Nottingham by the Green Gators

Each swim meet offers a variety of events and distances, depending on the age group. Each swimmer may swim up to three individual events and two relays per meet, for a total of 5 entries. Relay participation is determined by Swimtopia, the computer software program, and is based on times.

Be sure to "eat before the meet”. Swimmers should eat a substantial, high carb meal around 3-4 pm (like pasta), so they can just eat small snacks during the meet. The heats go rather quickly, so please plan your child’s eating schedule around his/her events. There will be breaks between your swimmer’s events and this is the perfect time for a snack.  Try to pick healthy snacks to for your swimmer.  A lot of sugar doesn't do the body good during a 4 hour swim meet in the heat.  

Have your swimmer go to the bathroom prior to arriving at the meet. This is an important reminder for our little ones because often times the younger swimmers will be lining up for a race and then ask if there is time to go to the bathroom, and usually there is not time.

Wear your swim suit. 

Pack
-several towels
-goggles
-swim cap
-water bottle
-several healthy snacks
-books, cards, Uno, something to help pass the time if you aren't cheering
-GAME FACE. 

Arrival: Home meets arrival is 4:30 and away meets arrival is 4:50.

Duration: Meets typically end around 9:00, depending on number of swimmers and number of pool lanes. For parents not volunteering, bring a chair or blanket to sit on.  There are not chairs or bleachers provided.  Please plan accordinly for your dinner and drinks.  Each host does offer a food truck and concessions.  

Attendance: We assume your swimmer will be at the meets unless you have indicated otherwise.

Please let the coaches or team managers know immediately if your child is entered in a meet but is unable to attend. Please do not leave meets early unless you have notified a coach or team manager. Swimmers are often entered in relays at the end of the evening, and a change may have been necessary to make during the meet, so it is crucial for each swimmer to be in attendance.

Weather Conditions: If the weather on a meet day is questionable, please check your e-mail inbox prior to leaving for a meet. If the meet begins but is impacted by the weather, the meet will be suspended. A decision will then be made as to whether to “wait it out” or to reschedule for the next day.

Events: The coaches ask swimmers the week prior to a meet which events they would like to swim. The maximum number of events a swimmer may be entered in is 5. 3 individual and 2 relays. The coaches try to accommodate all swimmer requests, but there may be situations where a swimmer does not get all of his/her choices. Relays are computer-generated based on individual times for the various strokes. The 4 fastest times are placed on the A relay, the next 4 on the B relay, etc. Relay entries are subject to change on occasion during a meet.

Entries: Each swimmer is responsible for knowing his/her events on meet days. Please make sure you are also aware of your swimmer’s events.

*Please do not leave a meet early without coach approval.

Participants compete in different age groups, which is based on the age of the swimmer as of June 1 during the current season. Our league is broken down into the following age groups: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18. Team practice groups are usually determined by age and/or ability.

The Southland Swim Association swims in 25 yard and 25 meter pools depending on the location. The majority are 25-yard pools, including NBG. Nottingham Forest South & Loch Lloyd Country Club are 25 meters.

This is also called the meet program. It lists all of the events and the swimmers in each event with heat and lane assignments. The coaches, the clerk of the course, the zookeepers, the team managers, and the starters all have this document on the pool deck at each swim meet. Heat sheets will be e-mailed to all Gator families on the day of the meet, typically early in the afternoon. However, timing is dependent upon the meet host. Please watch your inbox for this document.  You can also locate it on your Swimtopia app. 

Event, Heat, and Lane

Event: a certain age group, gender and stroke (for example, 8 and under Girls Freestyle)

Heat: the sets of swimmers for each event.

Lane: the lane number assigned to each swimmer.

The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer.

Officials (stroke and turn judges) are present at all competitions to enforce the technical rules of swimming so the competition is fair and equitable. Officials attend clinics, pass a written test, and work meets before being certified. Parents are encouraged to attend training and participate in this role.

Each stroke has its own set of rules, i.e., no pushing off the bottom of the pool, no pulling on the lane lines, etc. If a judge sees an infraction, he/she will raise a hand and fill out a DQ slip. The swimmer is disqualified from placement in that event. These are not a big deal…they are part of the learning curve for swimmers. DQ slips are given to coaches at the end of

These are posted throughout the meet as they are verified. The top 8 finishers in each event receive ribbons, which will be placed in the swimmers’ files in Gator file box and can be picked up at practice the morning after a meet.

This is a list of the Top 20 swimmers from the league in each event. It is updated weekly (Thursday or Friday) following the conclusion of the dual meets. It can be found on the SSA website, which is www.southlandswimassociation.org

This is the designated area where all swimmers should sit when not in the water. Please remind your swimmers to be well-mannered.