Understanding a Swim Meet
Here are some of the more fundamental rules governing a swim meet.
In a dual meet, swimmers can swim in a maximum of 4 events overall (any combination of individual and relay events). Remember, if one swimmer is absent from a relay event, the entire relay may be cancelled. It is very important to let the coach know if you cannot be present to swim at any given meet.
Girl’s events are odd numbered, while boys’ events are even numbered.
At dual meets, visitors swim in the even lanes while the host team members swim in the odd lanes.
Order of Events
How to read a Heat Sheet
What is a Heat Sheet?
This is the printed listing displayed before and during a meet that tells swimmers what events they will compete in. It also defines the swimmer's lane assignment per event. Lanes are typically assigned based on seed times, with the fastest swimmers in the center of the pool.
Important Terms:
Seed time is the fastest time a swimmer or team of swimmers has swum an event prior to the submission of entries for the meet. For individuals, this is the time entered for the swimmer for the event, and is a good goal to try to beat. It also factors into lane placement and heat number.
An “NT” listed for seed time means no seed time has yet been recorded for that swimmer, i.e. that swimmer has not competed in that event, or was disqualified during the event.
An EXH in front of seed time means the swimmer is swimming in an exhibition heat. In exhibition heats, swimmers receive a time, but do not score points for the team. Exhibition heats are performed so that more swimmers can participate in events, and are a valuable opportunity to get a legal time, or achieve one’s personal best.
Heat Sheet Example
Individual Medley (IM) Stroke Order
One individual swimmer shall swim in the following order:
Butterfly
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Freestyle
Medley Relay Stroke Order
Four swimmers in a relay, each to swim in the following order:
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Freestyle
Medley Relay Heat Sheet Example
Scoring and Ribbons
1. In individual events at dual meets, only two swimmers per team may score. For example, if three swimmers from Sugarwood finish in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, the opposing team would score for the 3rd and 4th places, if they have swimmers. Similarly, only one relay per team may score per event.
Place ribbons are given for ALL finishers in every heat by actual finish order with the time recorded.
Scoring point values awarded for GKAISA Dual meets shall be:
Individual events:
5 pts for 1st place
3 pts for 2nd place
2 pts for 3rd place
1 pt for 4th place
Relays:
7 pts for 1st place
3 pts for 2nd place
2. In the large meets (City and Smoky Mountain) there is no limit to the number of individuals or relays in each event from a single team that can score. Ribbons and medals are awarded to the top finishers (i.e., those that “final”). In each individual event the top 6 or 8 finishers (depending on the number of lanes in the pool) and the next tier of finishers swim final and consolation heats to determine final placement. Heat ribbons are usually awarded to the top finishers in each heat.
