Set up and run basic swim meet in Meet Manager 6.0 course

Course to SELF-TEACH Meet Manager

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Last updated on August 12th, 2020 at 04:46 pm

Sam Scott, of Pacific Northwest Swimming, developed an incredible course to teach others how to set-up and run basic swim meets using Meet Manager 6.0. He designed this course for someone who knows Meet Manager to teach others. Unfortunately, not everyone asked to learn Meet Manager has access to someone who can teach them how to set-up and run a meet using the software. Linda Eaton, of Colorado Swimming, added information to Sam’s PowerPoint to help those who are needing to self-teach, or want a “refresher” course.  If possible, find an experienced, local mentor to answer questions and help you work through the course material. If your team doesn’t have anyone, try asking someone on another team or in the governing body of your swim league or Local Swim Committee (LSC.)

You will get the most from this course by using a computer with Meet Manager installed.

  • Note to those who do not have a personal computer with Meet Manager:  Your meet host will need one to run a swim meet, try asking to borrow it.
  • Another option for those who do not have access to Meet Manager software:  A demo version is available on the Hy-tek website.  Anyone can get the Meet Manager demo software to practice on their own. You can use it to learn the software. However, it will not import entries or restore backup files.  All entries must be manually entered.  It also does not include the ability to connect to a timing console and actually run a meet. That version is available for purchase.

Thank you, Sam and Linda, for sharing these informative course materials!

Update: Click to find out about the new features in Meet Manager 7.0 or new features in Meet Manager 8.0. Because this course covers the basics, most of what it teaches still applies to newer versions of the software.

Set-up and Run a Basic Swim Meet in Meet Manager Course Overview

This course explains how to:

  • Set up a Timed Finals Swim Meet Using Meet Manager 6.0
    • Create the Meet
    • Process Entries
  • Generate Reports for Pre-Meet:
    • Troubleshooting
    • Organizing
    • Administration
  • Run the Meet
    • Timing Console Interface and Connection
    • Operator Tasks
    • Meet Manager Operator Tasks

Course Materials

Zipped file with ALL course materials listed below (Click to download)

  1. PowerPoint Presentation of Course: Meet Manager 6 ver2 Self-Teach  (Click to download)
  2. Zipped Folder Containing All 5 Back-up Files: Training (Click to download)
  3. Excel File with Simplified Meet Information: MM Training Data  (Click to download)
  4. Zipped Entry File: ASC-PN-Entries001 (Click to download)
  5. Initial Psych Sheet: Psychsheet Initial Entries with errors (Click to view or print PDF file)
  6. 2nd Psych Sheet: Psychsheet entries after backup3 new errors (Click to view or print PDF file)
  7. Timer Sheets: MM6 Training Meet Lane Timer Sheets (Click to view or print PDF file)
  8. Order of Finish Sheet (OOF): MM6 Training Meet Starter OOF (Click to view or print PDF file)

Self-Teaching Method

  • Use both the PowerPoint (Course Materials #1) and Meet Manager simultaneously either on separate screens or windows
    • NOTE: The PowerPoint slides contain screenshots of the Meet Manager screens that you will see on your own computer
    • It may also be helpful to view the “Integrating Course Materials into the PowerPoint” section of this post (below) while working through the PowerPoint
  • Download the five backup files (Course Materials #2) and copy them to the swmeets6 folder on your computer “C” drive.
    • The back-up files will quickly give you the same meet database used throughout the course to work at different points of the meet
  • As part of the class, you will create and “run” a meet in Meet Manager 6.0 using the step-by-step directions given in the PowerPoint slides (Course Materials #1) and using the meet information (Course Materials #3), timer sheets (Course Materials #7), order of finish sheets (OOF) (Course Materials #8) and other resources above.
  • To actually run a meet, you will need to find someone locally to show you how to connect the meet host computer with Meet Manager software installed and the timing system console. (Information to connect a Colorado Timing System console is on Slides 44-47 in the PowerPoint)

Integrating Course Materials into the PowerPoint

  • Set-up Section

    • Slide 6-10: Use information in simplified meet information (Course Materials #3), file to set-up the meet.
    • After creating several events, stop and restore Backup 1: events-setup. (Course Materials #2a) This will give you an identical and consistent meet to continue the training.
      • To restore (i.e. use) a backup file go to the “File” tab (upper left corner) in Meet Manager. Click Backup>Restore and follow prompts to restore the desired backup file.
    • Slide 11 – 13: Create sessions and put events into sessions.
    • Restore Backup 2: Sessions (Course Materials #2b)
    • Slide 20: Import (Open) the entry file (Course Materials #4) from above (instead of the one shown on the slide)
    • Slides 21-26: Explore various Meet Manager options and functionality related to entries and preparing the database to create reports
    • Slide 21: Review Initial Psych Sheet (Course Materials #5)
      • Note: 2 times seem questionable: Event 1, Lane 1 & Event 3, Lane 1
    • Slide 21: Restore Backup 3: Entries (Course Materials #2) (Completes entry process and corrects incorrect entry times)
    • Slide 21: Review 2nd Psych Sheet (Course Materials #6)
      • Note: Events 4 and 8 are missing. Correct in the “Sessions” area under the “Events” tab
    • Slide 26: Restore Backup 4: Seeding (Course Materials #2d)

  • Reports Section

    • Slides 27-41: Explore various Meet Manager options and functionality related to reports (Used only PowerPoint)

  • Run Section

    • Slides 48-53: Explore getting race results and resolving timing issues
      • Use Timer Sheets (Course Materials #7) and the Order of Finish (OOF) sheet (Course Materials #8)
    • After slide 47: Restore Backup 5: Race-Time Errors (Course Materials #2e)

Preparing for a swim meet? Check out The Ultimate Swim Meet To-Do List. Then, get a bird’s eye view of Who does What at Swim Meets. Both include easy-to-follow links to related information. Doing a smaller, simpler meet? Host a High School or Developmental Swim Meet will help.

Need more help? See 20+ Ways to Get Swim Meet Timers and Officials: 20+ Ways to Get them for Swim Meets. 


Also, discover a few things you can do to Increase Safety at Swim Meets. Find ideas to implement before your meet as well as last-minute quick and easy tips!

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