Swim meets are fun and exciting for swimmers and spectators alike. Competition provides swimmers with the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, compete with others, and challenge themselves to establish personal best times. Aqua Races encourages swimmers of all ages and abilities to participate in at least several meets during our summer season.

This FAQs document provides information and expectations associated with entering and participating in meets. You may click on the blue hyperlinks to access the referenced websites or documents.

Competition Overview

In what organization does Aqua Racers compete?

Aqua Racers is a member of the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (T.A.A.F.). T.A.A.F. was established in 1925 to promote, organize and conduct amateur athletics in the state of Texas. Numerous organizations representing various sports are members or T.A.A.F. However, track and field, gymnastics and swimming organizations represent the majority of the T.A.A.F. membership. The state of Texas is divided in to 17 T.A.A.F. regions. Aqua Racers belongs to T.A.A.F. Region 7 which boasts more registered swimmers than any other T.A.A.F. region. T.A.A.F. rules for swimming are followed for competitions. More information about T.A.A.F. can be found at www.taaf.com.

What is the difference between Circuit, Regional and State meets?

Circuit meets are held each weekend during June and early July. Circuit meets may be entered by any swimmer registered with their T.A.A.F. team. During any given weekend, generally two or three circuit meets will be hosted by T.A.A.F. Region 7 teams. Circuit meets provide swimmers with an opportunity to enter various events and establish times for their events. Aqua Racers usually hosts two Circuit meets each summer season.

The Regional meet is held near the end of the summer season in mid to late July. Beginning in 2019, swimmers do not have to qualify to swim in the Regional meet. 

The State meet is the final event of the season. Swimmers must finish in the top places (usually top 5 or 6 places) of an event at the Regional meet in order to qualify for that event at the State meet.

Who organizes and runs the meets?

Circuit and Regional meets are organized and run by the host team volunteers. The State meet is conducted by T.A.A.F. Volunteers are incredibly important to all T.A.A.F. member teams including Aqua Racers. Without volunteers, a swim meet cannot be successfully executed. Aqua Racers needs approximately 100 volunteer positions to be filled for each home meet.

What teams does Aqua Racers compete against?

For Circuit and Regional meets, Aqua Racers competes against other teams in T.A.A.F. Region 7 from the following communities: Allen, Cedar Hill, Denison, Farmers Branch, Frisco, Garland, Grand Prairie, Irving, Lancaster, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano and Rowlett. Swimmers from all T.A.A.F. regions compete at the State meet.

Meet Entries

How do swimmers register for a meet?

Aqua Racers swimmers use our online system to register for each Circuit meet. On our website, go to Meets & Events->Signup Calendar and scroll down for the desired swim meet - meets that are open for registration will be indicated by a green "Meet Entry" button. Start the process there. If you need help with the process, check out Meets & Events->Signup Instructions. Swimmers must register themselves for their meet events. Our Results/Hy-tek Director is responsible for submitting the team entries to the host team by the meet entries deadline.

What events should my swimmer enter for a Circuit meet?

Beginning swimmers may enter freestyle and backstroke events for all Circuit meets. The coaches must approve of entries for breaststroke and butterfly for younger and novice swimmers. Older and more experienced swimmers who can legally swim all strokes may enter any events offered for their age group.

My swimmer would like to swim on a relay at a Circuit meet. Who assembles the relay teams?

Medley and freestyle relay teams are assembled by the coaches. Your swimmer can request to be placed on a relay at a Circuit and Regional meet. However, a request does not guarantee that your swimmer will be placed on a relay team since relays must include four swimmers. For example, if six swimmers in an age group request to be placed on a relay, the coaches will choose four of the swimmers for a relay - leaving two swimmers without a relay event. For younger and less experienced swimmers, medley relays will only be assembled only if at least one swimmer in a particular age/gender group can legally swim the breaststroke, and one swimmer can swim the butterfly.

I missed the deadline for entering my swimmer for a meet. Can you add him as a late entry?

Sorry, but we cannot add swimmers as late entries due to the time required by the host team to assemble the meet entries from multiple teams. No exceptions.

Why does Aqua Racers have deadlines for meet entries?

The host team requires all entries to be submitted by a deadline to allow for assembly of the events and heats. Aqua Racers generally imposes a deadline for our swimmers' entries on the Tuesday prior to the weekend meet. This allows our Hy-tek Manager to compile and submit our team entries to the host team prior to the host team's deadline.

I registered my swimmer for an event but now have decided to change their event. Can I do this?

You can change a swimmer's event prior to the deadline for entries. Simply log in and follow the process above. After the deadline, a swimmer's event cannot be changed.

How much does it cost to register for a meet?

Meet registration fees are paid to T.A.A.F. by Aqua Racers. Therefore, no additional collection of meet registration fees is required. (A gate fee of $5 is typically assessed by the host team for spectators who attend meets.)

What are a Psych Sheet and a Heat Sheet?

A Psych Sheet is prepared before the meet and after all meet entries have been received by the host team. It will list all swimmers entered in an event, from fastest to slowest times, but does not list the swimmers in heats. If a swimmer has never posted a time in an event, their time will be listed as "NT" (No Time). Psych Sheets may be provided by some teams up to two days before the meet (when provided by the host team).

A Heat Sheet divides an event into heats of 6 to 8 swimmers. Swimmers that have posted faster times will swim in the final heats and swimmers with slower times or NTs will swim in the initial heats. Heat Sheets list the events/heats/lanes for each swimmer in the order of events used for the meet. Heat Sheets are generally available for $3 at the meet.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to decipher Psych Sheets & Heat Sheets.

What is the difference between a pre-heated meet and deck-heated meet?

A pre-heated meet is one in which swimmers are arranged in an event based on their top time for that event. Heat sheets should be available at a pre-heated meet so you can determine the heat and lane that your swimmer has been assigned for a particular event.

Deck-heated meets do not take into account a swimmer's top time. Swimmers complete a paper deck slip with their name, age group and event, and hand their slip to a volunteer working in the heating area. Swimmers are simply arranged in heats and lanes at random.

A pre-heated meet format is used for Circuit meets by most teams in T.A.A.F. Region 7. Regional and State meets are always pre-heated meets.

Meet Day Experience

What time does my swimmer need to arrive at the meet?

A warm up period is available to swimmers typically one hour prior to the meet start time. Swimmers are encouraged to arrive at the meet facility no later than 30 minutes prior to the meet start time. No positive check in is required by host teams. Swimmers who are entered in a Medley Relay (which are held at the beginning of each meet) should check in with the Aqua Racers coaches during warm-ups at home meets, and with personnel in our team canopy at away meets.

Whether you plan to sit in the grandstands/bleachers or erect your personal canopy, you will secure a better the seat or canopy spot if you arrive sooner. Many spectators arrive at least an hour before the meet begins.

Morning meets typically begin warm-ups at 7:00 am with a meet start time of 8:00 am. Evening meets typically begin warm-ups at 5:00 pm with a start time of 6:00 pm.

Important: If your swimmer is participating in a medley relay - which is typically held at the beginning of a meet - and fails to show at least 30 minutes before the meet, your swimmer may be replaced with another swimmer for the relay. If an alternate swimmer cannot be located or is unwilling to swim the medley relay, the relay will be scratched from the competition (and you will be left to deal with 3 upset families of other swimmers who were not allowed to swim their relay). The rule of thumb here is that if you cannot commit to being at a meet at least 30 minutes prior to the meet start time, do not request to be on a medley relay.

How long do meets last?

The time required to complete a meet depends on a number of factors including the number of entries, number of pool lanes used, and efficiency of meet workers. That said, Circuit meets will typically last 4-6 hours. The Regional meet is divided into two age-group sessions with each session lasting approximately 3 hours.

A standard Order of Events is used by T.A.A.F. Region 7 that includes medley relays at the beginning, and freestyle relays at the end. If your swimmer is finished with their events before the meet concludes, you swimmer is not required to stay for the remainder of the meet. (Be aware that family members who volunteer for home meets must complete their obligation before leaving.)

How much does it cost to attend a meet?

Host teams generally charge a $5 gate fee for spectators to attend a meet, and $3 for heat sheets. Concessions are typically available for purchase as well.

What's the deal with the pop-up canopies at meets?

One of the first things that you will notice when arriving at a meet location is the numerous pop-up canopies that are staged around the pool or natatorium. Some swimmers and their families prefer to stake out beneath their canopy as opposed to sitting in the pool grandstands or bleachers. If the host facility is a natatorium, swimmers and their families may move from their canopy into the natatorium during their swimmer's event, then return to their "camp". Staking a location for you canopy is done on a first-come first-served basis. Some families prefer to stay in the grandstands and bleachers as opposed to an exterior canopy.

What do I need to bring to a meet?

Swimmers should arrive to meets in their swimwear and should bring their basic items including goggles, team swim cap and towel. Swimmers are advised to bring a spare set of goggles in case their primary pair breaks or becomes lost. For outdoor meets, swimmers and spectators should use ample sunscreen products.

Families may bring small coolers with food and drinks to the meet. Most facilities prohibit drinks in glass containers. Swimmers may snack during the meet and should drink plenty of water. Consumption of "heavy" foods should be avoided by swimmers during a meet. Instead, pack foods such as fruits and health bars.

If you plan to sit in grandstands/bleachers, you may bring a bleacher chair or cushion. Spectators may also bring their personal canopy and chairs if an exterior location is desired.

Take Your Mark

Where does my swimmer go to get ready for their event?

Swimmers should move to a heating area approximately 20-30 minutes before their event begins. Parents may assist with locating their swimmers to the heating area; but parents are not allowed on deck or in the heating area. Host teams will use a heating board to post which events (by event number) are heating. When swimmers move to the heating area, meet volunteers will call their events and names to place them into the proper event and heat. Swimmers are responsible for monitoring the heating board and entering the heating area at the appropriate time for their events.

My swimmer just missed his event but he was in the heating area. Can he swim in another heat?

Swimmers must be attentive when in the heating area and listen for their event and name when called by the volunteers. Rarely do swimmers miss their event if they are in the heating area. However, swimmers who do not move to the heating area at the proper time may miss their event. The adage "you snooze you lose" applies here. Swimmers who do not compete in their assigned heat are not allowed to compete in a subsequent heat.

Where does my swimmer sit while waiting for their event to heat?

Swimmers should relax with their family/friends while waiting for their events to heat. Swimmers are allowed to sit in the grandstands/bleachers or their personal canopy when waiting to heat.

If my swimmer gets tired during the meet, can he leave early without swimming his final event(s)?

A swimmer may "scratch" any individual event that they do not wish to swim, whether at the beginning, middle or end of the meet. No notification to the coaches or meet personnel is required to scratch an individual event. However, a swimmer may not scratch a relay event for which they have been entered without first talking to an Aqua Racers coach.

Can swimmers be disqualified for illegal strokes?

Swimmers are not disqualified (DQ) at T.A.A.F. Circuit meets because of illegal strokes. Some host teams will provide judges during Circuit meets who provide DQ comments for coaches. This information allows coaches to work with swimmers to improve their stroke techniques.

At Regional and State meets, swimmers may receive a DQ by judges for false starts and illegal strokes.

My swimmer does not like to start from the blocks. Can they start from the deck?

Younger swimmers may be afraid to climb on to starting blocks. If so, they may start their event from the edge of the deck.

If I have questions at a meet, who do I contact?

If you have a question at an away meet, you may come by our team canopy. If you have questions during a home meet, someone at the pool entrance or results table, or the Meet Director should be able to provide an answer.

Will coaches attend the meets?

At least two Aqua Racers coaches will attend Circuit, Regional and State meets. More than two coaches may attend meets that involve a large number of Aqua Racers swimmers. Swimmers should talk to the coaches immediately following completion of their event. Coaches use the meet experiences as teachable moments for swimmers.

Results and Awards

When and where are the results of each event posted?

The meet host team is responsible for compiling the meet results. Some hosts will post the results at a designated location during the meet. The results are reported to each participating team within a couple of days following the meet. Aqua Racers will post the meet results on our website.

My swimmer finished in 1st place in his heat, but he is listed as the 9th place finisher in the posted results. Why is he not listed 1st?

Meet results are listed in the order of overall finish of an event, not finishes by event heat. However, a swimmer's times should be the focus of the results, not necessarily their overall finish. Swimmers should be acknowledged when they post a personal best time and demonstrate improvement in their times as the season progresses.

What is the Meet Mobile app?

Meet Mobile is an app that can be downloaded to a smart phone. Meet Mobile allows users to follow the results a meet remotely. Some host teams use meet mobile while others do not. Meet Mobile is particularly nice for family members who are unable to attend a meet but wish to follow their swimmer. Results are typically posted on Meet Mobile (if used by the host team) approximately 30-45 minutes upon the conclusion of each event.

Are my swimmer's times posted on the Aqua Racers website?

Swimmers times are posted under My Times and under Top Times on the Aqua Racers website. My Times includes a history of all times posted by swimmers at Circuit, Regional and State meets. Top Times includes only the top time posted by a swimmer for a particular event during the season. The yellow ribbon in the Top Times database signifies the "A" time.

Why are my swimmers times that were posted at the meet different from their times posted on the Aqua Racers website?

Because our home pool is a 25 meter pool (as opposed to a 25 yard pool), the times posted on our website are meters times. Times posted by swimmers at a yards pool are converted to meters by multiplying the yards time by 1.11. Conversely, we convert meters times to yards times (x 0.9009) when reporting swimmers' times to a team hosting a meet if their pool is a yards pool.

Are awards given at meets?

At Circuit meets, every swimmer in every heat in every event is awarded a ribbon based on their placement in their heat. At the Regional and State meet, the top three finishers in each event are awarded medals, and finishers in places 4 through 8 are awarded oversized ribbons. 

Where does my swimmer receive their ribbons?

Ribbons will be available in the Family Folders the Monday after a meet.