Chesterbrook Swimming

If you are reading this page, chances are you're new to the team and are wondering what swim meets are all about.  We swim three different types of meets:  Saturday morning dual meets (sometimes referred to as "A Meets"); Monday evening meets (sometimes referred to as "B Meets"); and two relay carnival meets.  This section explains those different types of meets, and provides guidance to swimmers and parents on club expectations for each of those meets.

A MEETS

A meets occur on Saturday mornings at 9am.  These are the meets sponsored by the NVSL, which determine the League Champion.  Chesterbrook swims in the top division, which includes: Tuckahoe, Highlands, McLean, Overlee and Donaldson Run.  Swimmers for A meets are announced during Friday morning practices.

B MEETS

B meets occur on Monday nights at 6pm.  These meets involve Chesterbrook and another team, which is not necessarily in Division 1.  B meets do not count for official results, but the team uses times from B meets to decide the swimmers for Saturday meets.  All swimmers are encouraged to swim in B meets.

General Meet Timelines

All meets will vary but here is a general timeline of events to help families plan for the season.

RELAY CARNIVALS

There are two relay carnivals that occur during the year:  the Division 1 Relay Carnival and the All-Star Relay Carnival.  These meets involve only relay events, and comprise two of the jewels in the Triple Crown.  Relay swimmers are determined by the coaches based on the fastest combination of swimmers for each leg.

General Guidelines

• Arrive early.  Nothing is worse than having swimmers miss warm-ups due to late arrival.  Please be at the pool 15 minutes before warm-ups are scheduled to begin.  This will give your swimmer a chance to put their bags down and get their caps and googles ready.
• In the event of inclement weather, the Team Reps will update the team using Swimtopia.  For B meets, no decision will be made prior to 7pm.  Please do not email the coaches or team reps before that.
• If you sign your swimmer up for a B meet, you are expected to attend.  
• Swimmers need to be mindful of when they are swimming.  Swimmers must watch the progress of the meet to ensure that they are ready to report to Clerk of Course when the coaches call for their events.  Swimmers should not leave the team area without notifying a coach.  
• During home B meets, swimmers may warm-up in the upper pool so long as they inform a coach.  For away B meets, swimmers are not permitted to use the host pool's other facilities (i.e., second pool, playground equipment, volleyball or basketball courts).
• During home meets, swimmers should not be in the volleyball sand unless they are completely finished swimming for the day.

What to Bring

• Two race suits, two caps (Chesterbrook or plain), two pairs of goggles.  Suits, caps and goggles can tear at unpredictable and inopportune times.  
• A refillable water container, filled with ice water.  We will have jugs to refill containers at meets.  We are trying to decrease our environmental impact by using fewer paper and plastic cups this year.
• Light snacks (yogurt raisins, granola bars, dried fruits, etc.).  For B meets, swimmers should refrain from eating from the concession stand until they are done with their events.  It is very hard to swim a good time twenty minutes after eating a cheeseburger.  We are thrilled to have everyone supporting the Tiger Shark cafe, but please wait until you are done swimming to do so.
• Sunscreen.  Swimmers should make every effort to stay out of the sun as well.
• Two towels.