Race Preparation And Warm Up

Warm ups will generally follow the same format, although their length of time may change from meet to meet and session to session. When going to a meet, you should aim to arrive at the pool 15 - 20 minutes before the warm-up begins.  Most meets begin with a warm up period of general swimming. During this time diving may not be allowed. Later certain lanes are allocated as pace lanes and sprint lanes. The aim of this is to give those swimmers who need the opportunity to do pace work and sprinting from a dive the space without having to dodge around swimmers who are hanging on the walls or doing slower work. If you are not doing pace or sprint work you must stay out of these lanes.  The warm up ends approximately 10 minutes before racing starts and is signalled by the referee's whistle. You should aim to finish your warm-up before this point as to make sure you have done all need to do.

Marshalling For Your Race

You've got this far without any problems. All you have to do now is to swim! It is advisable to keep an eye on the event numbers as they go by, so you know when to get ready. You will be advised by the JASI team manager. To help you the JASI Team Manager will be there to advise you when you should make your way to marshal.  This gives the marshals time to ensure that all swimmers are there for the start of their races and send you up for your race. During this time, keep warm and relaxed doing some warm up exercises.

REMEMBER - When you are racing, swim your race not someone else's. You cannot do anything about the way someone else is swimming but you can do a lot about your own race, either to its benefit or detriment. When you have finished your race, if the scoreboard is in use take a look at it. Check your time and placing.

Exit the pool by the side when instructed by the referee. Always go to the side of the pool.  DO NOT CLIMB OUT OVER THE ELECTRONIC TOUCH PADS.

You can ask the timekeeper for your time. They will not always give it to you, but you can ask.  Go and get your coach's views on your performance, your coach is there to help you, not to hinder you, and any advice that is given will be aimed at helping you learn from your experience.

If you qualify for the finals, you need to ensure that you prepare in the same sort of way for the new race as you did for the heats. Improve on the points that your coach highlighted from the heats and above all prepare by doing what is right for you.

Disqualifications
From time to time swimmers are disqualified for an illegal action or a mistake during a race. If you are disqualified then don't get too upset. Learn what you have done wrong and use the information to help ensure it doesn't happen again. Find out by asking your coach why you were disqualified. (e.g. touched the wall with 1 hand instead of 2). If there is good cause to question the decision, your Coach will do so; do not approach the officials yourself. A swimmer getting disqualified usually comes from bad habits, practice good habits and techniques in training and they will transfer to your race.

Withdrawals
Withdrawing from an event can only be done after discussion with your coach, and then the appropriate forms are filled in and forwarded to the meet officials by the team manager.  A swimmer not showing up without withdrawing from the final of an event or a timed final will be fined by the meet organisers. Withdrawals from finals must be done before the end of the preceding session. Always check the results of your heat swims and find out if you have qualified for finals. Always check with the team manager before leaving the pool.

AND FINALLY...
Ultimately a swimmer goes to a race to try and improve on their best times, be successful and win the race. Winning, however, should be judged in relation to your personal goals, and less in respect of other people. If you have set a goal of a time, or a performance, and you achieve it, be pleased with it and enjoy your success. Then look to see how to improve upon that performance in the future. If your performance was not as good as it could have been, find out why, was it due to the way you have been training? Too hard, too easy, not enough! Did you warm up correctly? Did you eat and drink the right foods at the right time? Performance is reliant on putting a lot of factors together in a consistent manner on the day and the days leading up to the meet. If you do this, you will get a good performance to the level that you are capable of at that moment.

Swim meets are a great occasion to meet new people, make new friends and have some fun. Don't miss out on the swim meet experience!