Super Sharks is a competitive swim club with the BC Summer Swimming Association. We train to compete during the summer competition season. From May through August, swim practice times increase. Swim meets run on weekends throughout the summer, usually starting at the end of May/beginning of June through to early August. While not mandatory, meets are the best way to track a swimmer’s performance, build relationships, and - most importantly - are fun to experience.

Meets usually run on Saturdays and Sundays, featuring different events and/or age groups (e.g. backstroke, freestyle, relay, etc.). Swimmers may attend one or both days. Swimmers must participate in one swim meet in addition to qualifying at the Regional meet in order to participate in Provincials.

Check out the meet schedule to see when the next meets are.

The coaches select the race events based upon the swimmer’s preference as well as what events the swimmers need to do for their own development. Swimmers will receive confirmation of their events several days before the meet. Coaches may accommodate requests to change events if given early notice and a valid reason.

Divisions are based on your child’s age at the start of the season. See the BCSSA Swimming Age Locator for reference.

You’ll need to remember the division number for each swim meet in order to know which group your child will be swimming in.

1. Arrive early - find parking (there are lots of swimmers) and ensure your child finds the team for warm-up times.

2. Swimmer activation & warm-up – allows swimmers to determine their stroke count, practice turns, and get a feel for the pool and blocks. While swimmers warm up, parents set up their gear for the day.

3. Meet event program – purchase a program that lists the events/races, heats, and swimmers’ names. It’s helpful to bring a highlighter to mark your child’s events. Sometimes there are approximate race start times on the program to help anticipate when you should be ready to be called to the race “marshalling”. Kids usually will write their event numbers on their arms with a sharpie so they don’t forget

4. Marshalling – listen for your race to be called (or keep track of what event is in the pool), check in with the marshalling/waiting area for the race, then parents can head for the stands to watch.

5. Race – cheer like crazy and hope the swimmers can hear you!!

6. Between races - rest, stay warm, eat food, and drink water. It can be a long day so be prepared with snacks and things to stay comfortable. Most meets offer a concession for food or it’ll be available close by. In summer months, it can be quite sunny and warm—it’s best to stay cool under cover.

7. Results – view race results on the Meet Mobile app or the sheets posted in a central area at the swim meet. Check to see if you swam a personal best time!

You can check the print-outs posted on a wall by the meet host, or in general, meets are tracked and reported real-time using the Active Network Meet Mobile app, available for both Android & Apple. There is a small fee to use the app.

A times are a cut off to swim in the A final at regionals. Only the swimmers in an A event can qualify for provincials.

If a swimmer achieves a PQT in a race, they automatically qualify to race in the Provincials regardless of their placement.

The top three swimmers in an “A” race plus any swimmer with a PQT in a regional event qualify for Provincials.

The Provincials mark the end of the summer race season in mid August.

Warmups are scheduled 15–30 mins in the morning before the meet begins. They’re early due to many swim clubs having to share the pool at the same time prior to the start of the meet. About 10 minutes prior to getting into the pool, coaches will assemble the team to begin activation.

Participating in activation and warmups is important, as it gives swimmers the opportunity to prepare, familiarize themselves with the pool and visualize where the blocks, walls, and flags are located.

Coaches create relay teams (4 swimmers) the morning of the meet based on who is in attendance, so be prepared to participate. Swimmers should confirm with their coaches if they have been assigned to a relay event.

The marshalling tent or area is where the swimmers go to check in for their event. Swimmers will need to know what event they are in by the event number.

Often the swimmers will write this on their arm using a Sharpie pen at the morning check in. The marshal will announce what event they are checking swimmers in for – listen for your event so you don’t miss it.

It’s a good idea to check back frequently to see what event they are checking in. If the swimmer misses the call for their event they may not be able to swim.

Parents are not allowed to accompany the swimmer once the swimmer reports to the marshalling table. After checking in, volunteers will help the swimmers get from marshalling to the blocks.

Swimmers need to be ready to race with caps and goggles. Some swimmers wear sweats, flip flops, and/or bring a towel to the pool deck for after the race.

Swim meets are run by family volunteers. Each club is assigned a certain number of volunteer shifts and positions which must be filled by the meet manager. Our club’s director of volunteers will then assign these shifts to each family attending the meet. Typically over the course of a weekend, each family will be assigned at least one shift per child per day they are attending the meet. This means if you have 2 children and are attending both Saturday and Sunday, you may be expected to fill 4 volunteer shifts.

This sport doesn’t allow dropping off your child and leaving – parents are required to be there because without volunteers, the meet will not happen. Please be on time to your assigned shift. Parents late to their shift hold up the meet for everyone attending–-each role is important in the smooth execution of the meet.

Volunteer shifts include:

• Preparing food for the volunteers and coaches

• Stroke and turn officials (*must have completed the stroke and turn course*)

• Helping organize swimmers in the marshalling area

• Timers for lanes

Some volunteer jobs require training or a course. If you haven’t taken the stroke and turn course, you can volunteer in the kitchen, as a food runner, or as a “timer”. The “timer” consists of timing swimmers with other parents while seated in front of the racer’s lane. (Timing shifts are usually 2 hours - don’t worry, there will be someone assigned to help you). A schedule of volunteer shifts will be sent out a few days ahead of the event based on which kids are participating in the meet. If you cannot do your volunteer shift for any reason, you are asked to please trade with another parent and take a different shift. On the day of the event, be sure to double-check your volunteer task and time so you don’t miss it.

If you are interested in becoming a stroke and turn official so you can be on deck during the meets – talk to a Super Sharks Board Member and they will tell you about the course.

This is a fun way to learn more about what your child is learning at the swim club, and you get to be on deck with the best views as an ‘official’ during the meet.

Before leaving a meet, swimmers must check with their coaches to ensure that there are no other events or relays that they’re scheduled to attend.

Parent attendance during swim meets is mandatory. This sport doesn’t allow dropping off your child and leaving – parents are required to be there because without volunteers, the meet will not happen. In addition to the volunteer requirement, these meets are large and the coaches and other parents are not supervising your children.

If your child is injured when there is no responsible adult present, the club is not liable.

Coaches are there to coach and cannot watch or be responsible for children throughout the day. Parents are expected to attend to supervise their own children, volunteer and participate in club culture. If a parent is unable to attend, consider asking another parent of the club to be “in charge” or on the look out for your child in case of injury, illness or an emergency. If this requirement for parental attendance is a hardship for families, please contact the board to discuss options to enable your child to attend meets.

Yes, the expectation is that the child’s parent, caregiver, or another assigned responsible adult be present during the entire swim meet to fulfill volunteer duties and to be responsible to take care of the child in case of illness, injury or emergency.