Culpeper Barracudas Swim Team

Upon arrival, swimmers should check in with their coach and volunteers should check-in at the volunteer table. Each team will have a designated area, where you can then set up your tent, chairs, etc.

Coaches will call for warm-ups before the meet begins. During the meet, it is the parents' and swimmers' responsibility to be aware what event is being called, though parents in the tent area are often helpful. When an event is called that your swimmer is in, they must report to Clerk of Course, where they will be ordered by heat and lane. When it is their heat's turn, they will line up, swim, and then may go back to the tent area.

CHEER! Cheer on your swimmer and their teammates when they are in the pool! Go, Barracudas!

• Extra goggles and swim cap
• Team swim cap
• Sharpie for arm marking (see below)
• Tent for shade, if you have one
• Towels/blankets and chairs for sitting
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats - the sun is still up for a while
• Plenty of drinks to stay hydrated
• Cash, especially small bills and quarters, for concessions. The price of most items range from $0.25 - $5.00 and it is sometimes hard to break large bills.
• Card games, books, sports balls, toys, etc to entertain. The kids love to gather with friends to play in between their events!

Do not bring anything in glass containers.

Swimmers are asked to wear either black, purple, or team swimsuits to promote team unity. Additionally, if they elect to wear a swim cap, it must be their team cap or a plain colored one.

Family members are encouraged to wear team apparel or the color purple to show team spirit!

There are lots of events and swimmers in a meet. It is not only necessary for the swimmer to know their events, it is also extremely helpful to Clerk of Course to know how to order the kids. That is why it is helpful and expected to use a Sharpie to write the swimmer's events either on their forearm or hand, as shown below, to reference easily. A heat sheet, which will have your swimmer's events, will be available before or at the meet, so you, a coach, or you swimmer, can write them before the meet starts.

*Strokes:
Freestyle = FR
Backstroke = BK
Breaststroke = BR
Butterfly = FLY
Individual Medley = IM
Relay = R
Lengths are either 25m, 50m, or 100m

Note: for Champs, arm marking is not necessary. Bands will be provided.

Event numbers:
8 & Under Freestyle Relay: #1-2
Individual Medley (IM): #3-10
Medley Relay: #11-20
Short Freestyle: #21-30
Breaststroke: #31-40
Backstroke: #41-50
Butterfly: #51-60
Long Freestyle: #61-70
Freestyle Relay: #73-80

Events that begin with "P" are for ages 6 & Under and are not scored.

Types of swim meet formats: 
MR/LF = Swim Medley Relay & Long Free (omit IM & Free Relay)
IM/FR = Swim IM & Free Relay (omit Medley Relay & Long Free)

JSL follows all USA Swimming Rules and Regulations for take-offs, strokes, turns, and relays with some allowances made for younger swimmers who do not want to takeoff from the starting platform. All swimmers in JSL are subject to disqualification for improper technique; however, JSL allows 12 year old and under swimmers one false start without disqualification. Modifications to the rules are also allowed for swimmers with a disability. Following the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations keeps the competition fair and equitable by preventing any swimmer from gaining an unfair advantage. It also ensures the integrity of the records in that all races, past and present, are swum under the applicable rules. The following are simplified descriptions of each stroke and relay used in the JSL – more detailed descriptions may be found in the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations. 

In the Freestyle (“free”) the swimmer may swim any stroke desired, but will normally swim the “Australian Crawl”. Because it is “freestyle”, disqualifications are rare but may occur for such things as pushing off the bottom, using the lane line as a pull, or failing to touch the wall at the turn. The forward start from the starting platform is used, but swimmers may dive in from deck level or start in the water. There are two freestyle events, “long free” and “short free”. 

In the Backstroke (“back”) the swimmer must stay on their back except during the turns. Like freestyle, stroke disqualifications are rare, but disqualifications on the turns are more common. The backstroke start is made in the water with the swimmer facing the starting end of the pool, holding the platform hand grips, with feet submerged and placed against the wall. 

In the Breaststroke (“breast”) the swimmer must stay on their breast (except during the turns) and execute simultaneous horizontal arm strokes alternating with simultaneous “frog” kicks of the legs. The forward start from the starting platform is used, but swimmers may dive in from deck level or start in the water. 

In the Butterfly (“fly”), arguably the most difficult stroke, the swimmer must stay on their breast (except during the turns) and execute simultaneous overhead arm strokes combined with simultaneous “dolphin” kicks of the legs. The forward start from the starting platform is used, but swimmers may dive in from deck level or start in the water. 

In the Individual Medley (“IM”) the swimmer must swim one-fourth of the distance using each of the above strokes in the following order: fly, back, breast, and free. The forward start from the starting platform is used, but swimmers may dive in from deck level or start in the water. 

In the Freestyle Relay (“FR”) four different swimmers must each swim one-fourth of the distance using free style. 

In the Medley Relay (“MR”) four different swimmers must each swim one of the following strokes in order for one-fourth of the distance: back, breast, fly, & free.

*Copied from JSL's "Guide for Parents and Swimmers".