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SWIM MEETS

Swim meets are more than just competitions -they’re vibrant, social events where fitness, health, and youthful energy take centre stage . These gatherings are a chance to celebrate team spirit, cheer on fellow swimmers, and share in the excitement of friends achieving their goals. The enthusiastic atmosphere at these meets benefits everyone involved.

For young athletes, swim competitions offer a valuable opportunity to learn the art of competing with grace and sportsmanship. The meet environment helps swimmers analyse their performance and gain insights that can enhance their training and lessons.

At Bangkok Dolphins, we host and participate in a variety of swim meets throughout the year. We encourage all our swimmers to join as many of these events as possible to fully experience the excitement and benefits of competitive swimming

SWIM MEETS CALENDAR

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PARENT INFORMATION

Before the Meet

  • Information Check: If the host has provided an information link, please check it. If not, check a map to determine travel time to the venue.

What to Bring On the Day of the Meet

  • Swimsuit
  • Goggles
  • Bangkok Dolphins cap (available at our Racquet Club Office)
  • Swimmers should wear their Bangkok Dolphins T-shirt (available at our Racquet Club Office). Parents can too if you wish.
  • Plenty of water and drinks
  • 2-3 towels for each swimmer and sunscreen
  • Snacks or lunch (the quality of vendors varies). Eating right after a race is recommended.
  • Quiet games for swimmers to play without running around.

At the Venue

  • Arrive 15-30 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time.
  • Look for Bangkok Dolphins banners in the rest area and settle in with our team.
  • If the coach is present in the rest area, have your swimmer loosen up and stretch. If not, send your swimmer to the pool for warm-up.

After Warm-Up

  • Write your swimmer’s EVENT / HEAT / LANE on their arms with a sharpie.
  • Relax and check Meet Mobile (available on Google Play and the App Store).
  • Find the marshalling area (where swimmers are grouped into their heats), usually located in the rest area or on the way to the pool.
  • Ensure your swimmer stays with their age group and goes to marshalling with them.
  • Inexperienced swimmers will be assigned an experienced “Buddy” to assist with marshalling.

Before a Race

  • Swimmers should focus on what they have been working on (keywords like Kick, Reach, Glide, Hips, etc., are easiest to remember).
  • Swimmers should consider strategies discussed with their coach.

During a Race

  • You are invited to sit in the grandstands and watch as much of the meet as you’d like.

After a Race

  • Swimmers should find their coach and discuss their race.

Rules for Swimmers

  • No running in the rest area.
  • No balls allowed.
  • No leaving the rest area for extended periods or wandering around the campus.

Relays

  • If your swimmer is in a relay, please stay until the relay is completed.
  • Pre-meet relay entries are not final; one swimmer unable to swim on race day could lead to changes or even a scratch.
  • Relay teams may change based on performance on the day of the meet.
  • Relays will be finalized during the meet, and all parents and swimmers will be informed.
  • Please inform your coach ASAP if you cannot stay for a relay.

Success!

  • Improvement is more important than medals or placing.
  • Sometimes, when working on a specific aspect of a stroke, improvement comes from better technique rather than a faster time.l

Swimming Terms You Need To Know

Swimmers are organized by age in competition. 8 and under swimmers compete against each other. Same goes for 9-10 year olds, 11-12 years olds, 13-14 year olds, and 15-18 year olds. “Senior” is often 17/18 and over. (Age groups vary by swimming organization, but these are the most common.)

DQ’s happen when a swimmer has violated one of the rules. Touching with one hand during breaststroke, or dolphin kicking past 15m, false starting, etc.

The time that a swimmer is entered into an event with. This time, usually the swimmer’s personal best time (PB) in the event, is used to seed the swimmers into heats. Proof of time: Some meets require proof that an entry time has been legally completed.

When a swimmer leaves the blocks early. A false start can include a swimmer trying to jump the start or rolling forward before the starter’s pistol has sounded. In Thailand, a False Start is a DQ.

One flight of swimmers doing an event. For example, in an 8-lane pool, it would be eight swimmers doing the same race. Slower swimmers usually race in the first heats, with the swimmers with the fastest seed or entry times swimming in the final heats.

A list of the day’s events, usually paper-bound, that lists the participants in each lane, their seed time, lane, and the heat they are in. Races are arranged by event number. Swimmers can be “circle seeded” or seeded slowest to fastest.

The area on the pool deck where swimmers are “marshaled” prior to the race. Sometimes, rows of chairs will be set-up, with swimmers being assigned to a particular row along with the other swimmers in their heat. This is more typical of swim meets with younger swimmers.

The mounted platform a swimmer uses to dive into the water. When a coach says to “get behind the blocks,” this means the swimmer should get behind their respective starting block in anticipation of their heat.

The (usually) yellow electronic pad that is affixed underneath the starting block. The clock stops when a swimmer touches it at the end of their race. Although there are 2-3 timers behind the block, this is usually the official time.