What are open meets?
Open meets are organised by many swimming clubs all over the country and afford swimmers an opportunity to record times for events which they might not normally swim. Levels vary, allowing swimmers to compete against those of similar abilities. Open meets that Buntingford SC will attend during the year are advertised in the clubs fixtures list on the club website and on the club noticeboard
Should I take part in an open meet?
The head coach will offer you guidance on your suitability for a given open meet and help you choose which events to enter. This will depend on your personal best times and which type of open meet you wish to enter:-
- Licensed open meets are assigned a level
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
All have their own qualifying times for the various strokes/distances. If you have not already achieved the qualifying time for a given event then you are not eligible to enter
- Club open meets
Although these events do not have formal qualifying times its normal practice that you will already have registered a personal best time for the event you wish to enter. It is these events that will enable you to get experience of competition and to improve your times
How old do I need to be?
Generally speaking, you need to be at least 9 years old. The age group you can enter can be confusing – it’s either:-
- your age as at the end of the year in which you compete
- or your actual age on the date of the meet
You also need to be a category 2 ASA member – the club secretary will confirm your category of membership
How do I enter an open meet?
The team manager will let you know when entry packs become available. Having got one, simply fill in the entry form (indicating which events you plan to enter) and return the form with your entry fee to the meet organisers before the official closing date (indicated on the entry form). The team manager will be more than happy to help you with this and may coordinate submission of all forms if several club members are planning to participate
In due course you’ll get an entry card for each of the events you have entered (pink for girls and blue for boys) which details your name, date of birth, club, the event you have entered, the time you entered, the event number, your competitor number, the date of the competition and the time the session in which your events starts. The card also has a time by which it must be “posted” (handed in at the meet, proving your intent to participate “on the day”). Hand it in late and the chances are that you won’t be swimming! Normally, your card will also detail your warm up time.
Make sure that you keep your card(s) safe until the day of the competition and take them with you to the open meet
What should I take to an open meet?
All the normal kit you’d take to any gala, plus those all important entry cards. Take another towel, plenty to drink for the whole time you are away from home and some food (bananas are a favourite of mine – you’re after something that will give you an energy boost without making you feel sick. Open meets can be pretty long affairs, so you should also take something to keep you occupied (a book, gameboy - but probably not your school homework)
What happens when I arrive?
It’s unlikely that you’ll be the only person from the club there – so let the team manager know you’ve arrived. Your next priority is to “post” your entry cards – normally in a box or tray upon entrance to the pool. If you can’t find it – ask! The trays/boxes are normally marked by event number which corresponds to the event number that appears on your entry card. Open meets are normally run as sessions and it’s likely that you will only be able to post the cards for one session at a time. You are responsible for posting your card(s) (no-one else) – if you don’t post it by the specified time you won’t be swimming
How will I know when it is time for me to swim in my event?
Normally you are asked to report to a specific assembly area one event prior to the one in which you are competing. You’ll either get your entry card back in the assembly area or you’ll have to collect it from a specified point prior to you going to the assembly area. Either way, your card will now have been marked (by the officials running the open meet) with a heat number and a lane number and there will be an official in the assembly area who will ensure that you and the other swimmers in your heat arrive at the start at the appropriate time. There are some variations on this theme at different open meets, but the principles are the same wherever you go. If in doubt, ask the team manager who is fully familiar with the procedure
What do I do when I have finished my race?
The idea of competing in an open meet is to gain experience, to learn and to hopefully do well. Make a beeline for the team manager or coach and talk your race over with him/her. Its rare to swim “the perfect race” so listen out for any advice on offer as it’s likely to help you out next time
Do I have to stay on poolside after my race?
This depends on circumstances. If you have another race in that session, you should stay poolside and support the other swimmers from your club. If you are swimming in a later session you may face a wait of several hours in which case you may want to get changed. Perhaps you might want to visit your parents in the spectator area, or perhaps get some fresh air.
In any event, if you decide to leave poolside for any reason, you MUST inform the team manager/coach of where you are going
What next?
Plenty of local clubs hold annual open meets. Check out the fixtures list posted on the club website or the noticeboard, and see the team manager or coaching staff to discuss which one(s) you might enter.
Good luck
…… and enjoy
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