Originally written for Pacific Masters participants but may of help to all.
Going to the World Championships? It’s different than a PMS meet! The following is an overview of what you’ll encounter at your first international event.
If you get to the World Championships and plan to just show up behind the block for your first event, you’ll be in for a surprise – you will already have been scratched! The World Championships that start next week will be run differently from the PMS Championships or even the Nationals. You’ll find it’s much more formal and it’s best to be prepared.
Arrive early and go to the credentials booth in Maples Pavilion for your credentials. Bring a photo ID and your PMS/USMS card. You won’t be allowed in the pool gate, locker room, or marshaling area without your credentials. Keep your credentials safe! Don’t leave them lying around or they could disappear – it’s happened to me.
You will only be allowed on the deck on the designated training days or if you are swimming that day and have your credentials with you. Other pools will be available for training on days that you are not competing. One of the first things you’ll notice as you approach the pool is the touch pads. Olympic (high) pads will be used and you won’t be able to turn using the gutters. “Warmups” have a different meaning in other parts of the world. There will be ample warmup room before and during the meet, but be prepared to be creative in your pre-race warmup.
Note that you will not be able to warm up right before your race, as so many of us are used to doing. International meets incorporate a Clerk of Course and a marshaling area. You will be marshaled approximately 5 heats prior to your own heat and will need to be in the vicinity of the marshaling area before your heat is called. This is done to be sure you are there and checked in when your heat is called. Depending upon the length of your event, (50s will take less time than 200s), you should count on being ready to race and at the Clerk of Course 30-40 minutes before your heat. You will not be allowed to leave the marshaling area (emergencies may be an exception) so take care of all your needs in advance. When you are called to the marshaling area, you will see approximately 5 rows of 10 chairs. You will sit in the chair designated for your lane and as the first row leaves, everyone else moves down a row. The last two rows will be behind the blocks. There you will find a basket for your gear – coat, warmup suit, towel, water bottle, and credentials (which you should tuck in your bag or pocket of your warmups and not leave on top). Your basket will be moved to a “basket area” where you can pick up your stuff after your swim.
Men will swim in one pool all day and women in the other. The next day the reverse will be true; the sexes swap pools each day. The commands will be given in English. It would be a good idea to observe the Starter in the preceding heats to determine the rhythm of the Starter. Due to the number of heats, they will try to work off a 10-15 second interval between heats and use dive-over starts. When you finish your race, stay in the water until the next heat has started. Remember not to touch any pads when you exit the pool.
That’s about it. Realizing that you are the hosts for this event, please show everyone your warm California welcome and you might even want to take a trinket for those in your heat, especially the international swimmers.
Nancy Ridout, Local Organizing Committee Secretary
