Chester Riptides

Saturday Meets
Check in- 7:50am

Warm ups- 8:00am

Meet Start- 9:00am

Wednesday Meets

Check in- 4:50pm

Warm ups- 5:00pm

Meet Start- 6:00pm

MUST AVOID- the following may affect swimmers eligibility in future meets. 

-Scratching from the meet within 6 hours notice

-A  no show to a meet 

-Showing up to a meet late that causes a swimmer to be scratched from events

Some swimmers like to mark their arm of the events they are swimming at meets. Below is an example of a way for swimmers to write their events on their arm.

E= Event Numer

H= Heat

L= Lane

What is a DQ? A DQ (or disqualification) is when a swimmer does not complete his/her race in a legal way. Each stroke has a defined set of rules on how to legally complete a race (start, stroke, turn, finish). If an official notices an infraction during the race, the swimmer will be DQ'd.

Who DQ's a swimmer? Only trained officials can DQ a swimmer. They are the ones in white walking poolside with clipboards in hand. There are usually 2-4 stroke & turn judges (typically on each side of the pool) and then 1 starter/referee (using the starter for each race).

Why DQ swimmers? While this is a summer swim, it is the belief of this conference that we are responsible for teaching the swimmers proper and legal starts, strokes, turns, finishes, and relay takeoffs. By a swimmer understanding what they did wrong, it is our hope that the swimmers can work to perfect their stroke for future races. It also keeps each swim “fair” but assuring all swimmers are swimming the event the same way.

How can I tell if my swimmer was DQ'd? The official will raise his/her hand when they see an infraction. They will then fill out a DQ sheet which gets turned into the score table. The infraction gets entered into the system and should be visible on the meet results. The coaches will also be made aware of the infractions so they can work with swimmers to correct their strokes.

What happens when a swimmer gets DQ'd? When a swimmer gets DQ'd, their results do not count towards the team score, their time is not eligible for championship meets, nor are they eligible for ribbons. (In the case of a relay, if one swimmer gets DQ'd, the entire relay is considered DQ'd)

What do I tell my child if they get DQ'd? Tell them it is okay and happens to almost every swimmer over their career. DQ's especially occur with new swimmers and when swimmers first start competing in the strokes of breaststroke and butterfly which are the toughest ones to master. Like any sport, swimming takes practice and time to master. The coaches will be targeting those areas where the infractions took place to help the swimmers become legal. It is wonderful to see a swimmer master a stroke!

What are the common infractions?

Freestyle- advancing oneself by pulling on lane lines or pushing forward off the bottom of the pool. (very hard to get a DQ in freestyle)

Backstroke- not staying on one's back throughout the race (exception flip turn), finishing on their back, delay in starting their flip turn.

Breaststroke- improper kick (butterfly, flutter or scissor kick), hands brought past hipline, and touching with one hand (two hand touch necessary for turns and finishes).

Butterfly- improper kick (flutter, breaststroke, or non simultaneous kicking), arms not simultaneous in timing, arms not recovering over the water, and touching with one hand (two hand touch necessary for turns and finishes).

Relays- stroke infraction and taking off too soon (swimmer can only leave once incoming swimmer has touched wall.)