September 25th - Swim Meet Information

Competing is an important part of a swimmer’s journey. It allows swimmers to set goals, test their skills, build confidence, and develop perseverance and sportsmanship. Meets provide a chance to measure progress, try new events, and gain valuable race experience in a supportive environment.

As parents, your role is to encourage and support your swimmer by ensuring they arrive on time, have the proper equipment, and maintain a positive attitude. Trust our coaches to guide your swimmer and respect the competition environment, including officials and volunteers.

Our coaches will work with swimmers in practice to prepare them for meets—focusing on stroke technique, race strategy, and readiness. We encourage participation in competitions whenever possible, as every meet is an opportunity for growth.

Swim Meet Readiness
Being ready for a swim meet means more than just showing up. Swimmers should:

• Arrive on time with all required equipment (suit, cap, goggles, water bottle, healthy snacks)
• Be prepared to participate fully in warm-ups and races
• Know the basics of each stroke, including starts, turns, finishes, and rules
• Understand competition flow: check in with coaches, cheer for teammates, show good sportsmanship, and respect officials/volunteers

Swim meets are about experience, learning, and growth—whether improving technique, trying new events, or chasing personal bests.

Swim Meet Information & FAQs

Basics of Competitive Swimming

• Events: freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, individual medley (various distances: 25m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m)
• Age Groups: typically 10 & under, 11/12, 13/14, and 15 & up (may vary by meet)
• Heats & Lanes: assigned based on previous times; swimmers race those of similar speed
• Time Standards: certain meets require qualifying times, knowing your child’s best times helps with goal-setting
   

Preparing for Swim Meets
Schedule:

• Meets can last several hours (sometimes multiple sessions in a day)
• Expect waiting between races
• Swimmers usually race multiple events per day

Packing Essentials:

• Team gear: cap, goggles, suit, t-shirt, deck shoes
• Snacks/lunch
• Extra clothes (shorts, sweaters, dry clothes for after)
• Water bottle (no glass)
• Backpack to hold gear

Nice to Have:

• Extra cap and goggles (in case of breakage)
• Books, puzzles, board games (non-electronic entertainment)

Leave at Home:

• Chips, candy, pop
• Glass bottles/containers
• Messy or hard-to-clean snacks
• Handheld electronics (easily lost or damaged)

Warm-Up:

• Be on deck 20 minutes before scheduled warm-up
• On-deck activation + in-water warm-up

Swim Meet Expectations

From Coaches:

• Swimmers check in with coach before & after each race
• Coaches record event/heat/lane info for swimmers
• Coaches call events from team area, swimmers must listen for their name/age group
• Swimmers are expected to stay in the team area, engage with teammates, and cheer

From Parents:

• Parents are not allowed on the pool deck (Swim Canada rule)
• Ensure swimmers are packed and arrive on time
• Support swimmers by:
  • Cheering positively for all swimmers
  • Offering encouragement post-race (leave technical feedback to coaches)
  • Saying: “I’m proud of you,” “I love watching you swim,” “Did you have fun?”
  • Avoiding: “What was your time?” “Did you win?” “Did you get a best time?”

From Swimmers:

• Remove all jewelry/watches before racing
• Complete warm-ups
• Stay in team area (not with parents)
• Check in with coaches before/after races
• Stay hydrated & fueled
• Most importantly: HAVE FUN!

Swim Meet FAQs

When can swimmers go home?

• After all their races are complete (must check out with coach first).

Can swimmers ‘visit’ parents?

• No, unless approved by coach. Swimmers sit with their team during meets.

What if my swimmer misses a race?

• It happens! Reassure them it’s OK, there’s always a next race/next meet.

Can parents take photos?

• Yes, but no flash (it interferes with the start signal).

How do I know when/where my swimmer races?

• EKSC sends pre-meet info: session timelines, event lists, psych sheets, and heat sheets (if available).
• Meet Mobile app can be used to follow live results.

Where can I find results?

• Posted under EVENTS & RESULTS → RESULTS on the EKSC website.
• Remember: at the Bronze, Silver & Gold level, focus is on:
  • Having fun
  • Best effort
  • Proper technique

Swim meets are an exciting opportunity for our swimmers to grow, challenge themselves, and celebrate their progress. With your support, encouragement, and positivity, we can create a team environment where every swimmer feels confident, motivated, and proud of their efforts—no matter the outcome.

We look forward to seeing everyone on deck and cheering on our swimmers together!