Bent Tree Bluffs Stingrays

Meet Overview:  Dual meets will take place weekly between BTB swim team and one other SSL (Suburban Swim League) team. The order of Events/Strokes will stay the same every week, but your swimmer may be assigned to do different events and strokes each time we complete in a meet. Each Wednesday, the swimmer’s events and strokes will be posted on SwimTopia and sent out to each family. We encourage swimmers to work on perfecting their stroke and technique, to earn a new personal best time, rather than worry about placement in each heat/event – personal progress is our goal! 

Swimmers & Guardians:  When swimmers arrive at the meet they should check in with their coach. During the meet, there will be large periods of time between your swimmer's events. Many kids find activities to keep them busy during down times. Swimmers must each have a responsible guardian at every meet. Guardians are responsible for monitoring their swimmer at all times, ensuring proper behavior and making sure their swimmer is where they should be before each event. Coaches are not able to be guardians for swimmers during meets.

Meet Length & Times:  Meets usually last 4-5 hours. All dual swim meets will begin at 6:00 pm. At home meets swimmers start warm-ups at 4:45pm and at away meets warm-ups start at 5:15pm. Please arrive BEFORE your expected warm-up time. Parent volunteers must arrive by 5:30 pm. 

Order of Events:  The meet begins and ends with relays. Order of events go by age group, youngest to oldest, girls then boys.

Medley Relays Events 1-10, Individual Freestyle Events 11-20, Individual Butterfly Events 21-30, Individual Backstroke Events 31-40, Individual Breaststroke Events 41-50, Individual Medley (IM) events 51-60, Freestyle Relays events 61-70.

Length of Events: 8 & under and 10 & under age groups swim 25 yards per race, with the exception of IMs which are 100 yards. 11-18 year olds swim 50 yards with the exception of IM's which are 100 yards, and 15-18 Freestyle is also 100s.

Marking Your Swimmers Events on Them:  Parents, please write your swimmers Event/Heat/Lane on their arm before each meet to help the Zoo flow and your swimmer keep track of their events. The picture shows an example of how to write out your swimmers events. This is SUPER helpful for swimmers, parents, coaches and all meet officials.

Meet Events:  The Meet Announcer will state what event is ready to be swam. Parents and spectators should refrain from setting up on the pool deck or lingering for long periods of time, as space is limited, and we want to allow all spectators the ability to view their swimmers race. Please do not get in front of Coaches, Timers, or Judges! No spectators behind the swim blocks! Meet officials need to be able to run the meet and see the swimmers, spectators need to remain out of the way to ensure safety and allow officials to do their job.

Swimmers are encouraged to ask the Timers their time as they exit the water from their race. Asking for time pushes swimmers to chase their new personal best times versus worrying about what place they finished against others. Remind swimmers to NOT climb out of the water until all swimmers in their Heat have finished.

The ZOO: The Zoo is a designated area, at each home or away meet., where swimmers check in to get organized for their swimming event. The Zoo is organized by Parent Volunteers called “Zoo Keepers”. The Zoo Keepers place the swimmers in order of event, lane and heat to have them ready. This organization is KEY to the meet moving smooth and quickly. Parents, please encourage your swimmer to be listening over the microphone for their events. The Announcer will say what events need to report to the Zoo. Swimmers should report quickly to the Zoo once the Announcer has called their event to check in. Please do not go to the Zoo early, it can overwhelm our zoo area. Parents can take swimmers to the Zoo entrance if needed, but only swimmers can be in the Zoo. Again, Swimmers must be MARKED with their Event/Heat/Lane for every meet to help the Zoo run properly.

What should we bring to Wednesday MEETS?  Towels, a couple pairs of swim goggles, team suit & cap, lawn chairs, sharpie marker, water, snacks, warm clothes for chillier nights, money/cash for concessions. GLASS ANYTHING & ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE NOT PERMITTED

Food & Drink: Swim meets are long and swimmers need nourishment! Families can bring your own coolers, food and drink (no alcohol), or can order from whatever food trucks are on site.

Team Suit: The team suit is encouraged, but not required to participate in practice or meets. If the team suit is not purchased, we do recommend a racing type suit for both boys & girls as other types of suits can create more drag in the water. Suits need to be family appropriate. The team suit is high quality and used for two years. Suits can be purchased at Swim Things in Blue Springs – ask for BTB designated suits.

Leaving the Meet early:  If swimmers have to leave early from a meet, you must check out with a coach. We have to ensure meet officials are notified and relays are filled. Communication is KEY. Don’t leave your team wondering where you are or positions unfilled. 

Parking:  Parking at all swim meets is always chaotic. Be prepared to drop off swimmer & gear then park a block or more away from the pool.

At home meets, BTB residents are asked to walk or car pool when possible to save room for the visiting team.

No parking in the Pool parking lot. Spaces are reserved off for coaches/ league reps, as well as food trucks. Please DON'T park in reserved or handicap spaces or in front of fire hydrants or people's driveways. Parking is allowed on 1 side of NW Silver Ridge street, follow signage. NO parking on NW Chipman road.

What are the ELIGIBILITY requirements to be on the team?

1.Swimmers, 5 -18 yrs old as of June 1^st, whose parents or grandparents are BTB residents. In addition to BTB residents, surrounding subdivisions that roll up Cedar Creek Elementary, but are NOT Winterset subdivisions.

2.Swimmers should be able to swim the length of the pool, unassisted. **Talk to Swim Board or Coaches, as we aim to grow swimmers and be flexible.

3.3 out of 6 meets are required to compete in Champs. 3 out of 5 practices are required to compete in meets (exceptions apply)

4.For every meet in which a swimmer competes, the league requires that the family provide one adult volunteer to help at least one half of each meet.

NOT Allowed at Swim Meets:

Alcohol: SSL prohibits alcohol in any form or container at ALL meets. You will be asked to leave the meet if you are found in possession of alcohol at a meet. Meet volunteers may also not consume alcohol prior to working their assigned shift.

Violence: SSL has a Zero Tolerance No Violence Rule: Violence of any type, verbal or physical, hostile or aggressive will not be tolerated, nor will any behavior found to be contradictory to the SSL mission. Persons involved in such behavior will be ejected immediately. If they will not leave voluntarily, authorities will be called. Remember, this is a non-competitive recreational league. Bring a good attitude, cheer for all swimmers, and have fun!!

Parent Pressure: Parents are encouraged to keep comments to their swimmers positive and not pressure, bribe, or punish their swimmers for event results. We want them to want to be here. This is a recreational league designed to have fun while learning.

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