Dacula Dolphins Summer Swim Team

“25” - Swimmers will complete (1) lap of the pool. There are 25 yards in our pool and 25 meters in other pools. Tip - In meter pools times are converted to yards for comparison and “Speed Breaker” purposes.

“50” - Swimmers will complete (2) laps of the pool 50 yards in our pool and may be 50 meters in other pools.

Backstroke Flags - These flags are located at either end of all competing pools. They assist swimmers in gauging the distance to the wall. Tip - Swimmers should count the strokes from the flags to the wall during warm-up to prevent turnovers and get their best times.

Bullpen - This is where swimmers are staged for their events; the parent in charge of the bullpen will call your child’s name when they are to line up for an event. Tip - Kids should stay close to the bullpen during swim meets. Parents may need to help younger children, so they don’t miss their event.

County Swim Meet - This is an annual event swam one to two weeks after the completion of the regular season. The top 50 swimmers in each age group and event are invited to swim. Although a swimmer may not qualify in the top 50, they may be eligible as an alternate for individual events. County relay teams may be composed of kids not necessarily in the top 50 for any individual event.

Disqualification “DQ” - A swimmer will be disqualified from their event for illegal maneuvers/strokes during their race. Stroke and Turn Judges are located at either end of the pool during each race to judge the strokes. Tip - It is not uncommon for new swimmers and younger swimmers to be Disqualified during a race. The most common reasons for being disqualified are – turning over on the backstroke, illegal flip turns, and illegal kicks on breaststroke and butterfly and incorrect touches on completion. Coaches will work closely with swimmers to prevent this from happening during swim meets.

Event Numbers - Races/events are listed by number for each meet. Tip - Event numbers can be found in your heat sheets.

Freestyle Relays - Swimmers are grouped into 4’s and each will swim one length of the same stroke, in the pool for a “relay” time. Tip - Each consecutive swimmer must wait to start until their teammate completes their lap and touches the wall. Swimmers will be instructed by the bullpen as to which end of the pool they should go to prior to the race.

Graphing Events - One of the great rituals in competitive swimming is graphing your events on your body!! Each swimmer is responsible for graphing the events, heats and lanes for each race s/he is swimming. Please use the following example as the correct way to graph. Remember, coaches are preparing for the meet and making last minute changes as needed. Coaches will not be available to graph each child. All of the information you need to graph your child can be found on the heat sheets sold at the meets. Begin by checking under your child’s age group, then look for his/her name under each event.

Example: E represents Event, H represents Heat, L represents Lane and S represents Stroke E H L S

Heats - The breakdown of the number of swimmers for each race, relative to the number of lanes in a pool. Tip - Each race may consist of multiple heats. Make sure you check your “Heat Sheet” for your swimmer’s event number and heat number.

Heat Sheets - These guides list all swimmers by age group and event. Tip - Typically they cost $1.00.

Heat Winners - Ribbons awarded to swimmers who won their heat but did not place in the race. Tip - Place ribbons will be awarded for 1st through 6th place.

Individual Medley - Swimmers will swim a length of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle in that order.

Medley Relay - Swimmers are grouped into 4’s and each will swim one length of their assigned stroke for a “relay” time. Tip - Strokes are always swum in the following order, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. Kids ages 7-10 and sometimes 6 and under will be instructed by the bullpen as to which end of the pool they should go to prior to the race.

Mock Meet/Time Trials - This is a practice meet for the coaches, volunteers, and swimmers; and typically held the week before the start of the official season. Tip - This meet is important to help the kids get ready for competitive meets, for parents to understand how the meet functions, and for volunteers and coaches to work out any kinks with the meet process.

Rain Delay - A “rain delay” is caused when lightning is seen. When this happens, the Starter will make an announcement and all participants must clear the pool deck for 30-min. If the weather clears, i.e., there is no more thunder or lightning, the meet resumes. If the meet cannot resume, a make-up meet is scheduled. (It’s generally recommended that swimmers and spectators go to their cars to wait for the weather to clear.)

Rain Out - A “rain out” may be caused in the event of lightning seen beyond the 30-min rain delay. If the meet has not progressed past event #42, a make-up meet may be scheduled. Our tentative make-up day is the Friday after the Thursday meet and Wednesday after the Tuesday meet.

Starting Block - This is the platform for the start of all swimming events.

Speed Breakers or Personal Record (PR) - Ribbons awarded for improving your race time.

Warm-ups - This is the practice session prior to each swim meet.