General Information for Meets

Types of Meets

A.  Time Trials

This is a “practice meet” run as a regular meet with timers, recorders and a starter, but involves only our team. Time Trials are a “dress rehearsal” for the dual meets to come. Time Trials gives each swimmer a chance to release some pre-season nerves about competing for the first time, or for trying new distances and/or strokes. Secondly, it sets the base time in each stroke for swimmers to track future improvement. Finally, it helps the swim team parents rehearse job assignments.

B.  Dual Meets

Dual meets consist of two teams competing against one another. The meets will either take place at SH or at the opposing team’s pool. The order of events is generally: Medley Relay, Individual Medley (IM), Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly and the Freestyle Relay. Swimmers compete in age groups as follows: 6 & under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18.

Dual Meets are listed on the schedule as “A”, “A+1”,”A+2”,”A/B” or “B” meets.

• An “A” Meet is a meet in which generally only swimmers with one of the three fastest times in one or more of the strokes for their age group compete. These meets are scored. There is only one heat for each event. Points are given 1st through 3rd for individual events and 1st and 2nd for relays.
• A “B” Meet is a meet consisting of those swimmers who generally do not swim in “A” meets. These meets have multiple heats and are not scored. “B” meets generally exclude the swimmers with one of the three fastest times in multiple events.
• An “A/B” Meet will include a combination of “A” and “B” swimmers. Entering swimmers in these meets will depend on many factors, such as the quality of the team we swim, limitations on the length of the meet, coaches' preferences, and a consideration for which swimmers need to be in the meet. “A/B” meets are scored using only the times of the swimmers in the first heat.
• An “A+1” Meets are limited to two heats. These meets are often scored. Generally the top 6-10 swimmers in each age group swim in these meets.These meets are often scored. There are three total heats in and “A+2” Meet.
• 10& under meets are for swimmers ages 10 and under only. 
• 11&up meets are for swimmers ages 11 and older.

C.  Invitational Meets

Invitational Meets are meets in which SH is invited to participate, along with other Clubs in the OMPA league. Invitational meets are fundraisers for the hosting club.

There is a FEE for each swimmer who participates, based on entries per swimmer. IN THE EVENT A SWIMMER IS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THESE INVITATIONAL MEETS, THEY MUST BE SIGNED OUT OF THE MEET AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE MEET DATE.

SH will be charged a “scratch” fee for any swimmer who is entered, but subsequently does not swim. This fee will be passed on to the swimmer in the event that they do not sign-out of the meet within the allotted time period.

Invitational meets are usually all-day events. Come prepared! Bring snacks, water, games, books, shade, sunscreen and plenty of towels. Please plan to purchase meals at the concessions offered by the host club. It is an important part of the fundraising effort!

Following are the Invitational Meets we will participate in:

• OPP Relays: Orinda Park Pool (OPP)
  This invitational is limited to the top six finishing teams from the previous OMPA Championships. This is a relay only event (usually the top 5-8 swimmers in each age group attend). This meet offers a Coaches and Parents Relay.
• Bottoms Up Invitational Swim Meet
  This invitational meet is sponsored by MVP and is offered for the swimmers in the lower part of their age groups: ages 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15. This year’s meet will take place at Miramonte High School. It provides a great opportunity for each swimmer in the bottom half of their age group to post some great swims. This is a full day meet.
• Meadow Mini Meet: Meadow Pool
  This meet is for swimmers 8 and under ONLY. Swimmers will swim their actual age on the day of the meet. Swimmers will compete against others of their own age: 7 year olds only against 7 year olds, etc. This meet is divided into two smaller meets. The 6 and unders swim in the morning and the 7/8 year olds swim in the afternoon. This is a great meet for all young Legends to attend.
• Sleepy Hollow "B" Meet: Sleepy Hollow Pool
  This invitational meet is our swim team’s main fundraiser. To compete in the “B” Invitational, the swimmer must have “B” qualifying “cut-off” times in each stroke. The meet is divided into two parts: Ages 8 & Under compete in the morning and swimmers ages 9 & up compete in the afternoon. Because the “B” Invitational requires extensive staffing, all families are required to work the meet, whether your child is swimming or not. Besides giving our “B” swimmers an opportunity to have the spotlight, this is our team’s opportunity to show off our club and our teamwork.

D.  Championship Meet

Orinda-Moraga Championships: (OMPA Or “The All Orinda”): SODA Swim Center: Campolindo High School

• This is the Ultimate Team Meet of the Year, and is the largest single sports event in the Orinda-Moraga area. It is held at the Soda Aquatic Center at Campolindo High School. All teams in the OMPA compete.
• This is a TEAM MEET for Sleepy Hollow and all swimmers are expected to participate. All families are expected to work at, or contribute in some way to this meet. Please schedule your vacations to allow your swimmer to compete. The team trains for this meet all summer and it is the culmination of the OMPA season. We need all our swimmers (and parent volunteers) to do their best at this very competitive and spirited event.
• The OMPA Meet Coordinator will release more information to our swim team parents before this meet.  The I.M events (timed finals) for all age groups will be held on Friday. Freestyle, Breaststroke (trials and finals) and Medley Relays (timed finals) will be held on Saturday. Backstroke, Butterfly (trials and finals) and Freestyle Relays (timed finals) will be held on Sunday.
• Special spirit activities are planned for the week preceding OMPA, and team spirit and pride definitely peak at this event. These include car decorating, Legend Pride Night/Pasta Feed, Movie Day and more. We need 100% participation, effort and spirit to achieve a team performance of which we can all be proud. We have a wonderful, all-team, post-OMPA dinner at SH on Sunday night.

Suggested Packing for Swim Meets

Child arrives dressed in team suit & team T-shirt

• Swim Backpack per kid—with name & cell phone number. In the backpack
• Warm boots if chilly
• Extra hair ties
• Sun visor/hat
• Sunscreen
• Goggles - 2 pairs
• Swim caps - 2 pairs
• Sharpie (for writing strokes, heats & lanes)
• Towel
• Parka
• Early morning or later-evening meets can be cold, so an extra pair of sweatpants & warm layer on top can be helpful.
  

In Addition:

• Lots of snacks
• Coloring books/drawing pad & colored pencils and other crafts or legos
• Picnic blanket
• Folding chairs
• Cash/card for buying more food Water bottles
• Sun tent optional (can get crowded at A/B meets against big teams)

Swim Team Q&A

How is the age group that my child will swim determined? 

• The group is determined by your child’s age as of June 15 of that season.
  

How do the coaches decide on what events my child will swim? 

•  A child may swim in a maximum of three individual events per meet and two relay events. 

What is the order of the events at the meets? 

• Each stroke/event proceeds by age group from youngest to oldest, starting with 6&U. Ladies always swim before gentlemen! 
• The usual order of events at dual meets is Medley Relay, Individual Medley, Freestyle, and Breast stroke, Backstroke, Butterfly and Freestyle Relay. The order may vary.

What distance will my child swim? 

• This depends upon age group. The distances are: 
• 6&U - one lap 
• 7&8 - one lap 
• 9&10 - two laps
• 11&12 - two laps 
• 13&14 - two laps 
• 15-18 - two laps (15-18.s occasionally swim 100.s) 
• Age groups 8&u thru 15-18 also swim the 100 IM (one lap each of Fly-Back-Breast-Free in that order).

How long does a meet last? 

• A dual meet usually lasts about 3 hours. 
• Invitational meets can be half or full day.
• It takes two and a half days to complete all events in the OMPA Championships.