This page is for parents seeking more information about swim meets
Common Swimming Terms
Short Course Season: swimming season which runs from September through the first of March. Events are swum in a 25-yard pool.
Long Course Season: swimming season which runs from May through the end of July. Events are swum in a 50-meter pool, usually outdoors.
IM or Individual Medley events: the term IM refers to any event in which the swimmer swims all four strokes in the same event.
Events: An event is a race with a designated stroke and distance. For each such stroke a separate event is held for boys and girls in each age bracket.
Scratches and Disqualification:
A scratch is when a swimmer decides not to compete in the event, he/she is entered in. You must check with the coach for proper procedures as well as entry information. There are time limits for scratching at some meets. FEES WILL BE ASSESSED TO THE SWIMMER FOR ANY SCRATCHED EVENTS.
Disqualifications can be made only by the officials during the race. Most disqualifications are for improper strokes. When this occurs, the officials notify the coach and sometimes the swimmer. Disqualifications are not made to penalize a swimmer but to help them improve.
Volunteer
Parents will be asked to help in various capacities at all of the meets we host during the course of the year. Likewise, our team will be asked to provide volunteer timers at many of the out of town meets that members of the team may attend. It is vital that all parents be prepared to volunteer to help in whatever capacity is needed whether at home meets or away. Without your help and cooperation, there will be no club.
Guide to Swim Meets
To make competitive meets as pleasant as possible parents should consider their own comfort as well as that of their swimmers. At indoor meets, remember it is usually hot and humid in the pool area. Dress in layers or lightweight clothes. Informality is the rule.
At outdoor meets, remember it can be extremely hot, cold, wet or dry. Sunglasses, sunscreen, lawn chairs, sweaters, shorts, raincoats, hats, pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, or small tents are some of the equipment you will see at meets. Our team provides awnings at all outdoor meets for both swimmers and families to use.
Age group swimmers are remarkably well behaved considering the waiting such meets entail. This is a good time to teach your child card games. Supply books, games, playing cards, etc. to help pass the time. Take things that do not require too much physical exertion as they are to rest when not competing in their events.
Have your swimmers arrive at the meet for a warm-up period, usually one half hour before the meet starts. The Coach will announce such information at workouts before the meets. Be sure your swimmer is kept warm during waiting periods between events. Socks, shoes, warm-up suits or pants and jackets are supplies you want to have at each meet. In the summer a hat or head covering would also be helpful and sandals for walking on hot concrete. Don’t forget the sunscreen.
Following each swim workout and shower, swimmers should dry their ears thoroughly to help combat the problem referred to as “swimmers’ ear”. There are products you can purchase for swimmers’ ear from sporting goods stores or pharmacies.
Links to Other Possible Meets
The Midwestern Swimming website has a list of other meets available to swimmers. http://www.mwswim.org/EventsCurrent.jsp?_tabid_=23291&team=mwslsc
South Dakota Swim Meets: www.sdswimming.org
Nutrition Information
Swim Meet Information
First, swim meets for all Aquajets are completely optional. There are quite a few swim meets that are available for your swimmer to participate in during both the fall/winter (Short Course Season – 25-yard pool) and during the summer (Long Course Season – 50 meter and 25-yard pools). Most of the meets are held in Nebraska or South Dakota. The Aquajets also host 3-4 meets during the winter months (Oct, Nov, Jan). It is up to the parent and swimmer as to whether or not they attend the meets.
Swim meets are posted to what we call your Swim Portal, which is a specific account for each swimmer in the Active Swim Manager program that the Aquajets use. The Swim Portal is where you will register your child for a swim meet if they would like to attend.
We will post many different meets to your Swim Portal during the course of the seasons. We also post a list of most Scheduled Swim Meets in Nebraska. It is imperative that the parents look at the specific swim meet flyers to figure out important information regarding each meet.
As a club, we cannot guarantee that there will be an Aquajet swim coach available at each meet. We try to have a coach present, unfortunately, our coaches have obligations and commitments that prevent them from attending every meet. Swimmers are welcome to sign up and attend meets even if a coach is not present, however, for our new and younger swimmers, we highly recommend that you verify if one of the Aquajet coaches will be present at a meet prior to registering.
Registering for a swim meet
Your Swim Portal is where you will register your child for a swim meet if you choose to attend. To register for a swim meet, once in your Swim Portal, you will click on “VIEW MEETS” and click on whether they are ATTENDING or NOT ATTENDING. You will then have the option of choosing your child’s events. For new swimmers, the coaches highly recommend that you do not choose their events and let the coaches do it for you as they know what events your child is capable of. Also, even if you choose your child’s events, the coaches ultimately have the final say if your child is ready to swim the event or not. Typically, one of the coaches will talk to you prior to changing your child’s events if so.
Be advised there are deadlines to register your child for meets. These deadlines are typically 7-10 days prior the meet date. We will post on the Scheduled Swim Meet page the upcoming meets and meet flyers.
Swim Meet Fees
Regarding fees for swim meets. For the most part, all YMCA swim meets have NO fees. However, for all other meets, typically have fees. These fees are in addition to your registration. We are able to charge each swimmer for the appropriate meet fees thru the Active Swim Manager program as the meet occurs. Typically, a 1-day meet will cost $20-30, depending on the host.
Be advised that once the registration deadline has passed, if your child has been registered, you will be responsible for those meet fees regardless of your child physically attending the meet. Once we have sent the registrations into a host club, we are obligated as a club to pay those fees, making the parent ultimately responsible.
Additional Swim Meets Not Posted in Your Swim Portal
In addition, you are welcome to attend any other meets not posted. If you find a meet that you would like to attend, please contact Kent Olberding and we will attempt to get it arranged.
The Midwestern LSC website shows other swim meets held around the state that you are welcome to register for.
Please feel free to contact Kent Olberding (kento14@hotmail.com/402-316-9760) if you have any questions.