HOW A MEET WORKS 

UPDATE: Please note as of 9/21/2019 and going forward for both summer and winter seasons meets will be on either Friday evening or Saturday Morning.  

Meets in the PVSL (Pioneer Valley Swim League) WINTER season have one format and typically last about 3 - 3.5  hours.

Meets in the PVSSL (Pioneer Valley Summer Swim League) SUMMER season have two formats, Long and Short.

• Short meets last about 2.5-3 hours. 
• Long meets last about 4-4.5 hours depending on how big the team we are swimming against is. 
• As of 09/21/2019 the PVSSL has determined long meets will no longer be held in the evening, for any team in our league, due to length. If our team is scheduled for a long meet in the evening we will be automatically changing to a short meet format.

HOW A MEET WORKS

First and foremost swimmers must sign up to swim in weekly meets. A meet sign up sheet will be available for the upcoming meet. If the swimmer has not signed up for the meet by the specified date they will not be included in the meet. If a swimmer cannot attend a meet or will be late, the coach must be notified as soon as possible.

WITHOUT PARENTS WORKING WE CANNOT HAVE A MEET

All parents must volunteer to work at meets. Due to the large size of our team it is necessary to be on time, this means: checked in, suited and ready to swim when warm-ups start. Check in time is 15 minutes prior to the start of warm-ups. Swimmers not checked by the start of warm-ups risk being scratched from their events. Swimmers who are not present will be scratched from the meet line-up and alternate swimmers will be designated. Once a swimmer has been scratched they will not be reinserted into their event if they have already been replaced.

PLEASE NOTE: IF A SWIMMER DOES NOT NOTIFY THE HEAD COACH, ASSISTANT COACH OR BOARD MEMBER THAT THEY CANNOT ATTEND A MEET- AND DOES NOT SHOW UP FOR THE MEET- THEY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SWIM IN THE NEXT MEET AT THE DISCRETION OF THE HEAD COACH. HOWEVER, THEY MUST STILL SHOW UP FOR THE MEET THAT THEY ARE SITTING OUT. IF A SWIMMER DOES NOT SHOW UP FOR THE MEET THEY ARE SITTING OUT, THEY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SWIM IN ANOTHER MEET. THIS RULE WILL CONTINUE AND THE SWIMMER WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SWIM UNTIL THEY SHOW UP TO SIT OUT A MEET.

We have this policy because no-call/no-show swimmers are extremely disruptive to the meet, both for our team and for our opponent, as the coaching staff must constantly redraw the meet line-up at the last minute.

If a swim meet is in question due to weather conditions, please contact either coach or any board member. Please note that late afternoon thunderstorms or snow storms are difficult to forecast so often a meet is not cancelled due to weather until the very last moment. Often this may not be until after the scheduled start time. Unless there is thunder and lighting, swim meets DO continue even if it is raining. All swimmers are expected to show up unless notified otherwise.

Home meets are held at the Chicopee High School Pool. 

Please see the Directions to Pools tab for "away" meets

The meet schedule will be posted on the Schedule tab as soon as it becomes available.

THE DAY OF THE MEET 

1. On the day of the meet, arrive 15 minutes before warm-ups for check in. All swimmers must sign in at the score table. Parents who are signed up to work a meet are asked to check in also. It is very important that we know if anyone is missing as early as possible.

2. Warm-ups begin 30 minutes prior to the meet start time. All swimmers are expected to participate in warm-ups.

3. As soon as we have finalized the Event Sheet, it will be posted. We ask that both swimmers and parents do not approach the score table or coaching staff about your events. We will post the schedule as soon as it has been finalized.

4. Just prior to the start of the meet, all swimmers will gather in a designated area where the older swimmers will lead all swimmers in our team cheer.

5. Bullpen moms/dads will now start handing out event cards to swimmers. Swimmers in events #1 thru #10 must line up immediately. Check the board behind the starter regularly, the event being swam at that time will be posted. We hand out and start to line up swimmers 10 events ahead of their scheduled event. Example: If the board next to the starter says #22, swimmers in event #32 should be at the bullpen waiting to receive their event card and then proceed to the line up. Bullpen moms/dads, other swimmers, coaches, etc. are not responsible for going to look for swimmers. It is the swimmers responsibility and/or the parent’s responsibility to make sure that swimmers are at the bullpen at the appropriate time.

6. Half way through the meet, a very brief time out is taken so that second half workers can relieve first half workers. Please, if you are scheduled to work second half, be ready.

7. Swimmers are required to swim all events that they have been assigned.

8. There is absolutely no loitering in the locker rooms. This applies to both at home and away meets.

6. Parents’ Meet Responsibilities - Each Meet is Divided into Two Halves.

Timers: At each meet we need to have twelve timers. Six timers for each half of a meet. Each lane of the pool needs one timer from each team. Timers need to use a stopwatch to time the events of the children in their lane and then record the times onto the individual event cards.

Back-up Timer: At each meet we need to have 2 back-up timers. The back-up timers time each event, they start the timer and look for a regular timer to raise his/her hand which indicates that that timers stop watch malfunctioned. At that point the back up timer goes over to that lane and finishes as the regular timer.

Place Judges: At each meet we need four place judges. Two for each half. A place judge needs to watch as each event finishes and record the order that the swimmers finish onto a place sheet.

Bull Pen Person: At each meet we need four parents to run the bullpen. Two for each half. The bull pen person hands out the event cards to the swimmers.

Line-Up Coordinator: At each meet we need four Line-Up coordinators. Two for each half. This person lines up the swimmers in order of the events and in order that they approach the lanes.

Runners: At each meet we need two runners. One for each half. The runner collects the event cards from each timer and the place sheet from the place judge after each event and brings them to the score table.

Score Table: At every meet we need four parents to work the score table. Two for each half. This job requires a bit of training, if you are good in math, this is your calling!

Snack Bar: At every home meet we need six people to work at the snack table. Three for each half.

Stroke and Turn Judges: At each meet we need four Stroke & Turn Judges. Two for each half. This position does require training. If you are already trained as a stroke and turn official, please let the Meet Director know ASAP. If you swam in the past you would be an ideal candidate. If you are willing to be trained, please see the Meet Director ASAP.

Raffle: At each home meet we will need at least one person to sell 50/50 raffle tickets until the end of the 1st half. The 50/50 raffle is held at the brief intermission between 1st and 2nd half.

Locker Room Attendants: At each meet we will need at least two males and two female parents to monitor the locker rooms. Swimmers should not be “hanging around” in the locker rooms during a meet.