How to Enjoy a Swim Meet

For a real Norman Rockwell moment in modern America, head down to your local pool to watch a swim meet. The kids will be cheering on their teammates, the swimmers will be congratulating their competition and the parents will be beaming. It's a wonderful slice of life for many Americans. Here's how to truly enjoy it.

Things You'll Need

• Sunscreen
• Snacks
• Hat
• Sunglasses

Instructions

1. Get ready by putting on sunscreen, shades and a hat. You'll also want to bring a few snacks (like trail mix or fresh fruit). Many swim teams have concessions stands that provide decent fare and also raise money for the team, so you can typically plan on buying a meal poolside.

2. Recognize the different types of meets. In most leagues, there are two types of meets: dual or invitational. Dual meets are one team competing against another. An invitational is when a team hosts a group of teams in a specific category (bottom of the age group, swimmers under 8 or all relay teams). Invitationals are typically fund-raisers for the pool, so teams pay to enter their swimmers. Additionally, invitationals will typically have a program available for purchase that lists when the swimmers' heats are anticipated to start.

3. Know the order of events. Most dual meets start with the medley relay (each of the four strokes swum by one swimmer), then the individual medley (all four strokes swum by one swimmer), followed by the strokes in turn: free, breast, back and fly. The free relay is the closing event.

4. Know how the age groups work. Most leagues identify the following groups: swimmers 6 and under, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, then 15 through 18. Girls swim first, then boys. They both swim the same distance (typically 25 yards or meters for 8 and under, and 50 yards or meters for 9 and up).

5. Watch the older swimmers. Not only do they typically have the best technical example of the stroke, you'll also see them go directly from their race to cheering on and coaching the little swimmers. It's delightful to see their sportsmanship and mentoring firsthand.