Last updated on October 27th, 2023 at 11:07 am
Ever wish there was a single place where you could quickly get resources to effectively increase safety at swim meets? Look no further! The Host Great Meets Swim Meet Safety Kit provides information and links to printable signs, timer and meet marshal instructions, and announcements.
Contents for One Stop Safety Kit for Swim Meets
Kit Signs
Print and post as many signs as needed at your meet venue. Modify if needed.
- No Recording Behind the Blocks (Thank you USA Swimming Safe Sport)
- No Recording in Locker Rooms (Restrooms/Changing Areas) (Thank you USA Swimming Safe Sport)
- No Spectators on Deck
- No Meet Seating Here
- Please Keep Walkways Clear
- Athletes Only
- NO Athletes
Downloadable Swim Meet Sign Kit
Instructions for Swim Meet Timers and Meet Marshals
Give your meet volunteers the information they need to do a good job and help those around them be safe. Often, a few experienced people run swim meets helped by many less experienced volunteers. Using a training agenda enables others with less experience to step up and help out more.
Meet Marshal Instructions
All Meet Marshals should read these instructions and receive any other meet or facility-specific instructions before their shift. Here is a link to online Swim Meet Marshal Instructions.
Needed Prep: Instruct Meet Marshals to report 15 minutes before warm-ups start. Make sure you can give marshal(s) the information they’ll need to do their job. (Example: Emergency Action Plan and location of first aid station and supplies. Read instructions for more.) If using downloadable files, print the instruction card, cut (they come 2 per page), and if desired, laminate cards in advance.
(Thank you USA Swimming Safe Sport Committee for the original Meet Marshal Instructions upon which this was based.)
Downloadable Swim Meet Marshal Instructions
Timer Instructions
Instructions to give at the timer meeting, and to replacement timers when they come on deck. If you already have Timer Instructions you prefer, use them, but add the safety information included at the bottom of this version. Here’s a link to online Swim Meet Timer Instructions.
Downloadable Swim Meet Timer Instructions
Safety Announcements for Swim Meets
To use, first review the kit announcements. Delete any which don’t apply to your meet. If needed, add others. Ask the meet announcer to make the announcements throughout the meet.
(Thank you USA Swimming Safe Sport for the original meet announcements upon which these were based.)
Downloadable Safety Announcements for Swim Meets
Learn More
- For more practical tips, ideas and help, read the blog post, “Increasing Swim Meet Safety”. Ideas grouped by the amount of time you have before the meet:
- Some
- Not Much
- None (It’s today or already started)
- USA Swimming has many safety-related resources. They also have a comprehensive guide in the Safe Sport at Events section of their website. You’ll find risk management-related information at www.usaswimming.org/riskmanagement. (Scroll down to see “Risk Management.”)
If you’re 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 and easy-to-follow links to related information.
Need more help? See the series 20+ Ways to Get Swim Meet Timers and the post Officials: 20+ Ways to Get them for Swim Meets.