OVERVIEW

Swim meets are a very important part of the CCSC program. Not only do swim meets give our athlete’s a way to measure their progress, but the atmosphere, excitement, and competitive rush that our swimmers experience at swim meets is a great motivator.

CCSC participates in several swim meets each season. Participation in swim meets is not required for every level, but it is encouraged. Coaches will announce upcoming swim meets and registration deadlines at their earliest convenience. These will be announced on Remind and may be posted on the CCSC calendar. Parents of swimmers are responsible for registering their swimmer for swim meets by the COMMITMENT DEADLINE, (see registration instructions below).

The Coaching Staff is responsible for selecting events for swimmers based on their skill and ability. If your swimmer cannot attend every day of the swim meet or has an event cap limit, please notify the swim coach. All decisions about a child’s participation in swim meets and events shall be made with the best interest of the child in mind.

TRANSPORTATION:

CCSC does not provide transportation, meals, or lodging for any swimmer competing in a swim meet or their family. ALL travel arrangements are the responsibility of the swimmer's parents/guardians. 

• At NO time will a CCSC coach provide transportation or share lodging with any swimmer, other than their own child.
• CCSC members are welcome to carpool or share lodging accommodations but understand that those agreements are made between each family and do not involve CCSC. 
• CCSC is not liable for any miscommunications or disagreements between the families involved.
• CCSC will not mediate any disputes.
• CCSC will share hotel recommendations or information about hotels offering block-room rates or other discounts when available.

SWIM MEET ELIGIBILITY

A swimmer's eligibility for meet participation is at the discretion of the CCSC Coaching Staff and the Board of Directors. Minimum eligibility requirements include factors such as:

• Age or minimum time standards restrictions set by the host team
• A swimmer’s progress
• Practice attendance.
• Must be a CCSC member for a minimum of 45 days
• MUST be in financial good standing with NO outstanding dues or fees.
• A swimmer's good behavior at practice or at previously attended meets
• A swimmer's demonstrated positive attitude and respect of the CCSC Coaching Staff and their teammates at practice and at previously attended swim meets.

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SWIM MEET ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REGISTRATION

Notes: 

• Swim meets will be announced on COMMIT. 
• As a swim meet approaches, an email invitation will be sent to the parents/guardians of all eligible swimmers.
• Some swim meets are better suited for novice swimmers, while others for more experienced swimmers.
• All swim meet invitation emails are sent at the discretion of the CCSC Coaching staff.
• A Commitment Deadline date and time will be announced. No late entries will be accepted. Please respond by logging in and clicking "commit swimmer" if planning to attend.
• Please note that swimmers attending a swim meet are REQUIRED to attend a minimum of 3 practice sessions the week of the meet, unless otherwise cleared by the coaching staff. During this week, special instructions, skill review, and meet information is given to the swimmers, preparing them for competition.

Event Selection and Swim Meet Fees:

• After the Commitment Deadline, the coaching staff will select appropriate events for your swimmer. You can log into your Commit account to see what events were chosen. If you need to cap your swimmer on the number of events he/she can participate in or the days he/she can attend, please inform the coaching staff at the time you commit your swimmer to the swim meet.
• After events have been selected for your swimmer, your account will be invoiced for event fees, host surcharge fees, and CCSC Swim Meet surcharge fee. *See

"DUES AND FEES" under the ABOUT tab.

• You will receive an email with your meet invoice approximately 2-5 days prior to the meet. It is your responsibility to log in and pay.
• If your payment is declined, your balance due must be paid within 48 hours.

HELPFUL HINTS, EXPECTATIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES and CONDUCT:​

PRIOR TO THE MEET

• Please review the CCSC Code of Conduct with your child for behavior guidelines when participating in swim meet competitions. Please remember that each athlete and their families are representing CCSC and the Carlsbad community.
• Familiarize yourself with the location of the pool facility and allow plenty of travel time.
• ​Make sure your child is well rested and has eaten an adequate and healthy meal (breakfast or lunch) prior to the start of the warm-up session.
• Your swimmer will not perform well if they are tired or swimming on an empty stomach.

WHAT TO BRING

• ​The CCSC TEAM swimsuit - REQUIRED for ALL CCSC Swimmers
• ​Available under the "Swim Shop" tab. 
• CCSC TEAM cap - REQUIRED for ALL CCSC swimmers
• Be sure your child brings their goggles. 
• It is recommended that all swimmers bring an extra swim cap, and an extra pair of goggles (you never know!) 
• Occasionally, vendors are at swim meets selling miscellaneous swim gear, however, this is not always the case, so it is best to come prepared. Plus, a swim meet is not the best place to break-in or adjust a new pair of goggles. 
• A (FILLED) water bottle.
• Our athletes do not always realize that they are dehydrated because they are in water, however, dehydration can lead to headaches, muscle fatigue and cramping, and a lack of concentration which can lead to injury.
• Other recommended items include: towels (at least 2 per swimmer, per session), fleece jacket or pull-over (to keep warm between events), healthy snacks (steer clear of sugary treats and candy), highlighters and Sharpies. Folding chairs or stadium seats are recommended for swimmers and spectators if allowed at the facility. Also, bring soap/shampoo, toiletries, and a change of clothing, if your child will be showering at the facility after competing. 
• Swimmers DO NOT need to bring any of their training gear, such as kickboards or pull-buoys.

COMPETITION DAY

• Attendance at the scheduled warm-up session is REQUIRED, as it is in the best interest of your swimmer.
• ​Arrive at least 15 minutes early to the pool for the scheduled warm-up session!  Allow enough time to dress and find our group. It is you and your swimmer’s responsibility to be prepared and to be on-time for their scheduled warm-up session.
• Warm-Up sessions are required because they help the athlete warm and lubricate their muscles, and increase their heart-rate; preparing their body for competition. Warm-ups also give a swimmer a “feel” for the water, and helps them get their mind focused and ready to compete.
• Locker rooms are for athletes ONLY. Public restrooms are available.
• ​Additionally, swimmers are not to use restroom facilities for changing in/out of swimwear.
• Locate our team so all CCSC swimmers and families can sit together as a group.​This makes it easier for our coaches to locate swimmers and make announcements, and it is helpful to our first-time participants who are trying to understand everything that is going on.
• Allow your child to sit with their teammates. They are there to compete and have fun. They will learn independence and how to rely on their teammates.
• Occasionally swim meets will have a separate spectator seating area, away from the swimmer/coaches’ area; we still ask that all the CCSC families sit together in the designated spectator seating area as a demonstration of team unity.
• ​If this is the case, with your swimmer, select an “After Meet” location to meet up. Parents are NOT allowed on deck to retrieve their child.
• Most facilities will sell "Heat Sheets". These are usually "cash-only" sales. A Heat Sheet is the meet program. It will contain a lot of useful information about the swim meet and have a tentative schedule for the day's events. Be sure to get one! Plus they make a nice souvenir for your child. Oftentimes, the meet is also on MeetMobile, which is an app you can download onto your phone.
• If time permits before the competition begins, review the Heat Sheet, and locate (highlight) the Event number, Heat number and Lane number for each event you child will swim. Write the Event #, Heat # and Lane # on your swimmer’s forearm or thigh with a Sharpie, for easy reference. ​
• Once a swimmer has their swim cap on, it is recommended that they do not take it off. This helps maintain body temperature and reduces the chance of the cap being misplaced between events.
• Leaving the swim meet facility with your swimmer between events is strongly discouraged.
• ​Please avoid texting CCSC Coaches during the meet – they will be extremely busy helping our kids get lined up for their events and observing each race so they can give feedback to our kids. If a coach needs to speak to you, they will text you directly. If you have questions, please speak to other parents or board members.
• Unless dismissed by a CCSC Coach, swimmers will stay for the duration of the session or until all our swimmers have finished their races. THIS IS GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP!
• If your swimmer must leave before the meet has ended, PLEASE be sure that you or your swimmers have alerted a member of the CCSC Coaching staff of your intention BEFORE the meet starts.
• ​Positive checkout: For your child’s safety please text the designated CSCC parent representative or coaching staff to let us know that you have connected with your child and are leaving the facility.

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PARENT TIPS

• Please refrain from “coaching” your swimmer.
• That is what we pay our coaches to do!
• Our coaches are very well trained and do have the best interest of your child in mind. They want their success in a race just as much as you do!
• Parent’s always want to help their children succeed, but most parents do not have a competitive swimming background or the swim coach training and expertise that our coaches have.
• Your “helpful” advice may be contradictory to that of your child’s coaches, it will confuse your child or put them in the awkward and stressful position of having to choose between either pleasing you or the coach.
• Let the coaches do the coaching, so you can do the parenting. As a parent, your primary responsibility is to be supportive, emphasizing effort, not just outcome.
• Every swimmer should speak to their coach before and after each event. The “before” is to remind the swimmer of their goal (achieve a time or test a new skill, etc.). The “after” is to review the success and identify weak spots of the swim.
• After the event, please give the coach a chance to speak to your swimmer before asking for feedback on your child’s performance.
• ​Make sure your swimmer is drinking plenty of water. They do not always realize they are getting dehydrated.
• Water is best; sport drinks are okay, but contain a lot of sugar, and soft drinks are not recommended! 
• Staying hydrated will help reduce muscle fatigue and cramping.
• Sometimes a swimmer will false-start or DQ (disqualify) for swimming an event incorrectly. DON’T FREAK OUT. It’s not a big deal! It happens to EVERY swimmer - even at the Olympic level! 
• Learn from it and move on.
• Do not dwell on it or berate your child about it. They are likely already upset or embarrassed, and your additional criticism is NOT helpful.
• The best thing you can do as a parent is to help them refocus and begin concentrating on their next event.
• In most circumstances the coaches will not even mention a DQ to a swimmer while at the meet. Corrective measures will be addressed during the next week at practice.
• Please recognize that our coaches are very busy during swim meets getting our swimmers lined up for their events and paying attention to ALL our swimmers; actively watching the clock, timing, and making observations of a swimmer’s stroke technique, start, turns, and overall performance, so they can give appropriate feedback to each swimmer, or dispute any adverse calls made by an official.
• Respect that each swimmer deserves the coach’s full attention when it is their turn to race.
• If you have questions, please seek the assistance of another parent, or a board member, and only bring your questions to the coach when no other CCSC swimmer is preparing to swim.
• You would want the same level of attention from the coach, and courtesy from other parents for your child.
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VOLUNTEERS

• Swim meets require a tremendous amount of parent volunteer-hours. The majority of that burden falls on the club hosting the swim meet.
• Occasionally, the host-club will ask for or require volunteers from the other participating swim clubs, usually to serve as Timers or Safety Marshals.
• CCSC will always supply volunteers as a sign of good-will, good-sportsmanship and appreciation to our hosts.
• We understand that we all want to watch our own child swim, but each family needs to share in this responsibility.
• CCSC has no formal membership requirement for volunteer hours, however, it is expected that parents (or other eligible family members) will step up and volunteer when needed or asked to do so. 
• Remember, the meets don’t happen without volunteers; volunteers are an integral part of making them a success for all our children to enjoy.
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CONDUCT

• Parents and swimmers should cheer for everyone on our team.
• Understand that officials who judge swim meets are volunteers.
• A parent may not agree with calls or decisions made by officials during swim meets. If so, the parent may direct their question or concern to a member of the CCSC coaching staff at an appropriate time.
• Only CCSC coaches may approach meet officials for clarification of rulings.
• Never question an official directly about a decision, this is the coach’s responsibility.
• Parents and families of swimmers must remain in the designated seating areas provided. ONLY athletes, coaches, timers, and other designated officials (of that swim meet) are allowed on the pool deck/behind the blocks. These designated areas are usually marked.
• Your presence on the deck can interfere with the movement of the athletes, coaches, and officials observing the meet.
• Violation of this rule can result in the disqualification of the entire team.
• Remember to model and support the values of good-sportsmanship and healthy competition.
• Understand that opposing teams, including their swimmers, coaches, and families want the same positive experience for their swimmer as we want for our team. 
• Please set the right example for our children by always showing respect, and courtesy to the other team members, coaches, families, officials, and volunteers.
• Avoid criticism, either verbally or by gesture.
• Look for opportunities to build rapport with the other teams.
• Show respect for the host facilities. Pick up your litter and leave it as clean or cleaner than you found it.
• Photography: 
• ​Cameras or recording devices of any kind, including cell phones, are NOT permitted in the locker rooms, restrooms or behind the blocks - NO ACCEPTIONS.
• Flash photography is NOT permitted. Flash photography interferes with racing starts and is distracting to swimmers and officials.
• When you arrive at the pool, make sure you have disabled the flash or auto-flash setting of your camera or phone.
• Language
• The use of disrespectful, disparaging or foul language is strictly prohibited. 
• Remember that swim meets are "family-friendly" events and ALL topics of conversation should be "G-Rated" and appropriate for all-ages.
• CCSC takes great pride in our team and the ways in which our swimmers represent us, not only through their skill and performance in the water, but also in their good behavior and sportsmanship.
• We expect that our swimmers, families, and coaches always conduct themselves in a manner that does not discredit, dishonor, or bring shame upon CCSC, so other teams will always welcome us.
• All swimmers, families, and coaches will refrain from inappropriate behavior that detracts from or is detrimental to the positive image of CCSC.

Any swimmer, or family in violation of the CCSC Code of Conduct or meet-host rules will be asked to leave the facility and the swimmer will not be allowed to compete in any remaining events of the swim meet. The swimmer's account will not be credited for the scratched events due to his/her poor behavior. The swimmer will be suspended from (at least) one future CCSC-attended swim meet, reinstatement pending Coaching Staff approval.