How to Guide: Attending Your First Swim Meet

Below you will find guidelines meant to help you through your first swim meet. In order to help new swimmers (and swim parents!) feel less overwhelmed, we attempted to be as detailed and specific as possible. If you still have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask your coach. 

BEFORE THE START OF THE MEET

1. Arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes before the scheduled warm-up time begins. Warm-up times will be e-mailed out by Coach Eric the week of the swim meet (usually 2-3 days before the meet).
2. Upon arrival, find a place to put your swimmer's blankets, swim bags and towels (see our post about what you should bring to swim meets). The team usually sits in one place together, so look for some familiar faces.
3. Find the check-in place. Usually, parents are not allowed on deck so this may be a responsibility of your swimmer (who can ask the coach for help). Swimmers must “circle in” (see explanation below). Then, make sure your swimmer checks in with his or her coach.
• Circle-in: you will need to circle the swimmer's name in each event he or she is swimming that day. If this is not done, the swimmer will not be allowed to swim that event. Check-in is required so that the people running the meet know who is actually at the meet. After check-in, the meet administrators "seed" the swimmers into heats. Heat and lane assignments will then be posted on the pool deck, so be sure your swimmer asks his/her coach where to look!
• Sometimes the meet is "pre-seeded" and no check-in is required. You and your swimmer can find heat and lane assignments by purchasing a program.
4. Once circled in, write or have your swimmer write each event number on his or her hand (permanent marker works best for this). This helps him/her remember what events he/she is swimming and what event number to listen or watch for.
5. Your swimmer now gets his/her cap and goggles and reports to the coach for warm-up instructions. It is very important for all swimmers to warm-up with the team. A swimmer's body is just like a car on a cold day – he/she needs to get the engine going and warmed-up before he/she can go all out.
6. After warm-up, your swimmer will go back to the area where his/her team is sitting and wait there until the first event is called. This is a good time to make sure he/she goes to the bathroom if necessary, gets a drink or snack, or just gets settled in (see our post about nutrition at swim meets).
7. The meet will usually start about 10-15 minutes after warm-ups are over.
8. According to USA Swimming rules (because of insurance purposes), parents are not allowed on deck unless they are serving in an official capacity. Similarly, all questions concerning meet results, an officiating call, or the conduct of a meet, should be referred to a coach. He or she in turn, will pursue the matter through the proper channels.
9. A psyche sheet is usually available for sale in the lobby or concession area of the pool. It lists all swimmers in each event in order of “seed time.” When the team entry is sent in, each swimmer and his/her previous best time (up to the date that the entry was submitted) in that event is listed. If the swimmer is swimming an event for the first time, he/she will be entered as a "no-time" or “NT”.
• Some meets do not allow “NT” entries, so the coach will make his/her best estimate based on practice times for that swimmer. All estimated times will end in .00 (for example 1 :26.00).

ONCE THE MEET BEGINS

1. It is important for each swimmer to know what event numbers he/she is swimming (having it written on one hand helps a swimmer to remember). He/she may swim right away after warm-up or they may have to wait awhile.
2. There are generally two ways a swimmer gets to his/her lane:
• A swimmer usually reports directly to his/her lane for competition a number of heats before he/she actually swims. It is the swimmer's responsibility to be attentive to what event number is swimming, so that s/he knows when to go to his/her lane.
• The swimmer will need to tell the timer in the assigned lane his/her name so that the timer knows s/he is in the proper spot. Check with your swimmer's coach for specific instructions.
• In some beginner meets, a swimmer's event number will be called, usually over the loudspeaker, and s/he will be asked to report to the "clerk of course" or “bullpen.” Swimmers should report with his/her cap and goggles.
• Generally, girls events are odd-numbered and boys events are even-numbered. Example: "Event #26, 10-Under Boys 50 freestyle, report to Clerk of Course."
• A volunteer will line up all of the swimmers and take them down to the pool in correct order. You can expect at least 4-8 heats of each event.
3. The swimmer swims his or her race.
4. After each swim:
• S/he is to ask the timers (people behind the blocks at each lane) his/her time.
• If a “warm down” pool is available, the swimmer should swim easy laps after each event to bring his/her heart rate back down (new swimmers can ask their coach if they have questions about warming down).
• After warming down, the swimmer should go immediately to his or her coach. The coach will discuss the swim – what was done well and what skills still need some improvement. It is very important that swimmers discuss each swim with their coach.
5. Generally, the coach follows these guidelines when discussing swims:
• Positive comments or praise
• Suggestions for improvement
• Positive comments
6. Things you, as a parent, can do after each swim:
• Tell your swimmer how great s/he did! The coaching staff will be sure to discuss stroke technique with your swimmer. You need to tell him/her how proud you are and what a great job s/he did.
• Send him/her back to the team area to relax.
• This is another good time to check out the bathrooms, get a drink or something light to eat.
7. The swimmer now waits until his/her next event is called and starts the procedure again. When a swimmer has completed all of his/her events s/he gets to go home. Make sure, however, that you check with the coach before leaving to make sure your swimmer is not included on a relay. It is not fair to other swimmers who may have stayed to swim on a relay where your swimmer is expected to be a member and s/he is not there.
8. Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility. Awards are often gathered for a team and given to the coach at the end of the meet. The coach will give the awards to the swimmers at a later time.

Meet Information: Jim Scullion Age Group Showdown Meet

The Jim Scullion Age Group Showdown meet will be held on January 12th - 13th at Lakewood High School. You can sign up for Saturday only, Sunday only, or both days. For this meet, swimmers 10 years and older must have faster than a "B" time in any event order to swim that event. Time standards are listed here (be sure to scroll to the second page for "Short Course Yards"). If you are unsure if your swimmer qualifies, please contact a NEON coach and they will be glad to help you. 

The morning session will be for 11-12 girls and 13 & Over swimmers, and the afternoon session will be for 10 & Under swimmers and 11-12 boys.

The due date for entries is Saturday December 8th. Please send your entries to neonswimming@gmail.com.

Please  provide the name(s) of your swimmer(s) in the e-mail, which day(s) you would like to participate in, and how many events you would like them entered in (up to 3 on Saturday, up to 4 on Sunday).

2013 Jim Scullion Age Group Showdown

January 12^th & 13^th, 2013

LOCATION:  Lakewood High School Pool, 14100 Franklin Blvd., Lakewood, OH 44107

  

STARTING TIMES: Both Saturday and Sunday morning sessions: 11-12 girls warm-up will be 7:30 a.m.-8:00 a.m.: 13 & Over warm-up will be 8:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m., with competition starting at 8:35 a.m.  Afternoon warm-up will begin 15 minutes after the conclusion of the morning session. 10 & under warm-ups will be for the first half hour: 11-12 boys will warm-up the second half hour. Warm-ups for finals will last 45 minutes. Afternoon start times and estimated finals start times will be posted at Lakeerieswimming.com by Wednesday, January 9, 2013. 

ENTRY FEES: Individual events $5.00; Relays: $10.00; plus a $2.00 per swimmer LESI surcharge and $3.00 team charge.

ENTRY LIMITATIONS: Swimmers may enter up to 3 individual events, exclusive of relays on Saturday.  Swimmers may enter up to 4 individual events, exclusive of relays on Sunday.

DECK ENTRIES: Deck entries will be taken on a space available basis up to 35 minutes before the start of the session and seeded at NT. Deck entrants should sign up at the deck entry table @ $9.00 per individual event and $15.00 per relay.  Deck entry swimmers new to the meet will be charged $2.00 LESI surcharge and must provide proof of USA Swimming registration. If a swimmer is closed out of an event, they will be given the option of a refund or to enter an alternate event.

ELIGIBILITY:  Swimmers must be current athlete members of USA Swimming and have met the time standard requirements. 

BONUS EVENTS: Twelve and under boys, and Ten and under girls are eligible for bonus events. The formula is as follows: Swimmers who have achieved fewer than the total individual event time standards for each day may supplement their entry with up to 2 bonus events for that day so that the total of individual events (time standards plus bonus swims) does not exceed the maximum allowed events for the day. (i.e. Saturday 1 qualified and 2 bonus, 2 qualified and 1 bonus. Sunday 1 qualified and 2 bonus, 2 qualified and 2 bonus, 3 qualified and 1 bonus). The 10 & under 500 freestyle is not an eligible bonus event. Swimmers must have a legal time in their bonus events and should enter bonus events at their actual time.  

QUALIFYING TIMES: Swimmers must be equal to or faster than the B time as of the entry deadline.Teams of swimmers who fail to achieve the qualifying time at the meet will receive a notice of those times that cannot be verified in the SWIMS database.  Teams shall submit proof of time or a fine of $10.00 for each swim listed in the notice.

SEEDING & CHECK IN: Individual events will be deck-seeded. All relay events will be seeded on the deck. All swimmers must check in at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their session. Check-in sheets will be posted on deck. There will be no clerk of course. Heat and lane assignments will be posted around the pool deck and spectator area. Swimmers are responsible for reporting to their starting block for each event. 

ADMISSION COST: $3.00 per person. Psych sheets: $3.00 each.

NOTE: Only athletes entered in the meet, working coaches, officials, and meet workers are allowed on deck.  Other non-participants are expected to remain in the spectator area.

If you have any questions, please ask! You can leave a comment on here or ask a coach before or after practice. Also, you can e-mail Coach Eric - aquaman429@cox.net, or Coach Kara - ms.kdennis@gmail.com.

Go NEON!

Meet Information: New Year's Stretch Meet

The New Year's Stretch meet will be held on January 5th - 6th at Rocky River High School. You can sign up for Saturday only, Sunday only, or both days. For this meet, swimmers 10 years and older must have slower than a "B" time in any event order to swim that event. Time standards are listed here (be sure to scroll to the second page for "Short Course Yards"). If you are unsure if your swimmer qualifies, please contact a NEON coach and they will be glad to help you. 

The morning session will be for 10 & Under swimmers, and the afternoon session will be for 11 & Over swimmers.

The due date for entries is Saturday December 1st. Please send your entries to neonswimming@gmail.com.

Please  provide the name(s) of your swimmer(s) in the e-mail, which day(s) you would like to participate in, and how many events you would like them entered in (up to 4 per day).

THE NEW YEAR’S STRETCH MEET

JANUARY 5 – 6, 2013

LOCATION: Rocky River High School, 20951 Detroit Rd.  Rocky River, OH 44116.  Located at the corner of Wagar and Detroit Rd.

STARTING TIMES:  Both Saturday and Sunday morning session warm-ups are from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., with warm ups divided as follows:  9-10 year olds warm up from 7:30 – 8:00 and 8 & Under warm-ups from 8:00 – 8:30,  with competition starting at 8:35 a.m.

Afternoon session:   Estimated afternoon start times will be posted at www.lakeerieswimming.com  by January 2, 2013.

ENTRY FEES: Individual events $4.50; Relays: $8.00; plus a $2.00 per swimmer LESI surcharge and $3.00 team charge. 

ENTRY LIMITATIONS: Swimmers may enter up to 4 individual events/day, exclusive of relays.  SWIMMERS SHOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO EVENT ORDER AND SPACE EVENTS ACCORDINGLY.

DECK ENTRIES: Deck entries will be taken on a space available basis up to 35 minutes before the start of the session and seeded at NT. Deck entrants should sign up at the Deck Entry table located in Wagar Gym @ $8.00 per individual event and $ 10.00 per relay. Refunds will be given to any deck entry swimmer that gets closed out of an event.   Deck entry swimmers new to the meet will be charged $2.00 LESI surcharge and must provide proof of USA Swimming registration.

QUALIFYING TIMES: Swimmers must be  slower than the B qualifying time as of the entry deadline. 

SLOWER THAN: These meets have times investigated after the meet if a protest is filed. Swimmers may not compete in an event in which they are faster than the listed time standard as of the meet entry deadline.

SEEDING & CHECK IN: Individual events will be pre-seeded,  except for individual events 400 yards/meters or longer. These events will be seeded on the deck. All swimmers must check in at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their session for events seeded on the deck. Check-in sheets will be posted in the Clerk of Course. 

ADMISSION COST:  Cost per adult is $3.00: cost per Psych Sheet is $3.00 per day.  Parking is free.

NOTE: Only athletes entered in the meet, working coaches, officials, and meet workers are allowed on deck. Other non-participants are expected to remain in the spectator area.

If you have any questions, please ask! You can leave a comment on here or ask a coach before or after practice. Also, you can e-mail Coach Eric - aquaman429@cox.net, or Coach Kara - ms.kdennis@gmail.com.

Go NEON!

How to Guide: Overcoming Fear

USA Swimming correspondent Mike Gustafson published an article titled "Overcoming Fear" on the USA Swimming website. The instant I saw the title I knew it had to be posted to our blog, shared on our Facebook, read by every swimmer and parent who is part of the NEON family. Fear, when unchecked, can be the death of your success before you've even left the starting block. 

Fear is natural, and most swimmers experience fear before a race many times in their careers. The trick is to learn to control the fear and not let it control you. The first time I ever swam the mile (1650) when I was eight years-old, I let my fear grow out of control. I swam the race with my goggles slowly filling up with water, not from the pool but from my tears. I was so afraid of swimming that race for the first time, of "failing" by doing poorly or disappointing my coach and my parents, of embarrassing myself, that I was miserable the entire time. My fears were irrational - my coach was just proud to have the only eight year-old to swim the mile, and most people were just impressed that I could swim it at such a young age. I hadn't yet found a way to control my fear, but in this article Gustafson provides five tricks that he developed over time to help control his.

Parents, please read this over, and then read it over with your swimmer(s). Print it out and post it on the fridge or in your swimmer's room. Each of us is different so please don't be afraid to modify the techniques so that they work for your swimmer(s). Let your swimmers know that it is okay to feel afraid, but help to explain why their fears are irrational (i.e. you've swum the 100 butterfly in practice, you swim thousands of yards every practice so you can easily swim 500...). And most importantly, support them and congratulate them when they've swum a race that they'd previously been afraid to swim. Celebrate their personal successes.


OVERCOMING FEAR

BY MIKE GUSTAFSON//CORRESPONDENT

The first time my coach said, “You’re swimming the 50 yard butterfly,” I cried. I don’t know why. As a kid, I was irrationally scared of the entire prospect of swimming butterfly in a swim meet. I had done it in practice, but never against anyone. Never in a meet. As soon as my coach told me, my head began to swirl: What if my arms stopped working? What if I did so poorly I wasn’t allowed to swim anymore? What if they saw my horrible butterfly stroke and said, “Never let this kid swim butterfly EVER AGAIN.”

Of course, this fear was irrational. I remember talking with my parents about the upcoming race, and them using very gentle tones with me. Eventually, they built my confidence up to being OK swimming the 50 yard butterfly. I cried a little bit more. Then I swam.

I won the race.

Swimming can be a scary sport for many irrational reasons. Realistically, nothing “bad” usually happens in a pool race during a meet, except for swallowed water or a disqualification. Over the years, both as an age group swimmer and later as an NCAA swimmer, I learned some tricks to help overcome various fears I had about swimming. Most of my fears dealt with personal failure, or not performing how I thought I should, or internal pressure. So, I learned some tricks to deal with those fears. My tricks are in no way scientific, but they have proven well for me. I figured that Halloween is the most appropriate day to share my 5 Tricks for Overcoming Fear….

1. Imagine you’re in a scooter board race.

Before every big meet, I’d get so worked up, my stomach would be in knots. I’d throw up. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I’d look at myself in the mirror and say, “Why are you getting so worked up about this meet? Isn’t swimming supposed to be fun?” Sometimes, we get so worked up inside our heads, we lose perspective about the sport. So, whenever I began to feel nervous before a really big meet, I imagined my race as a “scooter board race.” You know, the game you play as a kid where you lie on your stomach and push yourself across a board that has four wheels attached. In elementary gym class, I loved this game. I got so fired up about it. And isn’t this what swimming is? Simply pushing yourself across the water? Before races, I imagined myself in a fun scooter board race against seven others. It actually worked. It calmed my nerves, and I’d swim faster.

2. If you can do it in practice, you can do it in a meet.

Before that first 50 yard butterfly, my parents said, “Have you done a 50 yard butterfly in practice before?” I nodded. “Then you can do it in a meet. It’s no different. They don’t make the water thicker for swim meets. It’s the same water.” For some reason, that helped. Knowing that I had already accomplished the feat in practice gave me a little boost in my step before my first 50 yard butterfly. Of course, the first-time meet experience was scary. But you can always try out a 50, 100, or 200 butterfly, or a 400 IM, or a 1650, in practice beforehand, to build up to it in your mind.

3. Set realistic goals.

Somewhere along the line in my career, I realized I was not going to be an Olympic gold medalist. It just wasn’t in the cards. Sometimes at meets, I’d approach a swim meet with very unrealistic goals, like I’d win the Big Ten Championship. I was not going to win the Big Ten Championship. When I’d hop into the water, and all of a sudden, Peter Vanderkaay was beating me by five body lengths, I’d start to mentally freak out inside my head. Then my muscles would hurt more. Then I’d swim slower. So, I began to have more realistic goals for myself. Instead of winning Big Tens, how about just scoring one point? Instead of breaking world records, how about just breaking personal bests? As soon as I transitioned to more approachable goals, my in-race mentality was better. I wouldn’t mentally freak out if someone beat me in the backstroke of my IMs.

4. Get the best sleep TWO nights before your big race.

Before every big meet, I couldn’t sleep. I’d toss and turn and stare at my alarm clock all night. Eventually, around 3am, I’d begin to mentally freak out that I wasn’t getting enough sleep. You know the drill: You can’t sleep because you’re nervous, and you’re nervous because you can’t sleep. So, I began to pre-plan that Iwouldn’t get any sleep the night before my big race. Instead, I’d make sure to get a great night’s rest TWO nights before my big race. Two nights before, I was not nervous. I could always sleep two nights before my big race. Sometimes swimmers (I don’t know why) think it’s the night before that makes all the difference. Actually, you’ll get your best rest two nights before. Then, you won’t be so nervous heading into that Big Race Eve.

5. Force yourself to smile.

Happy swimmers are fast swimmers. Swimming is a tricky sport. You can’t force fast swimming. The fastest swimming comes naturally, almost easily. So if you catch yourself behind the blocks frowning, tightening up, almost scared stiff… then something’s wrong. Just the act of smiling will brighten up your mood and rewire your brain to make you happier.

I’ll never forget the last race of my swimming career:

In the prelims of the 200 yard breaststroke at the Big Ten Championships, I was one place out from making a “night” swim. I was devastated. I was a senior, and I knew I probably wasn’t going to make finals in that race anyway, but coming that close – one place away – was devastating. My career was over before I knew it was going to be over. I remember sitting in the shower, completely floored, depressed and sad my swimming career was done. I remember thinking, “I wish I had one more race just to know during my swim that it was my last race ever.” Thirty minutes later, my coach walked up to me and said, “Someone scratched. You’re swimming tonight.”

It was like the swimming gods had given me a freebie swim. Suddenly, there was no pressure. I was smiling. I was happy. I was bouncing off the walls. I cheered for teammates. I warmed up and played around. I smiled behind the blocks. Before I dove in, I imagined that scooter board race. I had a realistic goal: Just swim your last race knowing it is the last race. And when I finished that 200 yard breaststroke, I had dropped nearly two seconds from my lifetime best time, and almost won the race from Lane Eight.

I wish I could do my career over again with more smiles, more scooter board imaginations, and more realistic goals. Hopefully, one of these techniques helps you, because they helped me. It just took me an entire career to learn how to overcome my own fears.
Mike Gustafson is a freelance writer with USASwimming.org and “Splash Magazine.” You can follow him on Twitter at @MikeLGustafson.

You can find this article posted here.

What You Need to Know About Nutrition for Swimmers

As we mentioned in our post specifically about nutrition before and during swim meets, nutrition plays a critical role in athletic performance. How we feed our bodies directly affects how our bodies are able to perform. This post will give a more in-depth look at the overall nutrition your athlete needs in order to train well, perform well, and just continue to be a healthy, growing swimmer. 

*Note: Don't forget to read our previous post about hydration. This is one of the largest nutritional concerns for any athlete.

Athletes should go only 3-4 hours between snacks or meals, and it is important that they NEVER skip meals. 

Carbohydrates

As an athlete's training and competition level increases, the body's energy demands also increase, and when an athlete works near or at maximum intensity, carbohydrates are the only fuel the body can use. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for swimmers.

Ideally, 50-70% of an athlete's total calories should be from carbohydrates. The consumption of carbohydrates creates glycogen, which is the main way that the body stores glucose (a simple sugar that provides energy) for later use. So, a diet rich in carbohydrates increases endurance performance due to the extra store of carbohydrates in muscles.  If you do not consume enough carbohydrates, you will suffer from chronic fatigue and poor performance both in practice and competitions. A formula to calculate the recommended carbohydrate intake: for every 1 hour of training per day a swimmer should consume 2.5 grams per pound of body weight (weight in lbs x carbs in grams = daily intake).

Protein

Protein is also important for an athlete, and 15% of an athlete's total calories should be from protein. It can be found in a variety foods (not just meat). Protein builds and repairs muscles, supports the immune system, and replaces red blood cells. Protein is NOT a source of energy. Diets too high in protein can lead to dehydration for endurance athletes (such as swimmers). Below is a chart with several foods and how many grams of protein each provides.

Fats

Fats are also an important part of a well-balanced diet for athletes; one-fourth of an athlete's calories come from fat (20-25%). Fats are present in many of the foods we eat regularly, such as cheese, eggs, fish, nuts, butter, oils, chicken, beef, and other foods. Athletes want to avoid eating too many "empty" fats (these sources of fats provide no nutritional value) such as candy, donuts, and fast food. All fats are high in calories (1g carbs = 4 calories, 1g protein = 4 calories, 1g fat = 9 calories) so it is important not to have a diet too high in fats. The goal is to have calories that also provide nutrition, not empty calories!

Before Training

A pre-exercise "meal" (or snack) keeps an athlete from feeling hungry while also maintaining optimal levels of energy for the muscles.

After Training

To completely refill energy in the muscles, eat within 30 minutes after the completion of practice, and then eat small meals 2 hours and again at 4 hours after the practice (if possible).

The 30 minute window is the largest concern; an athlete needs to replenish those energy sources so that the next day they are not feeling tired and run-down. If glycogen stores are not replenished, the ability of the muscles to recover from the workout are impaired. Choose high-carbohydrate foods such as bagels, pasta, fruits, vegetables, yogurts, cereal with low-fat milk, toast with peanut butter and jelly, fluid replacement drinks (Carnation Instant Breakfast, Boost, Ensure), food bars (PowerBar, Cliff Bar, et cetera), french toast, sub sandwiches, baked potatoes with chili, smoothie made with real fruit, fruit juice, or chocolate milk.

If you cannot consume solid foods within 30 minutes after practice, try 2-4 cups of a fluid replacement drink, chocolate milk, or a food bar. Be sure to HYDRATE after training (or a competition).

Below is a chart containing the top 30 foods for swimmers. It demarcates if the food contains carbohydrates, proteins, and/or other valuable nutrients.

 **Due to the smaller size needed for the blog, the chart is slightly blurry. If you would like the pdf file of this chart (which is not blurry), please leave a comment or send me an e-mail (ms.kdennis@gmail.com) and I can e-mail it to you.

Nutrition plays a critical role in an athlete's performance - making wise food choices can increase the chances of optimal athletic performance. Visit any of the following sites to stay up-to-date on nutrition research and nutrition issues: www.acsm.org (American College of Sports Medicine), www.eatright.org (American Dietetic Association), www.usda.gov/cnpp (Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion), www.nata.org (National Athletic Trainers' Association)

Meet Information: The Candy Cane Meet

The Candy Cane Meet will be held on December 16th at Perkins High School in Sandusky, OH. The morning session will be for 10 & Under swimmers, and the afternoon session will be for 11 & Over swimmers.

The due date for entries is Saturday November 17th. Please send your entries to neonswimming@gmail.com.

Please  provide the name(s) of your swimmer(s) in the e-mail and how many events you would like them entered in (up to 4).

The Candy Cane Meet

December 16, 2012

LOCATION: Perkins High School Pool, 3714 Campbell St. Sandusky, Ohio 44870

STARTING TIMES: The morning warm-ups are from 8:00-8:45 a.m., with competition starting at 8:50 a.m. The afternoon warm-up will begin 15 minutes after the conclusion of the morning session, but not before 12:30 p.m. and last 45 minutes. Estimated afternoon start times will be posted at www.lakeerieswimming.com by December 13^th. 

ENTRY FEES: Individual events $4:00; Relays: $10:00; plus a $2.00 per swimmer LESI surcharge and $3.00 team charge.

ENTRY LIMITATIONS: Swimmers may enter up to 4 individual events per day, exclusive of relays. There is a two relay limit.

DECK ENTRIES: Deck entries will be taken on a space available basis up to 35 minutes before the start of the session and seeded at NT (no time). Deck entrants should sign up at the deck entry table @ $8.00 per individual event and $ 15.00 per relay.  Deck entry swimmers new to meet will be charged $2.00 LESI surcharge and must provide proof of USA Swimming registration.

SEEDING & CHECK IN: Individual events will be deck-seeded. All swimmers must check in at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their session. Check-in sheets will be posted in the Clerk of Course. 

AWARDS: Individual Events:  Medals for 1^st-3^rd. Ribbons for 4^th-6th

    Relay Events: Ribbons for: 1^st-3rd

                Heat winners for individual events will be awarded a giant candy cane

ADMISSION COST: $3.00 per spectator and $2.00 per heat sheet per session. 

If you have any questions, please ask! You can leave a comment on here or ask a coach before or after practice. Also, you can e-mail Coach Eric - aquaman429@cox.net, or Coach Kara - ms.kdennis@gmail.com.

Go NEON!

Meet Information: Heat Winter Breakout Meet

The Heat Winter Breakout meet will be held on December 9th at Cleveland State University. For this meet, swimmers 10 years and older must have slower than a "B" time in any event order to swim that event. Time standards are listed here (be sure to scroll to the second page for "Short Course Yards"). If you are unsure if your swimmer qualifies, please contact a NEON coach and they will be glad to help you. 

The morning session will be for 10 & Under swimmers, and the afternoon session will be for 11 & Over swimmers.

The due date for entries is Sunday November 11th. Please send your entries to neonswimming@gmail.com.

Please  provide the name(s) of your swimmer(s) in the e-mail and how many events you would like them entered in (up to 5).

HEAT WINTER BREAKOUT MEET

December 9, 2012

LOCATION: Robert F. Busbey Natatorium, Cleveland State University, 2451 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115

STARTING TIMES:  Sunday morning session warm-up will begin at 7:30 a.m., and be split into two sessions, as follows:  7:30-8:00 a.m. girls warm-up, 8:00-8:30 a.m. boys warm-up, with competition starting at 8:35 a.m.   Afternoon warm-ups will begin 15 minutes after the conclusion of the morning session, with girls warming up for the first thirty minutes, and boys warming up for the last 30 minutes, for a total warm-up session of 60 minutes.  An estimated afternoon warm up time will be posted at Lakeerieswimming.com on Thursday, December 6, 2012 after 12:00 p.m. Please note that at the discretion of the Meet Safety Director, warm ups may be split by age group or team, or combined, so please plan to arrive at the beginning of the warm-up session in the event of a change.

**Each athlete competing in this meet must complete and submit to the host club with their team meet entries a signed CSU Waiver form, along with one Acknowledgement of Receipt of Waivers form per team.   Only those athletes with signed waivers will be seeded into the meet.  No refunds will be given for events missed due to unsigned waivers.

ENTRY FEES: Individual events $4.00; Relays: $8.00; plus a $2.00 per swimmer LESI surcharge and $3.00 team charge. 

ENTRY LIMITATIONS: Swimmers may enter up to 5 individual events, exclusive of relays.

DECK ENTRIES: Deck entries will be taken on a space available basis up to 35 minutes before the start of the session and seeded at NT. Deck entrants should sign up in the deck entry office @ $6.00 per individual event and $10.00 per relay. Deck entry swimmers new to the meet will be charged $2.00 LESI surcharge and must provide proof of USA Swimming registration.

QUALIFYING TIMES: Swimmers must be slower than the NAG 'B' time for an event in order to swim that event.  

SEEDING & CHECK IN: All events except the relays and the 500 free will be pre-seeded.  There will be clerk of course for the A.M. session only and only for individual events. Swimmers should report to the clerk of course when their event is called. The afternoon swimmers will be expected to report to the blocks on time for their heats/events.

ADMISSION COST: $4.00 for spectators, 65 & Over and children under 8 are free, $3.00 for heat sheets.  A concession stand will be open during the meet and swimwear and meet apparel will be available for sale.

NOTE:  Only athletes entered in the meet, working coaches, officials, and meet workers are allowed on deck.  Other non-participants are expected to remain in the spectator area.  There will be volunteer guides to assist you and your swimmers with where to go, and to escort younger swimmers to the pool deck.

If you have any questions, please ask! You can leave a comment on here or ask a coach before or after practice. Also, you can e-mail Coach Eric - aquaman429@cox.net, or Coach Kara - ms.kdennis@gmail.com.

Go NEON!

Meet Information: Shaker Shark Invitational

The Shaker Shark Invitational will be held on November 30th, December 1st - 2nd at Cleveland State University. For this meet, swimmers 10 years and older must have faster than a "B" time in any event order to swim that event. Time standards are listed here (be sure to scroll to the second page for "Short Course Yards"). If you are unsure if your swimmer qualifies, please contact a NEON coach and they will be glad to help you. 

The morning session will be for 11 & Over swimmers, and the afternoon session will be for 10 & Under swimmers.

The due date for entries is Sunday November 4th. Please send your entries to neonswimming@gmail.com.

Please  provide the name(s) of your swimmer(s) in the e-mail and how many events you would like them entered in (up to 3 per day), and which day(s) you would like to swim.

THE SHAKER SHARK INVITATIONAL

AGE GROUP AND SENIOR MEET

November 30, December 1 – 2, 2012

LOCATION: Busbey Natatorium, Cleveland State University

2451 Euclid Avenue (Euclid Avenue at East 24^th Street), Cleveland, OH 44115

                

STARTING TIMES: Friday night: Warm-up will be 4:45 – 5:40 p.m., with the meet starting at 5:45 p.m. 

Saturday and Sunday: Morning session (11 and over) warm-up will be 7:30 – 8:15 a.m., with boys and girls combined. Competition will start at 8:20 a.m. 

Afternoon warm-up (10 and under) will begin 15 minutes after the conclusion of the morning session.  Warm-ups will be 45 minutes with girls and boys combined.  The meet will begin 50 minutes after the start of warm-ups. Estimated afternoon start times will be posted on www.lakeerieswimming.com and www.shakerswimming.org websites by Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

Saturday finals: Warm-ups will not begin before 5:30 p.m. with the meet beginning 45 minutes after the start of warm-ups.  Estimated start times will be posted on the www.lakeerieswimming.com and www.shakerswimming.org websites by Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

ENTRY FEES: Individual events $4.50; Relays: $8.00; plus a $2.00 per swimmer LESI surcharge and $3.00 team charge.

ENTRY LIMITATIONS: Swimmers 9 & older may compete in 3 individual events/day exclusive of relays and time trials on Sunday.  However, on Saturday swimmers 9 & older may compete in 3 individual events exclusive of relays (time trial events count toward the daily event limitation on Saturday only).   Swimmers entered exclusively in 8 and under events may compete in 4 individual events/day exclusive of relays and time trials on both Saturday and Sunday.  If an 8 and under swimmer competes in a prelim/final event, he or she may only compete in 3 events on Saturday.  Swimmers may compete in as many relays as needed per day.  Age as of November 30, 2012. 

DECK ENTRIES: Deck entries will be accepted on a space available basis only and will be seeded at no time (NT).  Deck entries will be closed 35 minutes before the start of each session.  The cost of deck entries is $8.00 per individual event and $12.00 per relay.  Switching events constitutes a deck entry.  Deck entry swimmers new to the meet must pay the $2.00 surcharge and provide proof of USA Swimming membership. 

QUALIFYING TIMES: Swimmers must be equal to or faster than the NAG 'B' time for any event in order to swim that event. 

FASTER THAN: Lake Erie Swimming mandates the following: Swimmers should enter an event only if they have achieved the listed time standard for that event.  Teams of swimmers who fail to achieve the qualifying time at the meet will receive a notice of those times that cannot be verified in the SWIMS database.  Teams shall submit proof of time or a fine of $10.00 for each swim listed in the notice.  Failure to resolve time verification issues within one week of receipt of notice shall result in debit to the team’s account in the amount of the fine.  

  

SEEDING & CHECK IN: This is a deck seeded meet. With the exception of the 1000, all swimmers must check in for all of their events 30 minutes prior to the start of the session. Friday check-in for the 1000 is no later than 6:30PM. Swimmers who fail to check in for their events will not be seeded. Heat and lane assignments will be posted on deck and in the spectator area.

ADMISSION:                 $3.00 per session

PSYCH SHEETS:          $3.00 per session

PARKING: CSU charges for event parking.  Parking lots are available at the corner of Chester and E. 22^nd Street or on Euclid Ave and E. 24^th Street.  Meter parking is free after 6:30 p.m. on Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday on Chester Avenue.

NOTE: Only athletes entered in the meet, working coaches, officials, and meet workers are allowed on deck.  Other non-participants are expected to remain in the spectator area.  No exceptions.

If you have any questions, please ask! You can leave a comment on here or ask a coach before or after practice. Also, you can e-mail Coach Eric - aquaman429@cox.net, or Coach Kara - ms.kdennis@gmail.com.

Go NEON!

Important Fundraiser Information

NEON's only annual fundraiser is less than one month away!

This is our fifth annual 'Wing and Beer Night,' held on the same weekend every year. Not only is this fundraiser a great way to meet and get to know the other NEON parents, but it also helps us to keep our fees lower than other teams in the area while still allowing us to pay for pool time and buy new equipment (such as kick-boards,  fins, and paddles). Parents get a date night or a fun night out with friends that also benefits their swimmers.

Date: Saturday November 10th

Time: 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Location: Meeting Rooms at The Gemini Center in Fairview Park

Food: Buffet with pizza and wings and various desserts

Drink: Beer, pop, and water

Entertainment: There will be sideboards, a 50/50 raffle, and a basket raffle

Requirements: Tickets are $25 per person and all NEON families are required to purchase (or sell) 4 tickets. Each family is also required to provide a basket for the raffle with a value of at least $20. You can ask local businesses to donate items, gift cards, or services for your basket.

Tickets can be purchased at Fairview from Marty Walter or at Brooklyn from Coach Patrick. We ask that all required tickets be purchased by November 1st. Additional tickets are available if you have more friends and family that would like to buy a ticket and support the club (and your swimmer). 

Instead of a Saturday date night of dinner and a movie, come to our Wing and Beer Night to benefit the NEON swimmers!

USA Swimming Announces New Time Standards for 2013-2016

USA Swimming has announced the new National Age Group Motivational Times for 2013-2016. Beginning in January 2013 all meets will use the new time standards (including all championship meets). When you click the link above, be sure you look at the page that says "Short Course Yards" for our short course season (September - April).

National Age Group Motivational Times (NAG times) are used to classify and compare swims for a specific gender in specific age groups across the country. They are also used to determine eligibility for various swim meets, including championships. For some meets, you must be slower than a certain time in order to swim in that meet, while for others you must be faster than a certain time in order to participate. 

There are three championship meets at the end of short course season: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each meet has different NAG time requirements for eligibility:

• Bronze is for swimmers who are slower than 'B' times 
• Silver is for swimmers who are faster than 'B' times 
• Gold is for swimmers who are faster than 'A' times

Swimmers often use this as a goal setting opportunity. For example - "I would like to earn one or more 'B' cuts so I can swim in Silver Champs." Swimmers may swim in more than one championship meet if they meet the NAG time standards (ex - child is slower than a 'B' cut in the 50 fly, but has a 'B' cut in the 50 free so s/he can swim in both Bronze and Silver).

It is important to be aware of what the NAG times are so that you know which meets your swimmer is eligible for, but these times should not be the only focus or tool used to measure your swimmer's success. A swimmer is successful as long as s/he is continuing to make improvements (i.e. learning a new stroke, perfecting stoke and turn techniques, dropping time in an event, et cetera).

If you have any questions regarding the NAG times, or about which meets your swimmer qualifies for, please ask! The coaches are always more than happy to help. 

Coach Eric - aquaman429@cox.net
Coach Kara - ms.kdennis@gmail.com

Or leave a comment on here or find the nearest coach before or after the next NEON practice!

GO NEON!

Meet Information: Paul Jarnagin Invitational (Travel Meet)

The Paul Jarnagin Invitational will be our first travel meet of the season, and it is a great meet for all groups (Bronze, Silver, Gold, & Platinum). It will be held on November 16th - 18th in Dayton, OH at Wright State University. Families can choose to swim only one day, two days, or all three days of the meet. We attended this meet last year and had a blast, so we hope everyone will join us again this year!

The due date for entries is Saturday October 20th. Please send your entries to neonswimming@gmail.com. 

Please provide the name(s) of your swimmer(s), which day(s) you would like to swim, and how many events (up to 4 per day) in the e-mail.

Dayton Raiders Paul Jarnagin Invitational 

Nov 16-18, 2012 Wright State University, Dayton (OH)

Location: Wright State University: 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway Dayton, OH 45435

Meet Entries: Swimmers will be limited to four (4) individual events per day plus one (1) relay per session.


Entry Fees:                                                    

• $4.00 Each Individual Event                                                           
• $2.00 Each Swimmer to Ohio Swimming, Inc
• $3.00 Team Charge
• $7.00 Each Relay
• $4.00 per session for program
• FREE Admission
• FREE Parking

Meet Starting Times: (Subject to change after all entries are received – will receive e-mail):
Session         Warmups             Meet Starts                    Ages
Fri PM           5:00PM                 6:15PM                   All ages
Sat AM          7:30AM                 8:45AM                  12 & Unders
Sat PM          TBD (1:30PM)        TBD (2:45PM)          13 & Overs
Sun AM         7:30AM                 8:45AM                   12 & Unders
Sun PM         TBD (1:30PM)         TBD (2:45PM)          11 & Overs


Clerk-of-Course: There will be a clerk of course during the morning for 8 & Under swimmers only. Swimmers 9 and up should report directly to the starting blocks for their events. All events will be announced over the loudspeaker. 

If you have any questions, please ask! You can ask a coach before or after practice, e-mail Coach Eric (aquaman429@cox.net) or Coach Kara (ms.kdennis@gmail.com), or leave a comment on here!

GO NEON!