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 to help put together a meet event list. Other posts in the series give ideas on evaluating meet event lists to maximize the positive effect of your swim meet.
Contents for Swim Meet Event Lists: A Beginners Guide
Five Local Resources to Help You Create a Swim Meet Event List
1. Your Local Governing Body
Some schools or leagues have a set swim meet event list to use at every meet. Others have a series of event lists to use in rotation throughout the season. See if your local governing body provides or requires a specific event list. If not, ask if they know of any resources or local help available to help someone new to meet hosting create one.
2. Your Coach
The coach is in charge of training the athletes and may want to use this meet, or a series of meets, for a specific purpose. S/he may ask for certain events, or plan the entire list of events. If the coach is new, you may need to look to other resources to find needed answers. However, it is in the best interest of the athletes to include the coach as much as possible in the meet planning process. If you are the coach and aren’t sure what to do, consider asking a local, experienced coach for insights.
3. Previously Successful Event Lists
Why reinvent the wheel? Try modifying an event list used at a previously successful meet hosted by your, or another, team. Find those that look appealing, compare key elements, then pick one whose factors mirror closely the swim meet you plan to run.
Where to Find Swim Meet Event Lists
Where can event lists from previous swim meets be found? A good place to start is the local governing body website. Most have archived meet announcements which include not only swim meet event lists, but also information about key meet factors. Comparing these factors can help you find a good fit. Some swim team websites have archived meet announcements. Your coach may know of other places to look. Local meet directors are another potential resource. They may have access to several meet announcements. You can ask local meet hosting teams for the name and contact information of their meet director(s). You can also find meet director name and contact information in meet announcements.
Key Meet Factors
There are many, many different types of swim meet event lists, and meet formats. Where possible, compare key factors to make sure the schedule will work well for your situation. (See other posts in this series for more.)
- Number of lanes used for competition
- Number of athletes
- Available pool time or estimated meet length
- If applicable: Athlete age and/or skill level. For example: Some meet event lists are geared toward newer, younger swimmers and feature shorter distance events.
- General Rule: When planning any meet carefully consider the demands upon swimmers, officials, other meet workers and coaches. Long, tiresome meets, with too many events and/or entries, may keep young children up late at night.
- USA Swimming 4-hour rule: USA Swimming requires meets, with the exception of championship meets, to be planned so events for swimmers 12 years and younger will finish in four (4) hours or less for a timed finals session or in a total of eight (8) hours or less per day for a preliminaries and finals meet.
- If the meet includes events for swimmers age 13 or older, or Senior events, it’s good to end with one (or more) of these. They are not subject to the 4-hour rule.
4. Your Meet Referee
Many swim meet referees are very experienced with meets. They have a good idea of what works well and what does not. It’s a good idea to always have your meet referee review and approve the meet announcement, including the swim meet event list, before releasing it. Some governing bodies require it.
5. Local, Experienced Meet Directors
Another possible resource is a local, experienced meet director. If you find one willing and able to talk, let him/her know what you are doing. Ask for advice. See if s/he has any recommendations or earlier meet event lists that might be a good template for the swim meet you are planning to run. Would s/he be willing to check a draft of your meet event list and give suggestions for improvement?
Summary
Creating a swim meet event list can be daunting for a new meet director. Fortunately, many local resources exist. They include: the local governing body, coaches, swim meet event lists from successful meets, your meet referee and local, experienced meet directors.
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!