Last updated on August 2nd, 2023 at 04:07 pm
This small swim meet plan is targeted at teen athletes. It’s designed to give athletes the chance to compete within a small social group. The total meet size is about 50, including athletes, coaches, officials, and meet support personnel. Athletes double as competitors, timers, and runners. Although planned for a total attendance of 50 people or less, others could easily be added if desired. This meet was specifically designed to keep the overall attendance as low as possible. Also, remember for times to “count,” follow all governing body rules and regulations.
Safe Sport Note: It’s essential that parents can watch and access their child(ren) during youth sports and other events. Adapt meet plans as needed and according to local circumstances so this can occur.
Contents for Teen Swim Meet Plan, 50 People or Less
Teen Small Swim Meet Intro
This meet design has a very targeted purpose. It is designed to provide a swim meet to as many athletes as possible while still keeping the total attendance at or below 50 people. The plan shows the key elements needed to make the meet work. It does not cover everything needed to host a swim meet. Check out, Swim Meet Must Haves: Needs versus Wants for more essentials.
Goal
With less than 50 total spots available in the venue, this meet is designed to give every possible spot to athletes. As a result, the athletes will need to be mature enough to follow strict safety guidelines and meet protocols with minimal supervision.
Note: See the Small Swim Meets Series for additional swim meet plans that accommodate other goals.
Safety and Risk Management
It is the responsibility of the swim meet host to meet or exceed all laws, public health, and safety guidelines in addition to the facility, governing body, and other rules or restrictions.
Check with the host organization, facility, or governing body regarding insurance coverage requirements.
Also, ensure the safety and well-being of athletes and others by following Safe Sport procedures, including the USA Swimming Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy.
Because you know the timers will be switching places throughout this meet, consider providing a way to sanitize stopwatches between events. Additionally, consider how to provide clean restrooms and changing areas, if needed. Recommend asking athletes to come and leave in their suits, if possible.
# of Athletes: 40 Teen Swimmers
This meet is designed to serve older, somewhat experienced athletes. The recommended age for attending swimmers is 13 and older. Perhaps younger athletes who are mature could also do this meet. It serves about 40 athletes. Depending on local resources and needs, an extra one to three could possibly attend.
This meet is not recommended for young or inexperienced swimmers because
- Athletes both compete and fill timing and runner positions. They also need to do meet setup and cleanup with minimal supervision.
- Parents and other spectators are not in the venue in order to keep total attendance at or less than 50.
# of Meet Support and Official Roles
Meet Director: 1
In addition to fulfilling meet director responsibilities, this person may also need to manage the bullpen and/or assist marshals. May also use older athletes from each group as assistants.
Officials: 2-3 Deck; 1-2 Administrative
Be sure to comply with governing body rules. Recommend using the minimum number allowed including two to three Deck Officials and one Administrative Official. Depending on the timing equipment used and local circumstances may also need one timing console operator.
Governance Tip: See USA Swimming Rulebook, if applicable.
Coaches: 2
In addition to coaching, the coaches may also need to assist swimmers and marshals, as needed.
Meet Marshals: 1-2
Monitor safety in the venue, warm-up, and warm-down lanes, as well as manage the area around the blocks in between heats. Having help at the blocks is especially important at the beginning of the swim meet when all are learning the system. May also use older athletes from each group as assistants.
Lifeguards?
Some facilities require lifeguards. If so, adjust the number of other positions or competitors as needed.
Spectators?
Although not provided for in this swim meet plan, some facilities may be able to provide socially distanced spectator viewing from a lobby, outside a fence, or in another way.
Timers and Runners
Filled with competing athletes.
Total Recommended Run Time
The total recommended run time for the meet is less than two hours. Add a 20-minute warm-up at the beginning and a brief warm-down at the end.
Why? This cuts down on the need for extra support like hospitality. It also preserves those who are participating. Keeping the time short might also make swim meet hosting more agreeable for the facility.
Facility
Use four competition lanes plus warm-up/warm-down lane(s).
Although more lanes may be available, this meet only uses four (4) lanes for competition. Why? Fewer lanes mean fewer volunteer needs and smaller heats. Smaller heats slow down the timeline and give athletes more rest in between events.
Number of Events
Three to five mixed-gender events (Total number depends on the length of events)
Entry Divisions
- Athletes divided into 2 groups: A and B
- Then, if desired, divide the members of each group into two teams: odds and evens
- NOTE: Dividing into “Odds and Evens” is not mandatory for this meet to work. It just helps to simplify lane assignments for the athletes. They know that whether timing or competing, they are in one of two lanes.
- NOTE: If your governing body has seeding rules, follow those.
- All entered athletes are signed up to swim every event. If they choose not to swim an event, the lane is simply left empty.
Administrative
Swim Meet Software and Run Pattern
- Create two identical swim meets in the software, each with the same events. One is for “Group A.” The other is for “Group B.” The Group A meet event numbers are followed by an “A” and the Group B meet event numbers are followed by a “B” (Example: 1A or 1B)
- Set up as a Dual Meet. In “Set-up” Assign Team “Odds” to odd lanes and Team “Evens” to even lanes if using odds and evens seeding.
- Upload Group A entries to Meet “A” and Group B entries to Meet “B”
- Before the meet, download each meet to a slot in the timing system console. The timing console and meet computer personnel will need to switch between meets as the events change. The meet will run with the following events.
- 1A (Group A: competes, Group B: timers, runners, etc.)
- 1B (Group B: competes, Group A: timers, runners, etc.)
- 2A
- 2B
- 3A
- 3B (etc.)
- When one group is competing, the other group performs timer and runner duties. Then, they switch. Recommend a 5-minute break (or so) in between each event to allow for an orderly switch and provide a bit more warm-down and recovery time for the athletes.
- With 20 athletes in each group (40 total for the meet) and using 4 lanes, there will be 5 heats of each event.
- Odds athletes compete and time in odd lanes. Evens athletes compete and time in even lanes. (Unless the meet host opted for different seeding.)
Start End Management
The start area must be highly regulated to allow for appropriate social distancing if needed. Use of a socially distanced bullpen, or gathering area, for upcoming heats, is recommended.
Goal: To have, at most, one heat of athletes and one set of timers at the start end of the pool at any given time. How?
In between heats
- Timers: Behind timer chairs
- Finishing heat: Exit the water and leave the block area in one direction
- Next heat: Enter the block area from the opposite side of the finishing heat’s exit. They enter the block area after the finishing heat has exited.
During heats
- Timers are in front of timer chairs
- Next heats: In the bullpen
Results
If space and personnel allow, results can be printed and posted at the venue. Recommend using tape to mark socially distanced “x’s” on the ground to help swimmers maintain appropriate spacing when viewing.
Also, consider publishing to Meet Mobile and allowing all to access heat and lane assignments as well as results via personal mobile devices. This also allows those not at the meet to see results.
Scoring
If more than just times are desired, run results as a virtual meet.
Awards
If awards are given, label and distribute them later (Unless space and personnel exist to do it within the 50-person limit, or the meet is not bound by this total.)
Closing Thought
This type of meet is not for everyone. However, small meets like this can fill an important role within competitive swimming. Remember, the focus of this particular meet plan is to give teens the opportunity to compete in small social groups of 50 people or less.
Swim Meets with Less Than 50 People
- Is it possible? Yes, depending on local factors.
- Is it worth it? For some yes and for others no.
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!