Rockshire Sharks

For all administrative related questions, please feel free to email [email protected]. Any weather-related cancellations will be communicated as soon as a call is made and be posted as well on the home page.

For all swimmer-related questions specific to practices, stroke, entries, etc., please contact the coach directly.

Whether or not your swimmer will attend, you MUST let us know. You can do so in the "calendar" section under each meet where it says "Sign up". You can also sign up to volunteer in the adjacent box that says "Job Sign Up"

• For all swimmers, make sure you have your swimsuit, goggles, water, towel, swim cap, and a good attitude. Also, make sure to show your spirit by dressing up according to the meet theme!
• If it is a morning meet, make sure you pack and apply sunscreen
• For parents, although plenty of seating is usually provided, if you like your lawn chair feel free to bring it!
• Although many places have concessions, it is always helpful to bring a snack
• extra towels and blankets are also helpful for swimmers to sit on and use  

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

For Home meets: 

First, please check in at the volunteer table. After checking in, confirming your volunteer slot and getting your nametag, please make sure your swimmer(s) get to the team area. 

For Away meets:

Rockshire has a team tradition of all entering together during away meets, so we will enter as a team (usually cheering!) outside of the visiting pool before all proceeding to the team area, parents included. After arriving in the team area, parents can check in for volunteering or sit in the designated spectator areas.

Please instruct your child to remain at their team area location at all times. There are 3 places your child can be at a meet: 1) bathroom 2) swimming 3) at their designated team area.

MEET FLOW

• Entry and Warm up

We always like to start the meet by entering together with a cheer! Upon entering, swimmers will then warm up. The home team will always warm up before the visiting team. During warm ups parents should check in with the volunteer desk and sign in and go to any meetings they need to prior to the start of the meet.

• National Anthem

The national anthem will be played/sung prior the start of every meet. If you or your swimmer are musically inclined, please let us know! 

• Individual & Relay Events

Individual events will then begin, starting with the Individual medleys. Events rotate male/female and by age group before proceeding to the next event. All A meets have 1-2 heats per event, while B meets may have several more. There is a half time for the events and one relay (200 IM) is run immediately after the half time and the other relay (graduated 175 free) is at the end of the meet. 

• After the Meet

Since B meets usually end late, parents usually meet up later in the evening to relax together. After A meets, the team goes out to lunch together at a location near the meet that will be announced. 

• Ribbons and awards

Awards are given out by the coach at the practice after the meet. 

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

Coaches and the roundup volunteer will organize swimmers to proceed from the team area to the waiting benches prior to their event. After their event, they will return to the team area.

RELAYS 

There are two relays in MCSL meets; one immediately after halftime (200 IM for age group 15-18 only) and one at the end of the meet (graduated 175 Freestyle). Coaches will select swimmers each meet to participate in relays. We will also have 2 relay-only meets throughout the season where everyone will be able to participate in relays.

DQs

Disqualifications are given for stroke violations by the stroke and turn judges. They are volunteers trained by the MCSL that ensure all strokes and turns are completed legally. DQs are learning moments for swimmers and swimmers should consult with their coaches to see how to remedy the specific violation they committed during a race.

RIBBONS AND AWARDS

Ribbon writers are volunteers that help to write and divide all of the ribbons for the meet. They then give the awards to the coaches to hand out at the next practice.