Swim Meet Policies
SWIM MEET INFORMATION: Swim meets are on Tuesday and begin at 5:30pm. We ask that swimmers arrive at 4:30 and check in with a coach upon arrival. For home meets, we warm up from 4:30-4:50. Away meets, we warm up 4:50-5:10. We also need to get events written on kids' arms. Per ASA rules, home team always warms up first and each team gets 20 min. Relay teams need to start getting lined up at 5:20. Also per ASA rules, we cannot make any changes to the lineup after 5:00 the day of the meet and once the meet starts, NO SUBSTITIONS in individual events are allowed. This is why it is important to arrive by 4:30pm or let the coach know fi you will be arriving late. If we don't know of a late arrival, a swimmer might be scratched form an event or substituted for in a relay. Also there is much paperwork to print for a meet and that all needs to start at 5pm.
1.MEET ATTENDANCE/Signup: All swimmers must signup ("declare") for each meet by Saturday 12:00pm before the scheduled meet on Tuesday. We understand that it is summer time and many families will miss meets because of travel, other sports (i.e. baseball, football) or illness. However, we ask that you signup for every meet on the website. The coach starts working on the lineup as early as the weekend before and it is due by 3pm Monday before the meet on Tuesday. To signup for meets, please go to the team website: https://deerbrookewaters.swimtopia.com . Click on "Swim Meets" tab at top; will see each meet listed. Click on the "Meet Entry" button to declare your swimmer's attendance. We encourage every family to RSVP as soon as possible for all the meets. You can always change your response if an unexpected trip or family matter arises. If you have a last minute change please text Coach Jane 470-955-4704. If you have to leave early (i.e. can only stay for first half because your swimmer is still in school) PLEASE let us know that on the website RSVP or talk to Coach Jane. If you are placed in a relay event which occurs last and do not make it, the entire relay team may have to scratch. This causes disappointment for three other swimmers that had ideas of "one more event". We understand last minute change of plans, illness, and injury but if you can notify Coach Jane or one of the team managers of last minute changes, it will help the team out on meet day. Contact info for coaches and team managers is available on the web site.
2.PARKING: For home meets we ask all members of our team to park on the Littlebrooke side of the pool (Brooke Farm Drive to 2nd stop sign, turn left and follow to end). This will allow ample parking for our visitors, who often ahve larger teams. Please also note that a parking space will be reserved in the Brooke Farm Drive parking lot for the starter/referee. For overflow parking, we like to have cars park on the right side of the street as you EXIT the pool/parking area. This will allow for a safer and quicker departure at the end of the meet (cars won't have to enter the parking lot or use a neighbors' driveway to turn around).
3.PARENT REMINDER – Please remember that this is a recreational league. Parents who are anxious for a reluctant child to participate in an event should understand that the coaches are not going to force a child to swim an event they are not ready to swim. They will be encouraged to do so but not threatened or coerced in anyway. Our coaches will not “Just throw her in!”. Please do not put our coaches or your child in that uncomfortable position.
4.BULLPEN AREA - Encourage children to bring cards, books and other items to entertain themselves during the meet. During the meets, we want to encourage the children to remain in the bullpen area (under the pavilion at Brooke Farm for home meets), which will allow them to easily hear their names and race numbers being called. We will make significant attempt to ensure that all swimmers get to their events. However, if you swimmer is not in the bullpen area, it is difficult for us to locate them. We ask that you help us ensure that your swimmer is aware of the events they are swimming and what events are on deck. Also, please do not allow children to swim in either the Adult – only pool or the baby pool during home swim meets.
5.Concessions - You are welcome to donate items to the concessions stand – homemade goodies (please bring in individual baggies, ready to sell) and watermelon slices sell well. A separate concessions signup will be available on the web site (Swim Meets page) for home meets. In lieu of items, monetary donations of $5-10 per family are also appreciated and help offset the cost of food items purchased (pizza, CFA sandwiches, hotdogs, etc).
6.POST MEET CELEBRATION - This is a favorite for the kids so don't miss it! Make sure you ask your coach or teammates where the "post party" will be! (Yogli Mogli is a favorite for home meets).
SWIMMING UP: If you are new to swim team, you will hear this term throughout the season. A swimmer may move up one age group for individual events but they must swim in that age group for the entire meet. For this reason, swimmers typically swim in their age group for individual events. However, a swimmer can swim individual events in his/her own age group, and swim up an age group (or more!) for relays. If we are short a swimmer in a particular age group, the coach may choose to "swim up" a swimmer from a younger age group. The younger kids love the challenge and love the "high-five" from the big kids. Find time to congratulate them on 50 yds or "swimming with the big kids", and if you have an older swimmer, remind them how much their support means to the little ones.
