards Ceremony.

WEEKLY DUAL-MEET AWARDS

Each week, the following awards will be distributed as appropriate:

● Time Improvement Ribbon - awarded when a swimmer’s time for a particular event is faster than previously recorded.

● Place Ribbon - awarded to the 12 fastest swimmers overall in a particular event.

● Swimmer of the Week - awarded to recognize attitude, effort, attendance, etc. during the previous week’s practice sessions. The Coaching staff makes this selection.

DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

After the Divisional Championship meet, the following awards will be distributed to swimmers who have earned them. These awards are presented at the Awards Ceremony held the night after the Divisional Meet.

● Time Improvement Ribbon - awarded when a swimmer’s time for a particular event is more than 1 second faster than previously recorded.

● Place Ribbon - awarded to the 24 fastest swimmers overall in a particular event at each meet.

● Cyber Meet Ribbons – awarded to the top 24 fastest swimmers overall across the entire league.

SEASON AWARDS

Season awards are presented at the Awards Ceremony held the night after the Divisional Meet. Here are some of the end-of-season awards:

● Most Improved - awarded to one boy and one girl in each age group using the following criteria: 100% based on time improvement and coaches discretion.

● Coaches Award - awarded to one boy and one girl in each age group and could be based on the following criteria: attitude and effort in practices and meets, attendance at practices and meets, time improvement, etc.

● Age Group High Point - awarded to one boy and one girl who earned the most points this season for their age group during season meets.

● Overall High Point – awarded to one boy and one girl who earned the most points for all ages this season.

● Swimmer Coach of the Year – awarded to one swimmer coach who demonstrates leadership, great attitude, and other qualities signifying a leader as determined by the adult coaches.