Chairs: Donna Greer

Meets are an essential component of the USC program since they provide many competitive opportunities for our swimmers. The swimmers' hours of training practice and desire to swim are put to the test as they race against competitors from other clubs and against their own best times. Most meets have entry time standards so that swimmers compete with those of a similar level of development.

Hosting swim meets requires, among other things, many hours of preparation and is highly labour intensive. The labour is supplied voluntarily by swimmers' parents who can participate actively on their children's behalf. Parents also form the cadre of officials required to execute a swim meet both home and away.

Precise details of each and every swim meet, home and away, are communicated through USC Bulletin Board notices, sign-up sheets, and meet entry forms. Swimmers will routinely be entered in meets appropriate to their level, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET. The onus is on the parents to advise the coaches when their child(ren) will not be able to participate in a meet.

Swim meet fees are payable for a swimmer who is entered in a meet and on whose behalf USC has already paid meet fees. Check your "mailbox" regularly, watch the USC bulletin board weekly and be certain to honour all commitments you make.

Officials

Swimming is a sport that uses volunteer officials. Perhaps that is because the successful operation of a Swim Meet requires 25 to 40 officials whose various tasks, before and behind the scenes combine to provide a fair and efficiently run competition. Some official positions require little experience while others are more highly specialized.

A non-threatening training program is available through USC and parents may advance through it as far as they wish. Most officials' positions afford the closest view of the action.

Officials are reminded to let the Chair know when the certification (the Clinic + 2 satisfactory performances on deck) for each position is complete. There is a card to complete for Swim Ontario to keep their records current and to obtain badges for you as required.

All swim families are required to have at least one parent take the Level I, Timers Officials Clinic and to work at the USC hosted Swim Meets. The clinic will be offered in October for new and returning families.

An orientation to USC and competitive swimming will be offered during the Saturday practice times early in October. All parents new to USC should attend and all others are invited. The Level I Timers Clinic will be offered as part of the program.