Last updated on July 13th, 2022 at 11:56 am Swim meet protests: Some officials and coaches shiver at the thought. It can be scary for a coach to do. It can also be intimidating for an official when a call, or another official decision is protested. This is especially true if s/he isn’t sure how […]
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Last updated on June 12th, 2023 at 04:45 pm Just like an announcement for other events, the swim meet announcement tells people about the meet. The meet host creates it before the meet and shares it with those who might attend. Other names for a meet announcement might include: A Good Meet Announcement Lays a
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Last updated on April 24th, 2023 at 03:49 pm Most people would likely agree that safety at swim meets is important. It’s a high priority for governing bodies like USA Swimming as well as parents, coaches, officials, and pool owners. However, it’s one thing to agree that safety is important, and another to actually improve it.
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Last updated on November 2nd, 2021 at 05:14 pm Did you know a well-planned event list can help problem-solve common swim meet issues? It is very easy to create an event list without thinking how it will affect those at the meet. Of course, the primary concern is how the events, and their order, affect
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Last updated on November 11th, 2023 at 04:55 pm Who doesn’t want to run a great swim meet? Most everyone who puts time and effort into planning, preparing and running a swim meet does it hoping for good results. However, what each sees as a “good result” may vary. There are many different outcomes that
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Last updated on November 11th, 2023 at 04:30 pm Looking to make your next swim meet time-wise and athlete-friendly? Start by carefully evaluating your meet event list. Swim meet event lists can vary greatly. Meet planners make decisions when determining the event list. An important step in the decision-making process is to identify factors that
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Last updated on March 20th, 2024 at 04:25 pm A question often asked by new meet directors is “How do I know which events to schedule at our swim meet?” This series helps meet directors put together an effective swim meet event list. This post helps those newer to swim meet hosting find local resources
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Last updated on September 16th, 2022 at 12:45 pm What is Athlete-Centered Officiating? It is making “the things that directly affect the athlete” the top priority, explained Patrick Hunter, a former member of the USA Swimming Officials Committee. A while back, I read an article authored by Patrick and felt his ideas were worth sharing.
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Last updated on February 28th, 2023 at 12:19 pm Swim meets have a way of creeping up on meet planners. We know the meet is coming but don’t start to recruit timers until after the beginning of warm-ups. Frustration follows because not enough volunteers step up. But consider this, even before setting the meet date you know
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Last updated on November 14th, 2022 at 11:27 am In need of more timers at swim meets — especially at large, higher-level meets? You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Consider offering incentives, or “perks” for being a timer. They can Goodwill is invaluable to volunteer-dependent organizations like swim teams and other swim meet hosts. Although
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Last updated on March 29th, 2022 at 11:32 am Have you ever tried herding cats? I haven’t, but the idea always makes me laugh. It’s the perfect analogy for many situations in life, including corralling people at swim meets. Spectators, athletes, and others tend to sprawl at swim meets. They often fill in all available,
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Last updated on November 1st, 2023 at 08:56 am The dilemma: As swim meet officials and administrative people we are obligated to follow the rules in our decision-making process. However, not all situations faced have a correct resolution clearly spelled out in the rules. Some issues are not clearly legal or clearly not legal; clearly “white” or clearly “black.” This
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