Swim Meets
What to Bring
Bring plenty of water, goggles (a backup pair is a good idea), at least two towels, sunscreen, a swim cap, and snacks or cash for the Cuda Café.
Simple games like Uno are great for downtime—just choose ones that are easy to pause, ideally water-proof, and don’t have lots of pieces.
Arrival Times
- Home Meets – Arrive by 4:45 PM
- Away Meets – Arrive by 5:00 PM
At Home Meets, parents are asked to check in and help with any last-minute setup. This is a whole-team effort and only takes a few minutes. Tasks include setting up flags, canopies, starting blocks, and the Cuda Café.
Swimmer Check-In and Prep
When swimmers arrive, they should check in with their coach right away. Next, find their events on the heat sheet and write them on an arm or leg with a Sharpie (for example: #17 / fr / H1L4). Developmental coaches or our older kids are happy to help with this step!
Swimmers should stay in the team area andlisten for marshals calling their name or event. Younger swimmers should check with their coach or a marshal before leaving the area to make sure they aren’t swimming soon.
During the Meet
After each race, swimmers should see the coach on deck for quick feedback. This step is important—it helps swimmers remember what to work on while it’s still fresh and allows coaches to address improvements before the next event.
Show team spirit and have fun!! Don’t forget to join in team cheers during relays and support other teammates from the poolside at the deep end. Encouragement from teammates can make all the difference in those final laps!
Volunteering
It takes a lot of hands to run a meet—over 20 volunteers at each one! That’s why we ask every family to help out at least three times during the season.
Volunteer Positions
Stroke and Turn Judge
Interested in becoming a stroke and turn judge? Complete the following steps:
1. Pass the test here. (Closed for the 2025 swim season)
2. Sign up with us.
3. Begin shadowing for the position.
Questions? Find more information from PJSL here, or contact Bibi at [email protected].
Finish/Place Judge
Watch the end of each race and record the order swimmers touch the wall. For more information, click here
Marshals
Using the heat sheet, help get swimmers to the right place at the right time. Older swimmers usually manage on their own, but younger swimmers often need help finding their lanes and getting to the blocks.
Timers
Each lane has 3 timers. Two backup timers also start their watches at the horn in case of errors. All three times are recorded, and the middle time is circled. If your watch malfunctions, call for a backup—they’ll step in for the rest of the heat. For more information, click here.
Runners
Collect time sheets from timers and deliver them to the statistician tent. Also gather disqualification slips from judges and bring them to the referee.
Cuda Café
Help serve food or take payments. With three volunteers per shift, you’ll still have time to step away and watch your swimmer’s events.
Coordinator Roles
Prefer to help in other ways? Check out our coordinator roles here.
Every role matters and helps make our meets run smoothly. Thank you for pitching in—it truly takes a village to make each season a success! Looking for more information? Check out the PennJersey Swim League documents here.
