This section is primarily for events held at pools.  If you are entering in an Open Water (OW) swim for the first time please start with this USMS web link:

What can I expect at my first swim meet?

Entry Forms
If you are mailing in an entry be sure to properly complete the entry form.  If you already have your USMS Membership Card, be sure to include a copy of it.  Pay attention to entry deadline dates, etc.

For records purposes it is important that you always enter your name on the entry form exactly as it is printed on your membership card.

Your membership card will indicate the official USMS abbreviation for your team.  If you are swimming "unattached", or not as a member of a team, the typical abbreviation is UNAT.

Please note that unattached swimmers are ineligible to participate in relays as per USMS Rule 102.9.1 - "Relay teams may not compete unattached.  In all cases, relay teams must be composed of USMS members of the same club, which is a member of USMS."  You must officially complete your change of attachment status with the LMSC Registrar before you can legally participate in relays.

Seed Times
When filling in "seed times" (the time you think you will be able to do the event in) it is best if you use the most accurate time possible.  This way it is more likely that you will be swimming next to someone who matches your speed.

Since most event heats are arranged by seed time, and not age, it is quite possible that you will not be swimming next to someone in your age bracket.  (Age brackets are basically in five year increments.)  Being next to a swimmer in your speed range will almost guarantee you a better time since folks tend to try harder under those conditions.

It is OK to guess on your seed time.  Using a clock or stopwatch at practice will get you a close enough seed time for your entry form, even if you time yourself and start by pushing off the wall (which is a legal start in USMS competition).

If you have no realistic idea what your seed time should be then you may enter the appropriate response, which is typically NT (no time).  If you do this you will be lumped in with all the other NT entries and it is very unlikely that you will be swimming next to someone close to you in speed.

What to bring?
If you include these items on your first meet you will likely have everything you need.

• Highlighter and Pen or Pencil
• These are really handy to mark up your heat sheet and make notes.
• Your Event List
• Bringing a list of the events you entered will help you find your position in the heat sheets more quickly.  The heat sheet for a typical championship meet can be 10 pages or more.
  
• Towels
  
• One or more towels for the pool deck, one to keep in your locker.
• A wring-out "thirsty towel" can be a great asset.
• Suit and Goggles
• Yeah, this is a gimmie, but don't forget `em!
  
• Lock
• Most facilities have lockers in the dressing rooms.
• Shower/Deck Shoes.
• If you are not used to walking barefoot on concrete all day you are really going to miss these.
• Cover-up
• Some indoor facilities, or spring or fall outdoor meets, can get quite chilly.  It is best to be prepared for this, especially if you are prone to chills (remember, you may be soaking wet and out of the pool much of the time).
• Sunscreen - If it is an outdoor meet there may not be abundant shade so be prepared for this.
• Replenishment
• Liquids and Snacks
• While most meets have these on hand, it is usually OK to bring some of your own.  The entry form will usually inform you on that facilities policy.
  

Arrival
The first day you arrive at the meet it is best to immediately go to the registration desk.  There you will check in and receive a heat sheet and any goodies that are associated with the meet.  If you have any questions regarding what to do, this is a good time and place to ask them.  Don't be afraid to ask: "What should I do next?"  US Masters Swimmers are typically a very friendly and easy going bunch, and event organizers are usually eager to help newcomers get the most out of their experience.

After checking in the usual thing to do is suit up and join the warm-ups.  It is usually OK to arrive early enough that you can be all checked in and suited up prior to the official warm-up time listed in the schedule of events.

Warm-ups
This is a safety issue!

There are typically a set of rules or guidelines regarding warm-ups.  If they are not covered in the entry form, ask about them when you register.  These rules are in place to ensure the safety of all participants at the meet.  In particular you need to be familiar with the policy on practicing starts, which are typically only allowed at a specific time in a specific lane, and only prior to the first start in the events schedule for the day.

Be Familiar With the Rules
Nothing will put a damper on your experience faster than being DQ'd (disqualified) for a simple error like an improper start, turn, or stroke pattern.  It is best to review these items for the strokes you plan to do well before you arrive at the meet.  You may discover that habits cultivated in practice may be illegal in competition.  Be sure to view or download the current USMS Rule Book section on swimming at the USMS web.

Swimming Heats
A "heat" is a group of swimmers for an event (like the 50 free) that are arranged for the available number of competition lanes in the pool where the meet is taking place.  The heat sheet you get after registration will list all the pre registered swimmers (and teams) and the order of events.  Each event is divided into one or more heats, which are determined by the number of swimmers who have entered that event.

At the average USMS event all heats are "timed finals".  What this means is that there are no preliminary heats, and you will only have that one chance to swim your event to get a timed result (and compete against others in your age group).

Heats are typically seeded slowest to fastest, with (or without) regard to gender.  The exceptions to this are typically the long distance events (commonly referred to as "the mile", though none of them are exactly a mile).  A quick review of your heat sheet will determine which method is used.  Don't let gender mixed heats intimidate you, this process actually gives you a better chance of swimming next to someone close to your speed.

It is a good idea to highlight your name for your events on your heat sheet.  Some swimmers even write their event, heat, lane number on their arm.

Careful review of your heat sheet can reveal if there is anyone in your age bracket that you are competing against.  This review process can also take a lot of time however, so don't allow it to make you miss your warm-up or event.  If you are lucky, heat sheets or "psych sheets" (a pre-meet list of all event entries) will be available on-line prior to the meet, but odds are that you will get your heat sheet when you walk in the door at the meet.

Meets using an electronic wall display will typically only list the event number (and not the name of the event), so you need to pay attention.  Where the meet is in the schedule can often be determined simply by comparing the currently underway event to your heat sheet.

The heat sheet can also reveal how much time you have for breaks, warm-ups, etc.  Simply look at the slowest times for each heat between your events and you can usually guess how much time you have to relax in-between them.  Occasionally the event officials will announce a short (two to five minute) break during the events (which is something else to listen for).

Be aware that deck seeds (entries) and scratches (dropping an event) may not show up on your heat sheet and can change who you are swimming against and how much time you have between events.

Be sure to listen to announcements!  Occasionally changes are made to the schedule to make the meet go faster.

Making the Start
You want to be SURE to be behind the blocks a few minutes prior to your scheduled start.  Your start position is determined by where your name shows up on the heat sheet.  You will be lucky if the officials announce the event and heat for each start.  They usually just churn through them at a fast clip in order to stay on schedule.

If you miss your start you will probably not get a chance to swim that event (this is more true at large meets, less true at small meets).  If you accidentally swim in the wrong heat be sure to notify an Event Referee, they will probably be able to get your time properly recorded.

Pay attention to the signals given for starting the races.  Announcements are usually made at the beginning of the meet regarding the procedure.  The procedure typically goes like this (official rules regarding starts are available in the USMS Rule Book):

• Starting Official sounds three or more short whistle blasts.
• This indicates that the race is about to start.
• At this point you will want to be behind the block and ready to go.
• One long whistle blast.
• This is the signal to get into position for the start.
• Positions include:
• On the block
• On the deck beside the pool
• In the water, holding onto the block or pool edge
  
• "Take Your Mark"
• When the starter makes this announcement it is time to get into your starting position and hold it!
• If the Officials detect any forward motion prior to the start they will declare a false start.
• The start is typically indicated by an electronic signal (usually a loud beep), that is accompanied by a strobe light.
• "Stand Up"
• While not used very often, the Starter can make this call if:
• A false start is imminent
• There is a technical problem with the timing system
• Any other reason
  
• If this announcement is made while you are on the block, you are supposed to do just that.
• Swimmers who fall in on this command can be allowed to get back up on the block, but sometimes they are not.
  
• False Starts
• You can get DQ'd for a false start.
• If a false start is declared after swimmers have started there will be several loud beeps or whistle blasts to call swimmers back, and the process starts all over again.  Occasionally there may be a "false start rope" in place that is used to get the attention of swimmers who do not hear the call back signal.
  

It is not required to start from the blocks.  Pool deck or in the water starts are allowed.  The Mini Rule Book covers these items.  If you are doubtful about what to do, be sure to ask an official what is correct, preferably before the events start up.

It is a good idea to check with a Lane Timer in your lane before you prepare to start.  The best time to confirm that you are next in line is after they have written down the time from the last heat.  If you discover you are in the wrong place, and you think you are in the upcoming heat, get the attention of the starter, they will usually delay the start until you get in the right place.  The best way to avoid drawing unwanted attention to yourself however is to be confident that you are in the right place at the right time.

Smaller meets tend to be in less of a hurry, so it is easier to make your start.  But these events are generally not any less formal.  The times recorded at any USMS Sanctioned Event (small or large) are eligible for records, so there is a need to be official in the proceedings.

Once the events get going there is typically little pause from one event to the next.  Plan ahead!  If you are doing the maximum allowed event schedule (typically five per day) you are likely to be constantly on the go.  Looking at the events prior to yours will tell you how much time you will have to get a snack, stretch, powder your nose, etc.  Two heats of a 50 event will go by much more quickly than two heats of a 200 event.  You can usually estimate how much time you will have between events by adding up the slowest seed times from each heat in-between.

Making Your Finish
Exit the pool as quickly as possible.  If you need to cross a lane to get to a ladder DO NOT DO SO UNTIL YOU ARE SURE THE LANE IS CLEAR!  Failure to do so could easily get you DQ'd, and possibly interfere with another swimmer.  REMEMBER: It is very likely that a swimmer next to you is not in your age group.  Even someone finishing behind you could be a contender for a record.  Do Not get in their way!

If you need special assistance to get out of the pool, you can notify officials ahead of time.  Most facilities have accommodations to meet every swimmers need.

Counters - In Long Distance Events
The USMS rule (102.10.6 in 2005) for counters typically states that "A swimmer in any individual event of 16 lengths or more, except the individual medley, may appoint one counter to call lengths or indicate lengths by visual sign."

You typically need to make your own arrangements for a counter.  If you are competing with a team it should be easy to find someone to help you.  If you are alone at a meet and need a counter, simply ask one of the meet officials or lane timers for help.  Typically anyone who wants to do so may be a counter.  It can be a wet job, so be prepared for that.

What the counter does is display which length the swimmer has just completed.  The tool used for this is a (typically) plastic, hinged card device, designed to display odd numbers only.  For the final wall touch at the counters end (which is opposite the starting block), orange markers are displayed, which indicates that the next length is the end of the event for the swimmer.

For Example:
In the 500yd Freestyle (a SCY only event) there are 20 lengths (10 laps) to be completed.  The counter would show the (odd numbered) count for lengths through 17, then "show orange" for 19.

Pay Attention!
While somewhat unusual, it is not entirely unlikely for a meet official to make changes in the heat schedules in order to speed things up.  These announcements are typically made over a PA system, so you need to be listening.  If you miss an announcement just ask someone next to you first, most folks at these events are pretty helpful.  If necessary, go check with an official.

Sometimes heat sheets are printed on both sides, be sure to check for that.

Results and Awards
It is permissible to ask a Lane Timer for your time.  But DO NOT interrupt them if they are writing down a time or preparing to start another race!

Printed results are typically posted somewhere on the pool deck as soon as officials can get them out.  Results are also available to individuals sometime after the meet in either digital or hard copy format.  SMS meet results are posted on this web through links in the SMS Events section.

Individual place awards are commonly given at the end of that days events.  Usually you are responsible for collecting these if you want them (they will not announce every winner).  Other awards such as Individual High Point Winners and Team Trophies are typically given (and announced) at the end of the meet.

Bring Companions
It is usually OK to brings guests (they are usually admitted free of charge, especially at SMS meets).  It is not at all uncommon to see families at meets.  If you bring children be sure they are closely supervised.  There is typically a lot of confusion on the deck during the events, especially during the relays.

Most SoLMSC (SMS) meets are in need of Lane Timers.  This is not necessarily an "Official" position, so there is little or no pressure.  The only skills required are the ability to operate a stop watch and write down the recorded times, and in the case of electronic timing systems: also pushing a button attached to the swimmers touch pad on the final touch (the finish).  Championship meets are typically at facilities with electronic timing, so the Lane Timers job is just a backup, even in the case of the touch pad button.

In all events it is preferred to have two lane timers for each lane.  This can amount to a significant number of support people (with relief's, etc.), so guests who want to participate as lane timers (especially at SMS meets) are usually very welcome!  Lane timing is usually not a very boring job, especially in the shorter events when time can really go by quickly.

Relax - Take it Easy - Have Fun
Your first meet should be an enjoyable experience, so try not to take it too seriously, and be safe.

Most folks at the meet are there simply to have a good time, do some socializing, see how their times from this meet will compare to past events, and maybe spark up some friendly competition with a rival.

Meets will usually get your adrenaline pumping, so just relax and enjoy it.  And it is possible, especially in meets that are National, Zone, or LMSC Championships, that you may get the opportunity to witness the setting of a national or even world record.  That can be very exciting to see!

Being a "winner" at a USMS meet has a variety of definitions.  Obviously if you place first in a field of ten in your age group you are a clear-cut winner.  But it is worth mentioning that simply successfully completing an event can make you a winner (especially if you are the only person in your age bracket who entered that event!).  Just keep in mind that there were a lot of folks out there who did not even bother to show up, let alone prepare, and you did.  And as you gain experience at meets you also become a winner by attaining new personal best times. 

In the long run, everyone there at the meet is mostly swimming against themselves.  Stay focused on you and your abilities and you will not only have fun, you will likely also turn in your best time to date in the events you enter.

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