Parkwood Commons Swim Team

Swim meets are where we officially demonstrate our progress as a team. We have 5 dual meets each season, including a mix of home and away meets. Meets begin with the first event at 6 PM and generally last 3.5 to 4 hours or so.

When should I arrive at a swim meet?

Home meets: arrive no later than 4:30 Away meets: arrive no later than 5:00

If you must leave a meet early due to illness or emergency, please do not leave without notifying a team coordinator. Use the Remind app to text us!

What should I bring to a swim meet?

Be sure to bring chairs as we do not always know how much seating will be provided. You should also bring towels, sunscreen, snacks, a sharpie marker, and cash for the Concession Stand. We also suggest bringing items to keep your child entertained while waiting for their events. Items such as card games, books, small activities are highly recommended. Please note that some away meets do not permit outside food; we’ll let you know if that’s the case. 

Signing up / signing out for swim meets

Swimmers are automatically signed up for every swim meet. There’s no need to let us know that you will be swimming. If you’re NOT swimming, then we definitely need to know. A swimmer’s attendance at a meet directly affects his or her team mates, so knowing about absences is very important.

Who swims what?

Swimmers are assigned events on the morning of the meet. The meet line-ups are generally emailed to each family. Please check your email to see the event assignment. At the meets, many parents will write the event and heat numbers on their swimmer’s arms with a Sharpie marker in order to avoid any confusion. Again, if you’re not able to make a swim meet, please sign out of the meet well in advance. We assume all swimmers will swim every meet unless we hear otherwise. Here are the events and distances by age group:

Dual Meet Events and Distances

A swimmer may move up 1 age group for individual events in the meet, but they must swim in that age group for the entire meet. Alternately, a swimmer may swim in their proper age group for individual events, but swim up 1 age group for relays. This is often done when a team is “thin” in the upper age groups. Under no circumstances may a swimmer swim down an age group. Swimming below your age group is considered a major rules infraction.

A dual meet consists of 86 events. Each event may have multiple heats, depending on the number of swimmers. The overall order of events is shown in Appendix A.

How is a swim meet scored?

The first heat of each event is the scoring heat, meaning the teams earn points based on the finishers of that heat. The later heats of the same event are called “exhibition heats.” No teams’ points are awarded in those heats, but swimmers receive times, places, and ribbons. Lanes 2 and 4 are always used by the home team, and lanes 1 and 3 are always used by the visiting team. Lanes 5 and 6 (if they exist) are always exhibition lanes, even during the first heat. Only lanes 1-4 are scored for individual events. For relays, only lanes 2 and 3 are scored. Here is how the first heat of every event is scored:

Individual Events Relays

1st Place: 5 Points 1st Place: 7 Points

2nd Place: 3 Points 2nd Place: 4 Points

3rd Place: 2 Points

4th Place: 1 Point

How does a meet work?

A swim meets consists of 86 events, each with different genders, age groups, and strokes. Additionally, each event may have multiple “heats.” In order to get through all 86 events, the meet runs like a high-grade Swiss watch, with every task and activity carefully coordinated. This is where our parent volunteers really shine (please see the section on Volunteering).

The only job during a swim meet that is not performed by volunteers is that of Referee. Cobb County provides the Referee for every swim meet, and we don’t get to choose who we want. The Referee is the chief official for each swim meet. He or she is responsible for the conduct of the meets and is the final authority on the interpretation and enforcement of all swimming rules.

Each race generally starts with a series of short whistle blasts from the referee. This is a signal to the swimmers to get into place behind the blocks or starting position. When swimmers are in position, the referee will give a LONG whistle blast. This is a signal for the swimmers to get on the blocks or move directly to starting position (the edge of the pool when there are no blocks).

For backstroke, the long whistle blast tells swimmers to jump into the water. A second, long whistle blast tells backstroke swimmers to put their feet against the wall.

When swimmers are set, the referee outstretches his or her arm toward the Starter. The Starter will then start the heat with a blast from his air horn. And of course everybody starts screaming and going crazy, and you might even get wet if you’re close to the action. It’s a blast!

Parking at home meets

The Parkwood Commons Pool parking lot is reserved for coordinators, coaches and offficials.  Parking within the subdivision is permitted only on the right side of the street. Parking behind the tennis courts is first come, BUT spots may be reserved for extra handicapped vehicles, lifeguard, etc.