You must indicate your availability on Team Ramp by the swim meet entry deadline (will be set for each swim meet). From this availability list our coaches will enter swimmers into their individual and relay events. If you have any questions or concerns please ask either your coaches or the board we are here to help.
Our club is large and it is a labor intensive task for our coaches. They set the deadline based on how long they need to get the entries done please respect this. Creating relay’s with a club our size is a difficult task, as our relays span training groups and our coaches do a great job at trying to include as many swimmers as possible but this takes time so please be prompt in signing up for meets.
Swim meets are full day events, often 7am-6pm. When you sign up you are committing to a full day. Typically they end between 4-6pm but you need to be prepared to be there for the full day. Please see our “Swim Meet Orientation” document for more information on what to expect.
Your coaches will be entering swimmers in 4 (or less) individual events and relays. If your swimmer does not show up the day of the meet with no notice, there will be empty lanes in the races and often delays the meet for everyone. If our club continually does this it does not reflect well and we can be fined by the region. If your swimmer is a no show with no notice it will be addressed by the board/coaches and they will be temporarily suspended from signing up for swim meets. If it occurs a second time you will be suspended from practices and swim meets and only will be reinstated if and when the board and coaches feel the situation has be resolved.
Secondly your swimmer was probably entered in a relay as well, as our coaches do a great job of making as many relays as possible. When your swimmer does not show up or leaves early now 3 other swimmers will not be able to swim. This is very disappointing for those other swimmers and our club takes this very seriously. If you do cause the forfeit of a relay (due to a no show or leaving early) you will receive an email from your coach and the board and a temporary suspension from relay events. If it happens a second time your swimmer will NOT be put on relay’s again and only will be reinstated if and when the board and coaches feel the situation has be resolved.
If this happens please contact our Head Coach Roger and/or your group coach immediately via text or email. Our coaches need to know prior to the warm-up time (often before 7am). It is important to do this as our coaches can make some minor changes the morning of the meet withdrawing (scratch) the swimmer and if possible (not always is) modifying relays. We understand these things happen and just ask you inform us as early as possible, it can be the day before or the morning of at the latest, please send a communication.
We highly recommend that swimmers be at the swim meet for the entire day. However if you have a conflict and could make a morning or afternoon only then please discuss this with your coach PRIOR to checking your availability for the swim meet deadline. Please note the coaches may or may not be able to accommodate these types of request, the decision is theirs. If you are attending a meet part time then you may NOT be included in relay’s, priority if given to the swimmers who are there for the entire day.
Swimmers can swim in 4 individual events at swim meets. However our coaches will not put swimmers in events they are not capable or ready to compete in. Our Region also has standard times for certain events, ie. Swimmers cannot swim a 50m event until they have completed a 25m event in a standard time. This means often for our new or younger swimmers they may be in only 2 events, most are ready for 25m Free & Back. We want swimmers to succeed and enjoy the experience, our coaches are very qualified at understanding what your swimmer can have success in, and please have an open conversation with them if you have questions or concerns?
Again we highly recommend that swimmers attend full meets. Please talk directly with your coach with regards to this, there may be times when they make alternate arrangements for arrival times depending on when the events are swam. Also please note our coaches may have put these swimmers in Relay’s as well so they maybe swimming 2 relays and need to be there longer as well.
High River Otters Swim Meet
High River Aquatic Centre