How to Mark an Arm
This tutorial is dedicated to swim newbies going to their first meet.
Step 1: Mark the heat sheet.
Heat sheets list every event in the meet in order. It includes the number of the event as well as the distance and type of event (for example 50 yard freestyle). The number of heats and the names of the swimmers will be listed next. Finally, each swimmer is assigned a lane. Use a highlighter to mark your swimmer’s events.
Step 2: Write down the information for quick reference.
Swimmers, especially new swimmers or those new to swimming, have meet information written on their arm (or thigh) with a Sharpie to help them keep track of their events. (Swimmers will also use the permanent markers to write slogans on the backs of teammates!)
Step 3: Help keep track of your swimmer.
Just because the information is written on their arm, don’t depend on them to keep up with their events. Swim meets can be very exciting and new swimmers easily lose track of time. Fortunately, for younger swimmers, there is a "bullpen" parent or coach to help alert swimmers when their event is about to take place. This brave parent volunteer finds the swimmers in advance and lines them up in the correct order.
NOTE for swimmers age 10 & under: Because each swimmer swims one lap, the 1st and 3rd swimmer in the relay line up on the starter/block end, and the 2nd and 4th swimmer in the relay line up on the opposite end. The swimmer's swim order in the relay will be noted on the heat sheet. (At home meets there is NO DIVING from the shallow end for the 2nd/4th swimmer in the relay. Swimmers must sit-dive or slide into the pool once the relay teammate touches the wall at the end of his/her lap)
For an Individual Medley Relay (IM), the order is Butterfly, Backstroke, Breast, and Freestyle.
In a Medley Relay, each swimmer swims a different stroke. The order of the strokes in a medley relay is: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle. So, swimmers swimming backstroke and butterfly are the 1st and 3rd swimmers, whereas breaststroke and freestyle and 2nd and 4th.
If you or your swimmer is confused about which lap they are swimming in a relay or which end to line up on, please ask for help! This is confusing for everyone, so please don't be afraid to ask questions in advance and your child will feel more prepared at race time!
