Swim Meets
Swim meets are a wonderful place to be. You can test your strength, your speed, and be with your friends!
At a swim meet there are different events, heats, lanes, and races.
- Events:The number of the race your swimming (the announcer will call this number out)
- Heats:The race your swimming inside the event (there are events, for example #49, and in each event there are heats. There are sometimes 3 heats, so if you are heat 2 or three someone will swim the event before you and then you will swim the same thing after them) (they do this because sometimes there arent enough lanes in the pool for everyone to be able to swim a race.)
- Lanes:A typical pool has 8 lanes. Each lane is numbered somewhere by the pool. Whatever lane nummber you are is what lane you swim in.
- Races:The races are what your swimming (For example a 50 backstroke)
You will write out your events, heats, lanes, and races on your arm/leg in a way somewhat like this:
| E | H | L | R | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 1 | 3 | 200 Freestyle | |
| #11 | 1 | 3 | 50 Breaststroke | |
| #15 | 2 | 2 | 100 IM | |
| #21 | 1 | 6 | 50 Freestyle |
E: Event
H: Heat
L: Lane
R: Race
DIVING:
To perform a good dive, it helps to make a streamline shape with the body by placing one hand over the other, squeezing the ears with the arms, and tucking the chin. Standing at the edge of the pool with toes hooked over the rim helps prevent slipping. Instead of just falling in, leaning forward and giving a small push with the legs allows for entering the water through a small "hole" made by the hands. Keeping the legs straight and toes pointed helps avoid a belly flop. Practicing from a kneeling position first can make the process easier before moving to a standing dive.
UNDERWATERS:
To do good underwaters, you have to stay in a tight streamline with your hands locked and your arms squeezing your ears. Instead of using your whole leg like a normal kick, you move from your hips and core to make a "whip" motion, almost like a dolphin or a mermaid. You want to keep your knees mostly straight and flick your feet fast to push the water behind you. It’s important to stay deep enough so you don't make bubbles on the surface, and try to take small breaths out through your nose so you don't get water up it.
RACING:
To swim a good race, you need a strong start off the block so you can get as much speed as possible right away. Once you're in the water, focus on keeping your body high and flat on the surface instead of letting your hips sink. Dont forget to do the technique because if you flail you will lose momentum and slow down. When you get to the wall, do a fast turn or a quick touch and push off hard in a streamline to keep your momentum going. Finally, don't forget to finish strong by reaching for the wall with your hand instead of slowing down right before you get there!
FINISHING:
To finish a race strong, you have to keep your head down and stop breathing for those last few strokes so you don't slow yourself down. Instead of just gliding into the wall, you should kick as hard as you can and reach out with a long arm to touch the touchpad or wall with your fingertips. Make sure you don't look up to see where the wall is, because that creates drag and makes you finish slower. Basically, you want to charge into the wall like you're trying to crash through it so you can get the best time possible!
