Common Question:
(Q) Who can compete in meets?
(A) The first step is for all swimmers to be registered with USA Swimming (membership cards will be sent when registration has been completed).
Swimmers will be divided into different categories, based on their swimming times. New swimmers, or swimmers that have never competed as a USA Swimming member will enter their first meet with No Times (NT). These swimmers will have to compete in swim meets that are designed for B/C times and slower; or Age Group meets that include all swimmers, regardless of times. Once these swimmers compete in their first meet and establish some swim times, their times will be considered either C, B, A, AA or Qual times. They have achieved the appropriate standard (based on their actual time) if they swim equal to or faster than the Hawaiian Swimming Time Standards for that course (long or short course. See Time Standards tab). If the swimmer achieves an A time, but swims a time slower than A time at a subsequent meet, they will still be considered an A time swimmer for that event.
There are quite a few more meets each year for swimmers who have achieved an A time or faster. Most of these meets allow for bonus events, so if a swimmer has only one A time, and their remaining times are B or slower, they will be allowed to swim the designated number of bonus events (as stated in the meet notice that will be distributed to parents before each meet) for that meet. For example: If a swimmer has swum an A time in the 50 Freestyle, but have a B time in the 50 Breast, and No Time in the 50 Back, they will still be able to swim all three of those events in an A meet, provided the meet notice for that specific meet states that the bonus events allow this. Some meets require a AA time to enter, and the bonus events are limited to A times, so it's important for swimmers to strive for these A and AA times, if they want to have the opportunity to participate in more than one meet each month.
(Q) How will I be notified of meets?
(A) Approximately two weeks prior to a swim meet, you will receive an email advising you that your swimmer is eligible to swim in the meet, and by what date you will be required to notify the coaches of your swimmers expected participation. If you fail to notify the coaches by the date given, your swimmer will not be entered in the meet. The coaches must submit all entries to the swim team hosting the meet by a date specified in the meet notice, and will not accept entry requests after this date. Meet notices will be emailed with the first notification, and they may also be found on this website, under Calendars.
(Q) How will I be notified of meets?
(A) Competitions are normally held at Veteran's Memorial Aquatic Center located at the Central Oahu Regional Park (more)
(Q) What to bring to meets:
(A) Swimmers will need to bring their team suit, swim cap and goggles, and a towel (extras of everything, only IF available), and sunscreen.
Parents will need to bring portable chairs, sunscreen, a Sharpie pen, and any nutritious snacks and drinks of their choosing. The team has two pop-up tent/awnings that are always set up in the team seating area, to provide shade. Swimmers have priority for sitting under these tents, but if there is enough room, families are welcome to sit there as well.
(Q) What to do at the meet:
(A) First and foremost, arrive at least 5-minutes PRIOR to the warm-up start time (this time will be in the meet notice). If your swimmer(s) is late, they may not be properly warmed up prior to their first event.
Volunteers: Often parents are expected to volunteer at swim meets. Sometimes there is no hosting team, and all participating teams will be asked to supply a specific number of volunteers for specific positions. Most often, however, the only volunteer positions will be as timers. Being a timer is a popular position to have, not only because you have front-row seats for the meet, but also because the hosting team will provide lunches for all timers, officials and coaches. If you are interested in timing, you will need to arrive at the meet early, and sign up with the meet officials.
(Q) What is LCM, SCM and SCY?
(A)
(Q) What are swim times:
(A) Swim times are broken into two different categories:
- Who can compete in meets?
- How will I be notified of meets?
- Where are the competitions held at?
- What to bring to meets?
- What to do at the meet?
- What is LCM, SCM, SCY?
- What are the age group swim times?
(Q) Who can compete in meets?
(A) The first step is for all swimmers to be registered with USA Swimming (membership cards will be sent when registration has been completed).
Swimmers will be divided into different categories, based on their swimming times. New swimmers, or swimmers that have never competed as a USA Swimming member will enter their first meet with No Times (NT). These swimmers will have to compete in swim meets that are designed for B/C times and slower; or Age Group meets that include all swimmers, regardless of times. Once these swimmers compete in their first meet and establish some swim times, their times will be considered either C, B, A, AA or Qual times. They have achieved the appropriate standard (based on their actual time) if they swim equal to or faster than the Hawaiian Swimming Time Standards for that course (long or short course. See Time Standards tab). If the swimmer achieves an A time, but swims a time slower than A time at a subsequent meet, they will still be considered an A time swimmer for that event.
There are quite a few more meets each year for swimmers who have achieved an A time or faster. Most of these meets allow for bonus events, so if a swimmer has only one A time, and their remaining times are B or slower, they will be allowed to swim the designated number of bonus events (as stated in the meet notice that will be distributed to parents before each meet) for that meet. For example: If a swimmer has swum an A time in the 50 Freestyle, but have a B time in the 50 Breast, and No Time in the 50 Back, they will still be able to swim all three of those events in an A meet, provided the meet notice for that specific meet states that the bonus events allow this. Some meets require a AA time to enter, and the bonus events are limited to A times, so it's important for swimmers to strive for these A and AA times, if they want to have the opportunity to participate in more than one meet each month.
(Q) How will I be notified of meets?
(A) Approximately two weeks prior to a swim meet, you will receive an email advising you that your swimmer is eligible to swim in the meet, and by what date you will be required to notify the coaches of your swimmers expected participation. If you fail to notify the coaches by the date given, your swimmer will not be entered in the meet. The coaches must submit all entries to the swim team hosting the meet by a date specified in the meet notice, and will not accept entry requests after this date. Meet notices will be emailed with the first notification, and they may also be found on this website, under Calendars.
(Q) How will I be notified of meets?
(A) Competitions are normally held at Veteran's Memorial Aquatic Center located at the Central Oahu Regional Park (more)
(Q) What to bring to meets:
(A) Swimmers will need to bring their team suit, swim cap and goggles, and a towel (extras of everything, only IF available), and sunscreen.
Parents will need to bring portable chairs, sunscreen, a Sharpie pen, and any nutritious snacks and drinks of their choosing. The team has two pop-up tent/awnings that are always set up in the team seating area, to provide shade. Swimmers have priority for sitting under these tents, but if there is enough room, families are welcome to sit there as well.
(Q) What to do at the meet:
(A) First and foremost, arrive at least 5-minutes PRIOR to the warm-up start time (this time will be in the meet notice). If your swimmer(s) is late, they may not be properly warmed up prior to their first event.
Volunteers: Often parents are expected to volunteer at swim meets. Sometimes there is no hosting team, and all participating teams will be asked to supply a specific number of volunteers for specific positions. Most often, however, the only volunteer positions will be as timers. Being a timer is a popular position to have, not only because you have front-row seats for the meet, but also because the hosting team will provide lunches for all timers, officials and coaches. If you are interested in timing, you will need to arrive at the meet early, and sign up with the meet officials.
(Q) What is LCM, SCM and SCY?
(A)
- LCM stands for Long Course-Meters. This is the 50-meter pool (thus 50-meter races are one length of the pool), and times will appear slower than short course. Our Intermediate and Advanced swimmers practice in the 50-meter pool.
- SCM stands for Short Course-Meters. This is a 25-meter pool (thus 50-meter races require one turn, for 2-lengths of the pool). Our Novice and Beginning-Intermediate swimmers practice in the 25-meter pool (width of Richardson Pool).
- SCY stands for Short Course-Yards. The 25-yard pool is slightly shorter (by about 2-yards) than the 25-meter pool, thus times will appear faster.
(Q) What are swim times:
(A) Swim times are broken into two different categories:
- Age Group (swim time chart)
- National Meet (swim time charts)