Collington Swim Team

What to Expect on Meet Day

Swim meets are where all the hard work from practice comes together — but they’re also where friendships grow, confidence builds, and memories are made.

Swim meets are one of the most exciting parts of the Barracudas season! Whether it’s your first meet or your fifth, this guide will help you know what to expect and feel prepared. 

Quick Overview 

• Meets are typically held on Tuesday evenings 
• Swimmers compete against another team in the league
• Meets include both individual events and relays 
• Families are expected to volunteer during meets 
• Meets typically last 4 hours

Don’t worry if it feels overwhelming at first — our coaches and parent volunteers are there to help every step of the way!

Before the Day of the Meet 

• Declare Your Swimmer (You must indicate whether your swimmer is attending the meet through SwimTopia.)
• Sign Up to Volunteer (Every family plays a role in making meets run smoothly.)
• What to Bring 
  • Swimsuit (team suit if you have one) 
  • Goggles (optional)
  • Swim cap (optional)
  • Towel (or two!) 
  • Water bottle 
  • Healthy Snacks 
  • Money (for concessions)
  • Chairs or blanket 
  • Sunscreen / bug spray
  • Sharpie

Meet Day

• If you are scheduled to volunteer, you must check-in upon arrival at the volunteer check-in table. If you are unable to fulfill your volunteer duty, you are responsible for finding a replacement.
• Mark all your kids races on their hands with columns for Event, Heat, and Lane. Even if they can’t read it, this helps the Clerk of Course to ensure they have the right kid in the right place. Also, write your child's last name on his or her back left shoulder. This helps with identifying swimmers.
• Before the meet officially begins, swimmers will warm up in the pool to get their bodies warmed up and ready to race.
• Listen out for your child's event numbers. Swimmers will be called to the Clerk of Course (staging area) before each event.
• Swimmers and their families should stay in the designated team area between events.
• Meet results will be posted in the Swimtopia app.
• At the conclusion of the meet, be sure to clean up your area and any trash you may see. For home meets, it is helpful to have several volunteers stay to help clean up and put away all meet day supplies and equipment

Helpful Tips for New Families 

• It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at your first meet 
• Your swimmer may be nervous — that’s okay! 
• Improvement happens all season long 
• Ask questions — our community is here to help