Red Wave Swim Team

Our league meets are competitive meets officiated following Texas UIL swimming rules and regulations. Most league meets occur at pool locations that have starting blocks and touch-pad timing systems.

Communication/Notifications:
Please download the SwimTopia Mobil App to receive time sensitive updates and notifications. ***We will be utilizing Meet Maestro to run our meets so this functionality SHOULD be available. 

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What to Expect:

• Please see Out-of-town Meet info for directions and facility information.
• Red Wave swimmers will receive instruction, guidance, and swimming expectations from coaches.
• Be prepared to get in pool at designated warm up time.
• Attendance is not mandatory but be sure the coaches know if you will not or plan to leave early.  This is important when making relay teams.
• Away Meets: Arrive early to get a place to sit. Tents will be set up by Red Wave so swimmers are out of the sun.  See Away Meets page for more details.
• Home Meets: We'll have a corner set up(back left) just for our swimmers to chill.  Arrive early so spectators can get a seat.  You will be mostly outside or right at the door and meets only stop for lighting so bring rain gear if needed.
• Indoor Meets: Most natatoriums have bleachers for spectators. Red Wave may set up tents outside with other teams for the swimmers, just depends on the facility.  Parents cannot be down on the deck where races occur.

Things to have: 

• Team swimsuit or a black or red swimsuit
• goggles(plus extra)
• swim cap(plus extra if they rip)
• towel
• water or sports drinks for hydration
• high-carb snacks and food. 
• Chair if outdoors
• Tent if outdoors (often limited space so welcome to squish in where there's room in other tents)

Items to Note:

• Eat a good breakfast the day of the meet.
• There is often downtime at the meets. Swimmers should bring something that can keep them temporarily occupied but still be able to pay attention to event numbers. Siblings who are not swimming may need something to keep them entertained as well.
• Some meets may have concessions, but the variety of options is often unknown; plan accordingly.
• Families are encouraged to bring healthy snacks for their swimmer(s). We recommend keeping your swimmer hydrated, out of the sun, and rested between events.
• Officials dressed in white stand on the sides of the pool deck and check for infractions. Swimmers and volunteers should stay out of their way so they can do their job.
• Odd event numbers are for girls, even numbers are for boys. All swimmers 10 and under will report to the ready bench as notified to help ensure they get to the blocks for their event on time.  There will be parents working the ready bench to get your swimmer to their event (available for volunteer sign up).
• Swimmers 11 and older should be stationed behind the blocks at least one event or two heats before their swim so they do not miss swimming their event.

What is a Heat Sheet?

The heat sheet is the printed listing displayed before and during a meet that shows swimmers what events they will compete in. It also defines the swimmer's lane and heat assignment per event. Lanes are typically assigned based on seed times, with the fastest swimmers in the center of the pool. A seed time is taken during the Splash Meet or first meet if that one is missed.

Courtesy of R&R Aquatics Club website

Important Heat Sheet Terms:

Seed Time is the fastest time a swimmer or relay team has swum that event, typically within the past year. The seed time is used to place a swimmer most accurately within their event and heat. Some swimmers use this time as their goal to beat or swim faster than.

An “NT” listed for seed time means no time has yet been recorded for that swimmer, i.e. that swimmer has not competed in that event or does not have a recent time for the current season in that event.

An "X" in front of seed time means the swimmer is swimming in for exhibition only. A swimmer in this instance will receive a swim time but will not score points for the team. Exhibition swimmers are typically allowed so a swimmer can participate in an additional event for the purpose of receiving a time.

Note: Individual Medleys (IM) are swum in order: 1) Butterfly (Fly), 2) Backstroke, 3) Breaststroke, 4) Freestyle. Swimmers need to know the order to swim in because any other order will result in a disqualification or “DQ”.

Marking your swimmer's arm:

Courtesy of Jets Aquatics Club website

Combined Events:
Events get combined so the meet runs faster.  When this happens it is recommended to bracket your Heat Sheet as shown below in green (names blacked out for privacy reasons).  Event numbers will remain the same and all will be called except those without swimmers. You will see Event numbers skipped on the Heat Sheet.  That's because no one is swimming in that event. Just be mindful that events can sneak up on you.