Meet Information

A list of swimmers scheduled to swim in each meet will be posted at least 24 hours before the meets. The list will be posted on the swim team bulletin board, which faces the pool from inside the clubhouse. The list will name swimmers in each age group and the events they will be swimming. It is each swimmer's and/or parent's responsibility to check this list.

The Ins and Outs

Swimmers are expected to be at the meet location 1 to 1.5 hours before the scheduled start of the meet. Home meet participants are asked to park on the street or in designated areas. Parking violaters will be towed.

When arriving, swimmers should immediately check in at the team's registration station and proceed to the team area. Swimmers should remain in the team area until it is time for warm-up. Swimmers should bring a sleeping bag or blanket, two towels and a change of clothes to each meet. Each team will warm up in the pool before the meet starts.

Swimmers will be told which events are currently taking place so they can be ready when their events are called. Parents will help young swimmers get to the ready area at the appropriate times before their events. As a rule of thumb, swimmers should proceed to the ready bench area two events prior to the event in which they are swimming. After completing their event, swimmers should speak to their coach to receive 'coaching tips,' then return promptly to the team area.

Swim meets generall last about 4.5 hours. Saturday meets begin at 8:30am and weekday meets begin at 6pm. Bring folding chairs.

The Nitty-Gritty

Boys and girls compete separately in the following age groups, as determined by their age on June 15: 6 & under, 7 & 8, 9 & 10, 11 & 12, 13 & 14, 15 - 18.

Two basic categories of races are conducted, individual and relay. All relay races involve four swimmers per team. The relay races are freestyle and medley. In the 6 & under age group, the freestyle relay is co-ed. In the medley, each swimmer swims an equal distance in a different stroke. The order is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. A relay team is disqualified if any swimmer false starts or violates the rules governing their stroke.

There are five categories of individual races: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley (IM). The IM consists of equal lengths of each of the four strokes. The order is: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.

In the 6 & under age group, swimmers participate in freestyle, co-ed freestyle relay, and the backstroke events. In the 7 & 8 age group, swimmers participate in all events except the IM. The other age groups swim all events.

Relays

Freestyle relay -- four swimmers on each team, each to swim on-fourth of the prescribed distance using any desired stroke(s). Freestlye finish rules apply. Medley relay -- four swimmers on each team, each to swim one-fourth of the prescribed distance continuously in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. Rules pertaining to each stroke shall govern where applicable. At the end of each leg, the finish rule for each stroke applies in each case.

Rules Pertaining to Relay Races:

1. No swimmer shall swim more than one leg in any relay event.

2. In relay races a swimmer other than the first swimmer shall not start until his/her teammate has concluded his/her leg.

3. Any relay team member and relay team shall be disqualified from a race if a team member other than the swimmer designated to swim that leg shall jump into or enter the pool in the area where the race is being conducted before all swimmers of all teams have finished the race.

4. Each relay team member shall leave the water immediately upon finishing his/her leg, except the last member.

5. In relay races the team of the swimmer whose feet have lost touch with the starting platform before the preceding teammate touches the wall shall be disqualified.

Ribbons

The policy for awarding ribbons at each meet is set by the home team hosting the meet. For all conference meets, however, ribbon policies must conform to the standard established by the Comstock Conference. The Rio del Oro Rapids team has adoped this league policy for all home meets, both conference and non-scoring meets.

At all conference dual meets and at all non-scoring home meets, first through sixth place ribbons are awarded for all individual events, for all heats. In conference relay events, ribbons are awarded only to the winning relay team. In relay events conducted at non-scoring meets, first through sixth place ribbons are awarded on the basis of elapsed time without regard to lane.

Ribbons are filed in the family file after the completion of each meet and can be picked up at Monday's practice. If you think an error was made on a ribbon, notify a coach.