Last updated on March 9th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Want a quick, touchless, and paperless way to share key information at a swim meet? Host Great Meets posts with embedded QR codes make it easy! You may not have felt the need for this functionality before. But consider the many scenarios where it might be useful, including but not limited to these.
- Timer training
- Instructing meet marshals
- Delegating swim meet set-up and clean-up responsibilities to others
- An officials briefing
- Sharing training and other resources with people new to swim meet work in a specific area
Even if you’ve not previously shared written lists at swim meets in the past, you might consider starting. Why? Because not only do you need people to do a good job, you also want them to feel comfortable doing what they’re doing so they’ll come back next time. Good information helps. Good information they remember helps even more. Help increase their odds of success by not only sharing the information they need verbally but also in print. The QR Codes in these posts make it easy! All each need is a cell phone or another device with a camera or barcode scanning app.
Contents for QR Codes = Quick, Touchless, Paperless Sharing
What is a QR Code?
A QR Code (quick response code) is a type of 2D bar code used to provide easy access to information through a smartphone or other device. The Host Great Meets QR codes contain information that when scanned, leads a person directly to a specific post.
How To Use a QR Code
Many smartphones and other devices have barcode and QR code scanning built-in. Simply open the camera or barcode scanning app and point it at the code. Make sure all four corners of the code are in view. Let it focus and soon a link should appear on the screen. Click on the link. It will bring the device directly to the post. For more detailed instructions, see https://www.wikihow.com/Scan-a-QR-Code
Posts That Include QR Codes
The following posts include QR Codes for quick, touchless, and paperless sharing. This method works especially well at swim meets. It requires the other person to have a mobile device with a camera or bar code scanning app. Sharing posts visually, in addition to verbally, helps increase retention and effective service by others.
Instructions
Officials Briefings
- Mobile-Friendly Deck Protocol Briefing
- Stroke Briefing in Rhyme, by John Gagliardo
- Swim Meet Officials Briefing: Jeopardy Style
Lists for Admin and Officials
- Basic Swim Meet Admin Checklist
- Colorado Timing System Operator Tip Sheet
- Swim Meet Timing Adjustment: Helpful Tips
- Referee Prep List for Swim Meets
Equipment Related Lists
Lists to Help Organize Volunteers
Summary
QR codes provide another tool to meet directors and other leaders. Some of those who get lists this way will use them, others won’t. However, QR codes provide a quick and easy way to use personal devices to share information. Doing so helps increase information retention and the effective service of others. Additionally, QR codes enable sharing in a touchless, paperless way.
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!
We are allowed to host a virtual meet as long as are swimmers and parents are socially distant. The problem we are trying to solve is how to notify swimmers to the blocks if they are spread all over the building. We were thinking QR code – parents take a picture, make camp somewhere and then get notified as to what event we are on. Can a QR code do that? What would we link it to ? A google doc? Build a website?
Congratulations on being able to start running swim meets again! I also applaud your work to keep swimmers safe and socially distanced. Your request is a great one. A QR code simply quickly leads people to a URL, i.e. a webpage. So, if you have a webpage that lists what event you’re on, a QR code might solve this problem. There are numerous ways to get a QR code. Try searching, “How to build a QR code”. In the past, I’ve made 8.5” x 11” copies of a single large QR code and simple instructions. These were posted around the venue. It was for a meet feedback survey so said, “Scan this code and tell us what you think of the meet.” In your case, it might be easier to create a text group (if it’s an instrasquad meet the team might already have one) and simply have a designated parent send out a text as the event changes. In this case, it might be helpful for people to have an estimated meet timeline in advance. (Be sure to emphasize that it’s unofficial.) They can then see how the actual times are running and have a better estimate of how much time they have before upcoming events. Good luck! I would love to hear what you do and how it goes. I think this is something others might be interested in too.