Bethesda Barracudas

Saturday A Meets.

• Each Saturday morning for 5 weeks, our team competes against another MCSL team in the same Division
• The coaches decide who will be in the MCSL meet lineup based on a number of factors including swimmer times, attendance, and attitude
• Swimmers may swim in a maximum of five events, and may not swim all four individual strokes
• The head coach will distribute a list of swimmers who qualify for that week's Saturday meet. If you are unable to swim, please contact the head coach as soon as possible in order to give others a chance to swim in the meet.
• A parent/affiliate of a swimmer who qualifies for a Saturday meet is expected to volunteer at that meet.

Wednesday B Meets

• Each Wednesday evening for 5 weeks, we compete against another MCSL team.
• All swimmers must perform a “legal” stroke to participate (ask a coach if you are unsure)
• Swimmers may swim in a maximum of five events, and may not swim all four individual strokes.  Participation in some events may be limited based on the previous A meet, to allow other swimmers an opportunity to compete
• If a swimmer signs up for 4 stroke events (instead of the allowed 3 events), s/he will be dropped from the butterfly event
• If a swimmer participated in an event in the previous Saturday “A” meet, they may not swim that event in the subsequent B meet. This policy is designed to give everyone a fair chance to qualify for Saturday meets.

Invitational Meets.

• At the end of the season, the top 2 swimmers in each event on each of the 6 teams in our Division compete with each other at the “Divisionals” swim meet, and the fastest swimmers in MCSL compete with each other at the “Coaches Long Course” and “All-Stars” swim meets.

Time Trials

• Time trials are held at the start of the season, and a great opportunity for your family to learn how swim meets work. All other meets we compete against at least one other team, but for this meet it is only Water Wizard Swimmers. Please try to attend this meet, especially if this is your first season with the Water Wizards!

Although some swim on Saturdays, some on Wednesdays, and some on both days, we are one team focused on everyone having fun!

What to Bring — Swimmers

• Swim Suit, swim cap, 2 pairs of goggles (in case one breaks) & towel(s)
• Warm clothing (mornings at meets can be cool)
• Chair/Blanket/Towel to sit on
• Water, healthy snacks to last several hours
• Sunscreen
• Cards, word games, electronics
• Positive attitude

What to Bring — Parents

• Chair(s)
• Hat, Sunglasses, Sunscreen
• Camera
• Cooler for fruit, juices, water, snacks, etc.
• Some cash - some meets a snack bar may be provided
• Heat Sheet - on your phone, or printed at home
• Positive attitude & team cheer

When to Arrive

• Arrive early - at least 15 minutes prior to warm-up time.
• Check-in with your coach so they know you've arrived and can check you off on the list!
• Warm-up in the pool at the time announced by the coaches.
• Swimmers are expected to be on time for warm-up and available for relay substitutions.

At the Meet

• Have FUN! :)
• Try to arrive at the meet early to stake out a "team area" (preferably with some shade)
• Swimmers should stay in team area, within their age-group area. If leaving age-group area other than to swim, swimmers should let the coaches know.
• Listen for your event and be ready to go to the "ready bench."
• Parents - please know where your swimmer is at all times. Please reinforce to your swimmer to pay attention to coaches and when events are being called.
• It is ultimately the swimmer's responsibility to get to the ready bench and the starting blocks on time.
• Make sure you check with the coach & the clerk of course before you leave the meet. You may be needed for a relay!
• Please use trash cans for your garbage. We are a clean team!

Parent volunteers are critical to the success of the swim season.

Parents play an active role in the organization and operation of the team and competition. This is necessary because there are about 30 jobs that need to be filled for each meet. In most jobs you can leave your post to watch your child swim. Some jobs require advance training, while others do not. Parents are expected to sign up via our website for at least 5 "jobs" for the summer. Below are descriptions of key job positions needed for parents at each meet:

Volunteer Job Descriptions:

Announcer: The Announcer should be aware of each event as it is swum. they can begin announcing the next event shortly after the last swimmer in the previous event has touched the wall.

Clerk of Course: The Clerk works with the announcer to control the flow of swimmers to the clerk's table. At each meet there is usually a Clerk of Course (home) and an Assistant Clerk (visiting team). Each Clerk can check in the swimmers from their own team, tell them their lanes and have them wait in the designated area until it is time for them to go to the starting area.

Computer Operator: The Computer Operator types the times into the computer and operates the program during the meet, making the data changes to reflect the scratch meeting.

Head Timers: Manage timers and provide back up watches for timers.

Ribbon Writers: Check the winning time to see if it is a team or pool record, affix the ribbon labels to the ribbons, divide the ribbons by team for coaches to pick up.

Runners: Runners take the time sheet from the head timer to the scorer.

Scorer: Scorer receives the time sheets from the runner and puts them in lane order, staples any DQ (disqualified) card to the appropriate sheet (making sure the DQ has been signed by the referee), and double checks the official time, circling it if it is not already circled.

Timers: Time the swimmers in the assigned lane.

Verifiers: Read the times to the computer operator and check the results from the computer after each event against the timer sheets to be sure the times were entered accurately.

Certified Referee: The Certified Referee is the final arbiter of all decisions and questions during the conduct of the meet. MCSL training is needed for this job.

Certified Starter: The Certified Starter gives starting signal for each race. MCSL training is needed for this job.

Certified S&T Judge: The Certified Judge determines whether the swimmers perform their strokes, turns and finishes in accordance with the prescribed rules. MCSL training is needed for this job.

MCSL follows USA Swimming Rules and Guidelines. If you would like to become a certified official, or have previous experience you would like to transfer, see the information available at https://mcsl.org/officials/