Swim Team Meets

Time Trials

Time Trails is considered the first meet of the season, so all team members should attend. The Time Trial results will help determine workout assignments and "A" and "B" placement for the summer. The events will follow a regular dual meet order (no I.M.) in individual events. Each swimmer should swim all events in order to get a base time in all of the strokes. Time trials will be held June 2nd from 9 AM - 12 PM. This is the only day to buy the swim team suit for the season, so please plan on attending. We also hold a short parents' meeting while the athletes swim. This offers families a chance to ask questions, meet the swim team board and other parents, and select a volunteer role that suits their talents and schedule.

Dual Meets

Dual meets are the main focus of our competitive season. They're comprised of two different Midlakes teams competing against each other (i.e. us against one other team). Midlakes Swim League establishes each season's meet schedule. The schedule of events (i.e. races) is generally the same for each meet.

This year we will participate in five dual meets. Our meet competition includes Samena (SAM), Edgebrook (EB), Mercerwood Shore Club (MSC), Mercer Island Country Club (MICC), Mercer Island Beach Club (MIBC), and Fairwood (FW). Each of these teams is highly competitive. Our swimmers should come prepared, ready to put forth a great effort and show off that great Shark spirit!

The swim events for the meets are organized according to Midlakes Swim League regulations. Swimmers are divided by age group. The age groups include 8 years old and under, 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under and 15 and over. Each swimmer can participate in up to four events (2 relays and 2 individual or 1 relay and 3 individual).

All swimmers receive award ribbons for their participation in each event swam during a meet. The ribbons include an information block on the back denoting the swimmer's name, event swam, recorded time, location and date. Swimmers can retrieve their ribbons following the meet from the Ribbon Box located in the club's lobby.

Schedule

Please click here for the complete season schedule.

Championships

Championship Meets are the finale to the summer swim season. They include Division Championships and a single League Championship. All Midlakes' swimmers ('A' and 'B' teams) with qualifying times have the opportunity to participate in a Division and/or the League Championship.

The Division Championships ('B' Champs) is the grand finale of meets for Midlakes' swimmers that have not bettered a 'B' Disqualification time in at least one event (one exception: see Section IV, Swim Terminology, and Special Relay Rule). These swimmers compete in a Division Championship, for their division and only for those events in which they've not bettered the 'B' Disqualification time. All such swimmers may participate in 'B' Champs.

The meet schedule for Division Championships is similar to a typical Dual Meet schedule except with more heats for each event (to accommodate the greater number of swimmers). All six teams in our division participate in Division I 'B" Champs.

The League Championships ('A' Champs) is the grand finale of meets for Midlakes swimmers that participated on 'A' team or beat the 'B' Disqualification time on one or more events (note: coaches may ask some 'B' swimmers to participate in 'A' Champs). The best 16 swimmers in the League (from all 26 teams) for each age group and individual event are invited to 'A' Champs. This is a lot of swimmers! In some cases, 'B' team swimmers may qualify to fill additional spots.

League Championships is a two-stage process. The first stage is Preliminaries (i.e. "Prelims") in which the best 16 swimmers in each event are invited to swim at 'A' Champs. Prelims occur just before League Championships. This year's League Championship occurs on Sunday, July 23rd. Prelims occur as follows: Seniors (13 & Over) on Monday before League Champs, Junior Boys (12&U) on Tuesday and Junior Girls on Wednesday. The second stage is the League Championship events themselves.

Scoring occurs at both Division Championships and the League Championship. Scoring is recorded at the team level and is based on individual and relay swim results. Relay times have a proportionately higher impact on the overall scoring. As a result, teams will generally try to compete in as many relays as possible. In turn, most swimmers will need to swim in at least one relay event. The team with the highest overall score at the end of the Championships receives first place.

The coaches will hand out questionnaires prior to Prelims asking each swimmer about their availability for Prelims and Championships along with a ranking of their event preferences (i.e. the events they want to swim the most, up to three events total). The ranking does not guarantee a swimmer can compete in a given event but it does help.

IMPORTANT - Please try to schedule vacations around Prelims and League Champs. Let your coaches know as soon as possible if you cannot make either event in order to avoid disrupting the coach's plans or possible cancellation of a relay team.

What to do

The coaches expect (and need) swimmers, parents and volunteers to arrive on time and follow the "meet-day guidelines" recommended below.

Meet-Day Guidelines (for swimmers and parents)

1. Arrive early enough to participate in the team's required warm-up session
   1. Warm-ups for home meets begin at 4:30 pm and for away meets at 5:00 pm
2. What to Bring:
   1. Cap (required for girls), goggles, swim suits
   2. Towels, warm clothing, sandals or shoes
   3. Water bottles and easy to eat snacks
   4. Foldout chairs, picnic blanket, umbrella, etc.
   5. Money for concessions (as needed)
3. Swimmers should sit in a common area designated for our team so coaches and volunteers can locate them quickly for events
4. Swimmers should listen to their coaches and not play during warm-ups or while waiting on-deck for an event
5. Swimmers should rest between events and eat snacks as needed to help maintain their energy level for competition
6. Everyone should show that great Shark team spirit by cheering on our team and rooting for fellow swimmers during the meet
7. Everyone should show good sportsmanship at both home and away events
   1. Show respect for our guests and our hosts
   2. Congratulate swimmers from either team on their achievements
   3. Respect the responsibilities and decisions of coaches and judges
8. Parents should check in with Volunteer Coordinators for information on assigned duties

Your First Meet: Meets begin with a 30-minute warm-up for each team. For home meets they begin at 4:30 pm and for away meets at about 5:00 pm. The meets themselves start at 5:30 and typically last till 8:00 to or 8:30 pm. If you need a ride to the meet then please let the coaches know the morning before so they can help arrange one.

Team workouts will take place in the morning as scheduled on meet days. The coaches will notify swimmers of their assigned events for the meet during that morning's workout. This will include the event name and number, heat and lane number. The hosting team will post the same information at the meet location.

Swimmers must check in with their coaches upon arrival at the meet so that coaches can adjust their plans as needed for any unplanned absences. Maps to each of the away meets are located in Section IV of the handbook and on the website. During the meet swimmers and parents are encouraged to have a good time. Many families use the event as an opportunity for a family dinner. Concessions offer a variety of food which can satisfy even the more discerning appetites.

Please contact an off-duty coach or Swim Team Parent Board member for additional information on swim meets.

Maps

Please click here for maps and directions to each of the clubs we compete against.

Results

Please click here for all past meet results for the Summer 2006 season.