MEETS
Where do swimmers sign up for meets?
Sign up sheets are posted at your swimmer's practice location. Check regularly.
When do swimmers sign up for meets?
Sign up sheets generally have the sign-up deadline printed on them. Occasionally, an email reminder may be sent reminding swimmer's of an approaching deadline.
How do swimmers know what meets to sign up for?
When posted, the meet sign-up sheet should indicate the appropriate levels included. If you are unsure, check with your coach. Additionally, a monthly breakdown of meets, as well as a swimmer level breakdown of meets is available at: www.berkeleyaquatic.org
Do swimmers need to sign up for all meets?
See the board at your practice location for recommended meet attendance.
When should swimmers arrive for a meet?
Plan on arriving 15 minutes prior to the posted warm up time for your group. Leave plenty of time for driving to a new location, and parking. LATE ARRIVALS will be SCRATCHED from the meet!
Where can parents find directions for a meet?
Directions are posted with the meet sign-up sheet and can be found on the NJ Swim website www.njswim.org/
How long is a typical meet?
The length of each meet is dependent on the size of the entire event. Plan on 3-4 hours, or more. Obviously, for a meet with multiple sessions, the first session must be over before the second session can start.
What should swimmers & families bring to a meet?
- swimmer's needs, including sweats / warmups for between events
- folding chair(s)
- blanket / extra towels
- money for observer entry fee
- money for meet book
- money for concession (optional)
- food / water
- reading materials / playing cards / personal music / personal games..
- pen / marker for noting times, writing swimmer event, heat, lane...
How many events will a swimmer be swimming at a meet?
Some meet sign-ups request which events the swimmer would like to swim, noting a maximum number of entries per swimmer.
Often, however, the swimmer's coach determines which events the swimmer will swim.
How does one know what events he/she will be swimming at a meet?
Meet events and listings are posted at the practice location prior to the meet.
Additionally, the event listings are posted at the meet, and printed in the meet book (available for a fee).
How do parents earn points at meets?
Sign-ups are done online, go to Volunteers, Meets to sign up for positions. It is required that all parents time for a few events at away meets when we are assigned a lane to time.
What is marshaling?
Parents do NOT take swimmers to the blocks, and are not permitted on the pool deck.
During a meet, as each event approaches, swimmers for the event are gathered together, or 'marshaled'. The swimmers will be lined up accordingly and led to the blocks when it is time for the event.
It is the swimmer's responsibility to know what events he/she is swimming, and when that event is approaching.
It may be helpful to write the swimmer's events, heats, lanes on their hand upon arrival.
Where do swimmers sit between their events?
In the past years, swimmers generally do not sit together as a team, but remain with family / friends to wait for upcoming events. This year the coaches would prefer that the swimmers sit together as a team.
When / where are event results posted?
Final results are generally posted throughout a meet, as they are available, on a 'common wall'.
Larger meet results may be posted online at njswim.org
Results may also be posted on the board at the practice location.
When are ribbons available?
Depending on the meet, ribbons may be available shortly after the event (claimed by swimmer based on posted results), or distributed by the team coach following the meet (e.g., at the next practice).
What is 'DQ'?
DQ indicates that a swimmer has been disqualified. An official generally takes the time to point out to the swimmer, immediately following the swim, the problem that necessitated the disqualification. The swimmer's coach will also be aware of the problem. It happens to everyone at some point!
General Information
Who can provide general information about a swimmer's team?
Check with your swimmer's team rep, [click here]. Team reps are listed by level and location.
What does BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD times mean?
Bronze, Silver and Gold are time standards used from grouping levels of swimmers.
Are there holiday breaks in the practice schedule?
A week off is scheduled in April. Practice attendance is only mandatory at the senior level.
Does practice stop during the summer?
Practice continues on through July. There is no practice during August for age group swimmers, and the team starts up again just around Labor Day . Juniors and Senior Swimmers do swim for a few weeks in August.
What is the difference between BAC and BSA?
BAC : Berkeley Aquatic Club -- the swim team
BSA : Blue Streak Aquatic, Inc. - the non-profit parent organization that supports the competitive swim teams of BAC--- swimmers, coaches and families.
What are some of the Special Events that families should prepare for?
There are numerous meets throughout the year for swimmers of all age groups and levels. However, there are several swim meets and training opportunities that are of noted importance. The following descriptions are provided to facilitate the necessary planning.
- Burgdorff-Era , NJ Winter Junior Olympics, and Memorial
These are BAC-sponsored meets for swimmers with gold times. Burgdorff occurs in January; winter JOs takes place in March; and the Memorial meet is held on the Saturday and Sunday preceding Memorial Day. Since we sponsor these meets, there is a tremendous amount of parent participation required.
Swimmers may get a note from their coach if required to be absent from school. Families are invited to sponsor individual events for these meets and to place program ads to meet their fundraising obligation.
This is an invitational meet for swimmers with gold plus times. It takes place in Buffalo , NY , usually two weeks before Christmas. This is a four-day meet, held Thursday through Sunday. The swimmers travel as a team in groups, with some swimmers leaving as early as Thursday morning and returning Monday morning. Swimmers may be required to miss multiple days of school and may get a note from their coach. Please be advised that Buffalo 's weather in December can be treacherous and over the years flights have had to be postponed or cancelled because of inclement weather.
The team organizes flights, hotel accommodation, dinner, and van service for the swimmers and the cost is apportioned equally. Swimmers under thirteen must be accompanied by an adult. Parents are welcome to have their flight, hotel and dinner reservations made through the team. Note that families are allowed to make alternate travel arrangements to and from Buffalo ; however, once swimmers arrive in Buffalo they must travel with the team. Traditionally, the team stays at the Adam Mark Hotel , which is in walking distance from the swim facility. Van service is solely for swimmers and coaches. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. The van carries up to eight passengers and runs on an hourly schedule. If you are interested in this service, you should make reservations for transportation to and from the airport upon arriving in Buffalo . It is also very easy to get a cab when arriving at the airport to the hotel. You may also want to ask the driver to stop at a convenience store near the airport before heading to hotel to buy water. There are many more stores located near the airport than the hotel.
Families are required to make individual arrangements for breakfast and lunch. The hotel has a restaurant and bar and, while the food is costly, it is convenient to eat there. A Subway sandwich shop is located between the hotel and the pool, which opens Monday through Friday. In addition, there is a popular pizzeria that makes delivery to the hotel. You can obtain a menu at the hotel desk. The nearest convenient store is a car ride away. There are casual restaurants for dinner if you choose to go out for a parent's night out.
The Star Invitational is a competitive meet. All age groups swim preliminaries and finals, including ten and under. Departure for preliminaries starts about 6:15 AM . The morning session usually ends by noon . After lunch, swimmers adhere to a two-hour quiet period. Departure for finals begins at about 4:30 PM . Swimmers are expected to attend finals (including Sunday) and to warm up, regardless of if they are swimming in an event. Swimmers usually eat dinner around 9:00 and adhere to a strict 10:00 curfew. Jim will post weekend schedule on his door for all swimmers to read and adhere by.
$7.00 a day buys admission to the health club at pool. A facility is also available at the hotel. Bring workout clothes.
The pool is HOT. Bring layers. It is COLD outside and HOT in the pool. The swimmers wear sport/warm up clothes just about the whole time except the plane.
Suggested Items to Pack for Buffalo
1. Powdered Drink Mix
2. Portable/Bag chair. Seating fills up. (I am not bringing the chair on the plane, but those with cars might want to throw one in.)
3. Portable cooler to water cold.
4. Hard candy to combat dryness of pool.
5. Tylenol or Advil.
6. Powdered Drink Mix
7. Container to Mix Powdered Drink
8. Insulated, refillable drink bottles. One for each swimmer and one to loose.
9. Boots, hats, gloves.
10. Parent work out clothes.
11. Berkeley Directory.
12. Snacks.
13. Skin and hair creams.
This is an annual dual meet for silver and bronze level swimmers of all age groups. It takes place at the Wahoo's practice facility in Mt. Laurel New Jersey. Historically the weekend is scheduled in the Spring, swimmers leave Saturday morning and return Sunday afternoon. Swimmers travel as a group by bus and stay overnight in a hotel. There is a cost associated with this team trip that covers meals, transportation, and lodging. A few chaperones are needed.
- Short Course and Long Course Eastern Zones
These are the eastern zone age-group championships. Participants represent New Jersey . The fastest swimmers from Maine to Virginia compete within their respective age group. The annual meets are held in locations determined by the sponsoring lsc, and generally occur two weeks after winter and summer JOs. Swimmers who age up between JOs and zones must meet the qualifications of the older age group. Qualifying Berkeley swimmers are encouraged to participate in zones. Older members who swim at sectionals should confer with their coach.
The two fastest eligible swimmers from each event at winter JOs are invited to represent New Jersey at sc zones. Note that some first and second place finishers may not participate in zones and the organizers will take the next fastest qualifier who applies. Also, be aware that times from Junior/Senior States can be used to qualify for winter zones. For sc zones, swimmers ages 11 and up travel with the team, while swimmers 10 and under are the responsibility of their guardians. For lc zones, all swimmers who make the cuts for events within their age group are invited to represent New Jersey . All lc zone swimmers are responsible for their individual travel, lodging and meal arrangements. Costs include registration, competition attire, hotel, transportation, and meals.
Open competitions for swimmers who make sectional and national cuts. Travel required.
Invitation by coach for eligible seniors. Three weeks in the summer at the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs . Generally occurs biennially.
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