Flamingo FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions by New (and Confused) Parents

What are the rules about practices and participation?

Swimmers are required to practice at least three times a week to swim a dual meet.  At least three dual meets are required to participate in Divisionals.  Anyone who swims in 3 dual meets may go to Divisionals and swim what they think are their best strokes.  The coaches will decide relay teams.  The MPSL (Mid Penn Swim League) is divided up into three divisions (A, B & C).  After the 2006 season, the Flamingoes moved up to the A Division! 

What are Divisionals, All-Stars and Mid-Caps?

These are end of the season championship meets that build off each other.  If you swim at Divisionals, you have the chance of continuing on to the other meets.

If you place in the top 16 for any individual event after all the times from all the Divisions (A, B & C) are combined, you go on to All-Stars (the next day). The top 8 relay teams after the combined results are recorded also go to All Stars.   If you participate in All-Stars, you MUST be able to participate in Mid-Caps the next weekend.  If you make the top 6 in an individual event at All-Stars or your relay places in the top 3, you swim again at Mid Caps.  Mid-Caps is the competition pitting the best of the West Shore against the best of the East Shore teams.  It is as far as we go. 

What happens at a swim meet?

At every meet some good people arrive early and set up tents for the kids to sit under.  The kids will bring towels to sit on, games (cards, legos, etc.) to play, music to listen to (with earphones).  The coaches prefer the video games stay at home.  The coaches are not responsible for lost games or systems, nor do they like the distraction from the meet due to involvement in these games.  The kids will be asked to stay under the tents so that they will be ready when their races are called.  The coaches will be poolside and parents are needed to be timers (a great way to watch the races poolside).  There will often be seating (bring your own chairs) alongside the pool.  There will sometimes be bleachers to sit in.  In the case of bleachers, rotating seats to watch your racers is considerate when there are many spectators.  The main pool will be closed (as will the playground and other recreational areas), so bring things for younger siblings to do!

Ten minutes or so before the races are scheduled to run, the swimmers will be seeded for their races.  Line-up parents (brave souls) will call the names of the swimmers and send them to the seeding area or to the blocks, where the coaches will get them ready to go. 

There are usually 76 events at a regular meet.  Medley relays are first, then IM’s (Individual Medley – one swimmer swims one length of each of the four strokes), then freestyle races, backstroke, freestyle again (a slightly longer race), breaststroke, and butterfly, then freestyle relays end the events.  Meets usually run four to five hours, not including warm-ups.  

Warm-ups are usually within an hour of the start time of a regular (dual) meet.  Warm-ups prior to the meet are a time to “wake the swimmers up”, stretch out their muscles and practice starts and turns in the pool where the meet is being held.  Warm-up time is NOT optional.  The coaches also take attendance at this time and need to make any changes due to absences.

For championship events like Divisionals, All-Stars or Mid-Caps, warm-ups can be 2 plus hours ahead of start time since there are so many swimmers to get in the water.  Dual meets usually begin at 8 or 8:30 AM. 

The big events usually begin at 9 AM and may run anywhere from 4 hours to 6 plus hours.  At championship meets or invitationals there is an entrance fee for spectators and a fee for a program.   Meets will always have concession stands with reasonably priced drinks, breakfast, lunch and snack items.   When the Flamingos host an event, all families are asked to contribute items for the concession stand (less than a $10 contribution).  Workers are needed to man the booth and help set up but only for a few meets! 

What is the Mock Meet?

The mock meet is held a week before the first official meet of the season and is a way to acclimate the swimmers to the meet format.  It begins around 5pm and runs through the first half, break for a pot-luck dinner, then continues after dinner.  Many of the regular volunteer positions are needed for the mock meet.  It’s a great way to get to know people, feel comfortable with the team, and figure out where you’d like to volunteer. 

What’s a heat? 

A heat is the term for the individual race of a specific stroke for a specific age group.  In a dual meet the first heat is typically the fastest swimmers and is the one that counts for team points.  Place ribbons are awarded for first heats only.  All other swimmers will swim in exhibition heats for time (improving your individual time is what swimming is all about) and receive exhibition ribbons.  Ribbons are put in the swimmer’s folder to be picked up at the next practice.  Ribbons may not be collected at the meet.

At Invitationals, Divisionals, All-Stars, etc., the last heat is the fastest heat, BUT places are determined by time only.  A swimmer can swim in the slowest heat but win first with a good time.  Invitationals are great ego boosters for new swimmers (big ribbons or medals) and they are often specifically targeted at age groups, level of experience etc. 

When do the swimmers find out what events they are swimming for a dual meet?

The coaches get together one night during the week and place the swimmers into the events.  The meet is usually posted on Friday during practice.  Changes do occur after the meet has been set for many reasons, so the swimmers must check their events again the morning of the meet. 

Each swimmer may swim up to 4 events in each meet (3 individual events and one relay). The coaches try to have each swimmer swim at least 3 events (this depends on how many strokes he or she can swim legally). Also, when we swim at an away meet, the host team may ask that the number of exhibition heats be limited due to a time constraint they have on their pool.  This can limit the number of events for each swimmer as well.

Sometimes it helps the team to have a swimmer swim a non-exhibition heat in an older age group to gain points.   In the MPSL (the summer league) swimmers may swim in multiple age groups during the same meet (never in a younger age group, though).  By “swimming up”  in a different age group they can gain team points or  help other swimmers get a chance to swim a relay when there aren’t enough swimmers to make one in that age group.

What are Invitational Meets? 

Invitationals are fun meets hosted by different swim teams in the area.  They do not count on the team record, but offer great opportunities, as they are often targeted at specific groups, ie Novice (summer only or new swimmers), 10 and unders, or relays  like the Jack Goepfort Invitational Relay that we host in late June.  You have to sign up and pay a nominal fee for the races your swimmer(s) swim.  Swimmers can sign up for any strokes they want to and indicate participation in a relay.  The coaches will decide relay teams.  Coaching staff is at every invitational that the team promotes.   Invitationals also offer shopping opportunities for suits, goggles, bags, etc.   They usually have full concession stands, but may offer limited activities for younger siblings.    

How do you order suits, caps, goggles?   What’s a jammer?

Jammers are the snug fitting knee length suits worn by the boys.  Suit and swim cap orders are taken in March, but extras are usually ordered and can be purchased.  Extra suits are first come, first serve.   A team suit is not required to swim in the meets. TEAM SUITS ARE NOT TO BE WORN FOR PRACTICE!  Goggles are on your own and should be competitive goggles not dollar store or animal shaped ones.  Back-up pairs of goggles help alleviate panic at meets when a pair is misplaced.  At Invitationals, Divisionals, etc, booths selling goggles, caps and suits are set up.  Swim caps do tend to rip, so a back up is a good idea.  The HST blue caps are great and are a great way to identify your swimmer in the water (especially with your family name printed on them).  Swim caps are not mandatory but are highly recommended for both boys and girls. 

What are big Flamingos, little Flamingos and big Flamingo families? 

Each team member is either a big or little Flamingo (determined by age).  Little ones have big ones, big ones have little ones, assigned by the coaches.    At each meet, it is customary for big and little Flamingos to exchange cards of encouragement and/or small gifts (candy, etc.).  Big Flamingo families are veteran families assigned to answer questions and offer a friendly face to new families.  These are assigned by the coaches and should contact new families within the first few weeks. 

What is the Food Lagoon and how do you sign up to work it?  When is it open?

The Food Lagoon is the hot food concession stand at the Hummelstown pool.  If you are interested in helping out, simply sign up on the calendar for any day you are willing to open it.  It can be any time, but guest days are often busy days and good ones to open on.  There are simple instructions (where to get the keys, money, supplies, etc) that you will need, but if you can work a microwave, crockpot, and make change, YOU can do it!

What is the end of the year banquet?

Similar to the potluck at the mock meet, the banquet is a great way to celebrate the community of the swim team.  Family Fun relays are held at the beginning of the event and a really fun-filled non-competitive way to understand the efforts your children put in all the time!  Lots of spirit, support and fun are enjoyed by all who participate.  The relays are followed by a casual dinner (subs or pizza are supplied, and families bring a salad or dessert to share) and then a “fun awards” ceremony where many swimmers are noticed for their unique contributions to the team (most spirit, best attitude, best hair, etc.)  There are also awards for records broken, and other accomplishments.  A team gift presentation, with coaches and “graduating” swimmers recognized usually ends the evening.  It can be a long day, but is well worth it. 

 

Helpfully composed by new swim parent Anna Heck following her “initiation” year.

When we swim, we fly!

Hummelstown Swim Club