Having just finished another summer league season of interminably long meets, 4-5 hours each, twice a week (and that's with no rain delays), I was wondering if anyone had good ideas for reducing the time it takes to run a meet. Some ideas I've had are:
1 - only announce event, heat and then full description of that event for the first heat. Subsequently, only announce heats.
2 - have kids on blocks when previous heat finishes
3 - drink more to make it less painful
We had one starter at an away meet who would spend 30-45 seconds after each heat talking to folks before she would get the kids on the blocks. I almost lost it.
In all honestly, any tips would be greatly appreciated.
As a non-year round swimmer, I see no problem with this ;):thhbbb:. Besides, these summer meets are supposed to be fun.
Geek, if you want to check out the Montgomery County Swim League, hit up www.mcsl.org. No starting blocks. Automatic (touchpads) timing for allstars and long course only. Relay Carnival. Its all a good time! GO ROCK CREEK FINS!
We're just a tad smaller than Fort's league (16 -A through O- divisions, 6 per). I could be wrong, but they may be more than one county... Fort???
We're definitely more than Fairfax County at well over 100 teams. Although I think there are probably ten teams in my town. Some in the non-nvsl country club (Colonial League) league too, which is not as competitive as the nvsl. We are at www.nvsl.nvblu.com. Quite a few T16 kids defending their home town swim team. Very tough competition by All Stars. Most of our kids, except for the older ones, still go to at least some of the summer league practices and don't just show up for the meets. Unless you're a member of Ray Benecki's group at The Fish. Then no go. Just train.
Other things to consider for shortening meet time. At our A meets, we have only medley relays except for the mixed age free relay, a popular event where the fastest boy or girl in his/her age group from 10 & under to 15-18 swims together. To compensate for the lack of time in the water at A meets for developmental and other swimmers, we also do, for example, relay and other meets. We have a town IM meet and July 4 relay meet that kids participate in, as well as divisional and all star relay meets. We also have an intra-squad boys vs girls meets -- they compete based on who (boys or girls) have the most PBs. 6 & unders are key as they usually improve. Girls won this year. :cheerleader:
As a non-year round swimmer, I see no problem with this ;):thhbbb:. Besides, these summer meets are supposed to be fun.
Geek, if you want to check out the Montgomery County Swim League, hit up www.mcsl.org. No starting blocks. Automatic (touchpads) timing for allstars and long course only. Relay Carnival. Its all a good time! GO ROCK CREEK FINS!
We're just a tad smaller than Fort's league (16 -A through O- divisions, 6 per). I could be wrong, but they may be more than one county... Fort???
We're definitely more than Fairfax County at well over 100 teams. Although I think there are probably ten teams in my town. Some in the non-nvsl country club (Colonial League) league too, which is not as competitive as the nvsl. We are at www.nvsl.nvblu.com. Quite a few T16 kids defending their home town swim team. Very tough competition by All Stars. Most of our kids, except for the older ones, still go to at least some of the summer league practices and don't just show up for the meets. Unless you're a member of Ray Benecki's group at The Fish. Then no go. Just train.
Other things to consider for shortening meet time. At our A meets, we have only medley relays except for the mixed age free relay, a popular event where the fastest boy or girl in his/her age group from 10 & under to 15-18 swims together. To compensate for the lack of time in the water at A meets for developmental and other swimmers, we also do, for example, relay and other meets. We have a town IM meet and July 4 relay meet that kids participate in, as well as divisional and all star relay meets. We also have an intra-squad boys vs girls meets -- they compete based on who (boys or girls) have the most PBs. 6 & unders are key as they usually improve. Girls won this year. :cheerleader:
