North Augusta High School

WHEN ARE THE MEETS AND WHERE ARE THEY HELD?

The meets are on Wednesday evenings from August 12-September 23. Home meets are at HHSC and away meets are at Fermata. The Region meet is in Irmo this year. The state meet is at The Blatt in Columbia on USC's campus.

HOW LONG DOES A MEET LAST?

Meets typically last 2.5 to 3 hours, although it can be shorter or longer. But it's definitely not as long as a summer league meet. IYKYK.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT THE SWIM MEETS?

Meets start with warm ups prior to the meet start at 6pm. They are very exciting for swimmers. Expect a high energy atmosphere with sportsmanship, camaraderie, food, music, and basically, organized chaos. 

TIME TRIALS

Time trials are a way for swim team coaches to get times to set the relay teams and seed the first meet. It is very beneficial for all new swimmers and those who have improved significantly from the previous year. It's also a great way to track the swimmers growth from the start of the swim season to the end. 

THE STROKES

There are several different swim strokes: Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, and Butterfly. There is a combination of all four known as the Individual Medley or "IM". Please be mindful your swimmer may be put in ANY stroke the coaches feel they are competent to swim.

Freestyle: "free"

Backstroke: "back"

Breaststroke: "breast"

Butterfly: "fly"

Individual Medley "IM": In the IM, the swimmer swims each of the strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breastsroke, freestyle.

Medley Relay: A medey relay consists of four swimmers each swimming one of the four strokes. The first swimmer swims backstroke, the second swimmer swims breat, the third swims fly and the final swimmer (the "anchor") swims free. 

Free Relay: All swimmers swim freestyle.

EVENTS: 

The maximum number of events for high school swimmers is 4; two relay and two individual events. Not every swimmer will be in a relay. 

DISQUALIFICATIONS:

Commonly referred to as "DQs", a swimmer is disqualified for incorrectly swimming the strokes, touching the bottom of the pool, pushing off from the side of the pool or the ropes, taking too long to swim across the pool, not touching the wall with two hands in breast and fly, in addition to many other reasons. Please do not worry if your swimmer is DQd. Even the most experienced swimmers are disqualified from time to time. 

DAY OF THE MEET PROCEDURES:

Hyrdrate. Hydrate. HYDRATE throughout the day. Swimmers will be told through Rooms and at practice the times they should arrive at the pool for warm ups or to catch the bus the day of the meet. Swimmers will have a designated area during the meet. Their things should be in that area as well. Pay attention to the events as these meets move faster than summer league meets. Before you leave, please pick up all the trash in the area. We want to be good stewards to Hammond Hills Suburban Club and the area pools we swim at for away meets. 

WHAT TO BRING TO MEETS:

Swim suit, goggles, caps, towels, sharpie, heat sheets, WATER, cash, chairs, team merch.

CONCESSIONS

Concessions are usually at each meet. Please support them!

SWIM MEET ETTIQUETTE

• Parents should not be in the starting area unless they are timing or an official.
• No profanity, alcohol, or tobacco/vape use. 
• Be a good sport! If you have any concerns, please direct them to the coaches. 

PLEASE NOTE: During swim meets, all other pools at the facilities are closed! No swimmer or sibling is allowed in any other pool on the premises.

HOW TO READ A HEAT SHEET

Event: The Event number and name tells the Event Number, Stroke or Relay the swimmer is in.

Heat Number & Seed Time: The heat number tells which heat (group of swimmers that swim at the same time) the swimmer is in. The time listed for a swimmer is their best time in that event, distance, and stroke. An “NT” simply means the swimmer does not have a time for that stroke yet. An “X” in front of seed time means the swimmer is swimming an exhibition heat. In exhibition heats, swimmers receive a time, but do not score points for the team.

Lane: (under Heat) The number to the left of the swimmer’s name, tells which lane the swimmer is in.

Stroke: The Stroke is what the swimmer will swim.

Relays: In relays, you read the Heat Sheet the same way but instead of one swimmer per lane, there will be four. Below is an example of the order in which swimmers will swim this relay:

E – Event Number

H - Heat Number

L - Lane Number

S – Stroke

Example: This swimmer is swimming Event 6, in Heat 4, in Lane 4 and Stroke 50 Free. The next time the swimmer swims, it will be Event 12, Heat 3, Lane 5 and Stroke 50 Back.

Marking for Relays: The below chart shows this swimmer is swimming the Medley Relay and is the THIRD (3) swimmer in this Medley Relay and is swimming the Fly. This helps remind the swimmer and any volunteers the swimmers are lined up in the correct order.

ALL swimmers must have the swim grid drawn on their arm or thigh. This helps the swimmer know when and where they are supposed to swim. It also helps volunteers know where to take the swimmer should they get confused.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

We try to notify everyone as soon as possible of any practice or meet cancellations due to the weather. Please understand our priority is the safety of your swimmer. We use a Wet Bulb Thermometer to measure the temperature. We are dictated by SCHSL rules that state, "If using an on-site Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer for outdoor auxiliary deck conditions, general activity must be modified or halted if the general environmental WBGT reading hits 92.1°F or above." Cancellation of practice occurs more often in the beginning of the season because of the extreme heat.

Numerous people are involved in the process of cancelling, and it may take a while to get this information to you. Typically, it could involve ACPSD, the Pool Board, coaches, the management of the facility and/or the lifeguards. Please note, we DO practice in the rain (as long as we can see the bottom of the pool) but will not practice if lightening is in the area. 

You and your swimmer will be notified through Rooms and SwimTopia blasts. PLEASE make sure you are signed up for our Rooms app. 

CAMERAS

Parents/Friends: We need your pictures! Please share any photos you take during practices or meets. With 25+ swimmers it’s just impossible for one or two to capture every child swimming, being silly, laughing and just having a good time. So please share your pictures.

PRACTICE REMINDERS

If your child is not of driving age or permissions, please make sure you are picking up at the appropriate time. Coach Emerling and Coach Pond both have their own families to attend to in the evenings. We will not leave a swimmer unattended, so please respect our time. We understand emergencies happen. Please keep us aware of any issues, should you have them.

REMOVING SHARPIE

Sharpie markings can easily be removed with sunscreen. Simply spray the area and rub with a bath cloth.

MEANS OF COMMUNICATION

This year the Team will continue to use Rooms and our webpage as the primary ways to keep you updated on what’s going on with the Team.

RESULTS

Results from the swim meet will be emailed to you “usually” the day after a swim meet and posted on the website site.

You may also go to the South Carolina High School Swimming – Top Times | Sports Timing to find times once the results have been merged. You can see where your swimmer's times rank amongst others in the Division and/or State.

MEET VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTIONS

In order to accomplish the League's goals, we need the help of each parent. The only way we can conduct meets is by using parent volunteers to manage, staff and administer every meet. It takes approximately 40 volunteers to run a swim meet!

Starter/Meet Referee (Home Meets Only): This position is responsible for starting each event. The Starter will call the event number, heat number and what stroke is being swum. The Starter starts each race with two commands, “Swimmers take your mark” and then the horn or whistle signifying the start of the race. A Starter must be at least 18 years of age - Have some swim team background – Basic stroke and turn knowledge - Attendance at training and any updates. These positions are filled by the South Carolina High School League.

Timer (All Meets): There are two Timers per lane. The Timers should ensure the swimmer in the lane corresponds to the heat sheet. The Timer is to start the watch at the horn or whistle at the beginning of the race, not when the swimmer leaves the starting block, and stop the watch when the swimmer completes their event by touching the wall. You may have to look over the edge to see the swimmer touch the wall. The Timer will then record both final times on the Lane slips. There is a high probability you will get a little wet in this role but most welcome the little bit of water to help cool them off.

Concessions (Home Meets) This person is responsible for helping set-up, clean up after the meet and help with the sale of items in the concession area.

Hospitality (Home Meets): Hospitality workers ensure all Coaches, Timers and other Officials have water and other drinks as they typically do not leave their assigned position for the duration of the Meet.

Runners (Home Meets): Runners will collect the lane slips from one of the Timers in each lane and take them to the Meet Manager/Computer Operator. The Runner should arrange the time sheets in order by event, then by lanes 1-6. The Runner will also collect the DQ slips from Stroke and Turn Officials and hand them to the Starter or Meet Referee for review. The Runner will then check back with the Starter/Meet Referee for the DQ slips and take them to the Meet Manager/Computer Operators in the Shack. Wear comfortable shoes.

Stroke and Turn Officials (All Meets): Stroke and Turn Officials are to watch the swimmers in the events and determine if an infraction has been committed by a swimmer. Should an infraction occur, the Official will fill out the (DQ slip) Stroke and Turn correction form, give it to the appropriate Runner. Any person interested in becoming an Official must meet the following guidelines: must attend Stroke and Turn training for certification. Your certification has to be renewed every 3 years.

Meet Manager/Computer Operator (All Meets): The Meet Manager/Computer Operator sets up the meet on the computer, creates heat sheets, reports, and other information necessary for the meet to run smoothly. Meet Manager/Computer Operator inputs data during the meet, run reports after the meet, submit reports to other team(s) and the South Carolina High School League. Some teams have their Meet Manager/Computer Operator submit results to the local newspaper.

Volunteer Check-in: The Volunteer Coordinator makes sure that every volunteer position is filled before every meet, checks volunteers in at every meet and handles volunteer problems.

Pool Setup: The volunteers for this position assist in clearing the pool deck of chairs, umbrellas, etc., setting out blocks, helping with tents/canopies, setting up sound system, etc.

Pool Teardown: The volunteers for this position assist in returning items to the pool deck such as chairs, umbrellas, etc., removing the starting blocks (if necessary), helping with tents/canopies, taking down sound system, removing trash from receptacles, etc.

MISCELLANEOUS

North Augusta High School is a AAAA (“4A”) class High School and is located within District 3 (Mid-State District). NAHS swims in Region 5 with the following teams Aiken, Midland Valley, North Augusta, Fox Creek, Irmo and South Aiken. The NAHS Swim Team is governed by the South Carolina High School League Home - South Carolina High School League (schsl.org).