Swim Meet 101
Meet Declarations
Prior to each meet, swimmers must indicate their availability through the meet declaration process no later than midnight on the Tuesday preceding the meet. Coaches use this information to develop the meet lineup. While families may include notes with event requests, final decisions regarding event entries are made at the coaches’ discretion.
Meet Entries
Swimmers may be entered in a maximum of four individual events and one relay, or three individual events and two relays, per meet. Meet entries are typically shared with swimmers and their families on the Friday prior to the meet. Swimmers are encouraged to remain for the duration of the meet to support their teammates.
Volunteers
Swim meets require the support of many volunteers to run successfully. Each family is required to complete volunteer hours throughout the season. Detailed information about volunteer expectations and requirements can be found in the Volunteer Policy. Volunteer sign-ups for each meet are typically posted on the Sunday prior to the meet.
Meet Timeline
Meets can be long! Warm-ups often begin at 7:00 AM and most regular season meets end around noon.
What to Bring
To help swimmers and families stay comfortable and prepared throughout the meet, consider bringing the following items:
- Drinks and Snacks – Bring a cooler with water, sports drinks, and snacks. While most meets offer a concession stand and sometimes food trucks, having your own refreshments available can be helpful.
- Seating and Shade – Families should bring chairs or a blanket for seating. Pop-up canopy tents are also recommended for shade. If you do not have a tent, many families are often willing to share theirs.
- Swim Gear and Warm Clothing – It is recommended that swimmers bring an extra swim cap, an extra pair of goggles, and an additional towel. Morning meets can be cool, so swimmers may also want to bring a sweatshirt or other warm clothing to wear after warm-ups.
- Permanent Marker (Sharpie) – Many swimmers use a permanent marker to write their event numbers, heat, and lane assignments on their arm for easy reference during the meet.
Meet Mobile App
This app offers both a free version and a paid version. The free version will show you the event list and psych sheets. The paid version provides everything the free version does plus access to swimmer times, lane assignments, and real time updates of meet results as they are entered into the computer at the meet.
Meet Results
Final results from all meets will be shared on the FSSL website. Ribbons for participation, personal bests, and 1st-12th place are distributed at practices following the meets.
