FAQ's

Basics

Do I have to do anything as a parent?

In a word - YES!!  Junior Carnivals are a good place for parents to learn about competitive swimming. There are several areas where parents' help is essential:

Marshalling:

(Getting the screaming rabble into order). The marshalling area is the area set aside for swimmers to assemble before their race. At the swim meet the marshals job is to organise children into heats for each event. They must also check the name of each swimmer and ensure they are in the correct heat and lane for their race.

Scribing:

A scribe writes each swimmer's name and the race they are doing on a slip to be presented to the time- keepers. The slips will already be printed at a swim meet and often they will be given to the swimmers at marshalling.

Timekeeping:

Each lane requires 3 time- keepers. (Grab a watch, a lane and click the button at the start of the race and click the button when the swimmer in your lane finishes). All 3 times are recorded on the slip and the middle time is taken as the "official" time. The slip should then be collected by the runner. Some swim meets require "official" time-keepers which means taking a brief training course, followed by a test.

Running:

(Or walking if you like!) After each race the "runner" collects the time slips and delivers them to the recorder. Really easy - just walk back and forth.

Recording:

The recorder must ensure that results from the time slips are correctly entered against a swimmer's name.

Managing:

At swim meets one or two parents are needed to act as team managers. They are responsible for sending swimmers to marshalling on time. They are also responsible for any communications (scratchings, disqualifications etc.) between the team and the race officials.

 

There are higher levels of officialdom within swimming. (As with all clubs, the higher the position the harder it is to fill). See a committee member for more information if you want to be involved as an official.

How much does swimming cost?

There are two sorts of fees, both of which need to be paid; firstly to belong to the club and secondly to belong to Swimming New Zealand.    

Swimmers are billed training fees on a monthly basis on top of an annual subscription fee to Wharenui. This is simply for swimmers who do not wish to compete at this stage.  

The second sort of fees are a requirement for competitive swimmers.  Swimmers must pay affiliation fees for both Swimming NZ and Swim Canterbury/West Coast.  

Finally, swimmers are required to pay an entry fee for each swimming meet they enter. The price for this varies and is shown on the meet entry flyers (generally between $3.00-$10.00). 

Swimmers new to swimming can enter non-competitive events at Junior Carnival’s and various other meets.  Swimmers that enter these events do not need to pay the annual affiliation fee with Swimming NZ and generally these races have no entry fee.  They are a great way to introduce kids into the racing environment.

For more info on costs and registration click here.

Is there a uniform?

Yes, there is. Although uniform is not worn for training, it is compulsory for swimmers representing their club at competitions. Please refer to the uniforms for further details.

Where can I purchase the togs and how much do they cost?

There are togs available at the front office both with the Wharenui label and without.  From $35 for Boys and $55 for Girls.  See  here for more info about uniforms. 

Is there any other gear needed?

Goggles and a cap. Also pull-buoys, paddles, fins, kickboard and a drink bottle. There is some communal gear that the club supplies, however it is probably advisable to have your own gear. A mesh bag to carry your gear in is also very handy. Gear can be left tidily in the gear shed.  By the time kids get to Prep squad it is desirable that they have their own gear. 

  

Swimming Progression

My child has had swimming lessons and wants to continue with swimming. What are the options available?

After Learn-to-Swim the kids progress through Technique (Levels 6, 7 and 8) to the squads (Prep, Intermediate, Development and National Squads).  Progress through each level is done by meeting set criteria of which will be tested at least once a term.  See  swimming progression chart for further details.

Which squad should my child be in?

Your child will be placed in a squad appropriate to their swimming level. Progression through the squads then depends on several factors, as determined by the coaches.  Feel free to discuss with the coach if you think your kid is in the wrong squad, however remember the coach’s decision is final.  If your child is new to Wharenui organise a time at reception to grade them so we can accurately place them in one of our squads.   

Competing at Splash Nights is fun. What next?

A swim meet is the next step if you enjoy competing, attending Junior Carnivals would be the most advisable. You can either enter the meet as a Non-Competitive swimmer which are generally free or take the plunge and register with Swimming New Zealand and become a competitive swimmer.  It is advisable that after two or three non-competitive meets swimmers become competitive.  Being a non-competitive swimmer means that they will get ribbons with their times on it; however their times will not be recorded on the Swimming NZ database.  If you have any questions feel free to talk to your coach.

   

Swim Meets

How do I enter a meet?

The Events page and the club notice board contain details of upcoming meets and entry closing dates.  Please note that closing dates and times are final, late entries are not generally accepted.

All entries are now to be done online through the Swimming NZ MyPage.  When you are ready to start competing contact Fiona at fiona.wha@slingshot.co.nz and she will set you up with a username, password and instructions on how to access the site.  

MyPage Instuctions

 

What races should I enter and how many races should I do?

Check with your coach. A general guide is 4-6 races for a one session meet, or 2-3 races per session for a long meet. (Some meets have limitations on the number of events entered).

What actually happens at the meet?

Aim to arrive about 30 minutes before in pool warm-up for stretching. Swimmers should sit with the club to foster team spirit as well as making the manager's job a lot easier.

Parents may be rostered on a duty otherwise they are free to watch the racing (or read the paper, seek out the closest bakery etc.).

Basically it is the same procedure as race night. Managers send swimmers to marshalling, where they are organised into their heats. (Heats are organised according to the swimmer's entry time or "in-time" in swim talk). Swimmers will take their time slips from marshalling to the timekeepers.

Then the race ...

What should the swimmers eat before / during a swim meet?

Before the meet your swimmer needs a good carbohydrate meal that is low in fat. (For example: yoghurt and cereal, cereal and light blue milk, porridge, toast and honey etc.). For comfort this meal should be about 2-3 hours before the race.

During the race meet swimmers should "graze"- eating small amounts of good snack food (such as muesli bars, bakery food and small amounts of jelly beans) regularly throughout the day. It is most important that swimmers remain hydrated throughout the meet.

Click here for nutrition info

 

Club Processes and Procedures

Is there a constitution?

Yes the club is an incorporated society with a constitution and regulations. These are reviewed each year during the Annual General Meeting. These can be found on the web site under the Club admin menu.

Are there club records and how do I apply for these?

The current club records can be found on this web site under the Results/Records menu.

Are there club policies I should be aware of?

Yes. The constitution and regulations contain a number of policies. Details of the Uniform and Code of Conduct policies can be found under the Club Documents menu.