GWL Swim Meets 2024
| GWL Swim Meet Schedule - 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| July 8 | Glenwild | @ Awosting | 6 pm |
| July 12 | High Crest | @ Glenwild | 1 pm |
| July 19 | Walkill | @ Glenwild | 1 pm |
| July 25 | Glenwild | @ High Crest | 6 pm |
| July 29 | Glenwild | @ Wallkill | 6 pm |
| August 1 | Awosting | @ Glenwild | 6 pm |
| August 8 | Championship Meet | @ High Crest | 1 pm |
Please note that the home meet with Awosting is at 6pm, not 1pm as is usual for home meets.
Swim Meets...Explained
So, what are these swim meets all about? Who are we swimming against? Why is my swimmer swimming in some strokes but not others? How are they scored? Who are all those people out on the docks? What do I bring? Who do I talk to at the meet if I just don't know what is going on? All of these questions will be answered here!
Who do we swim against?
Glen Wild Lake is part of the New Jersey Small Lakes League. This is a small league with four lakes participating, including GWL. The other three lakes are High Crest, Wallkill and Awosting (community on Greenwood Lake). GWL Camp has been competing with other lakes for quite some time now. Although there were several other lakes involved many years ago, the four remaining lakes are very dedicated and truly enjoy our summer meets!
We try our best to have each camper swim in as many strokes as they can. However, depending on how many campers there at in any given week, we cannot always have everyone swim each stroke - the swim meets would go on FOREVER!!! So, if your camper is able to swim on the team they are guaranteed at least one stroke with any other strokes being a bonus.
Swim meets can appear very complicated but are actually quite simple in how they are run and scored. Swimmers are grouped by gender and age in 4 different individual strokes. These strokes are the back stroke, freestyle, breast stroke and butterfly. There are also relays in which 4 swimmers take turns swimming to compete as a group.
Points are not earned for the 6 & unders. These are exhibition heats which allow younger swimmers to become comfortable with swimming and competing. It's all about promoting confidence in the young swimmer.
For the 8 & under and up, points are rewarded for the first heats only. 1st place receives 5 points, 2nd place receives 3 points and 3rd receives 1. If one team sweeps the heat they receive 8 points while the opposing team receives 1 point. Swimmers who are in 2nd and 3rd heat are still competing even though they aren't able to earn points. At each meet, all swimmers are swimming to beat their own personal best! This is the most important part of the swim meets!
For swimmers under the age of ten, all swimmers will receive a ribbon for competing in a heat. Once your swimmer hits the age of ten, ribbons are only received if they come in 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in the first heat.
The team with the highest score wins!
There are LOTS of people out on the docks. There is always a lifeguard or two. Then we have timers at each lane timing the swimmers. We have three finish judges who, with their keen eye, take note of who came in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Then we have a time and place keeper who records all times and places and brings them to the official score keepers, who keep track of all the points and totals. We also have two stroke judges who watch the swimmers to make sure they are doing the correct stroke and doing it correctly. We also have the announcer who announces the heat and presses the buzzer. (BTW...you can volunteer to be a timer and/or a judge! It's fun and you are right in the middle of all the action with the best seats!)
Chairs! Definitely bring some chairs to sit in. There are stands at Wallkill but you may want to leave some in your trunk just in case. Sunscreen, definitely. Extra towels for your swimmer. There is always food at the swim meets which usually consists of pizza and hot dogs and candy and snacks, sometimes there are offerings of ziti and the like, but that isn't always the case. So, if those things don't float your boat, you may want to pack some snacks. Also, bring your encouraging cheers! Those are always needed!
If you just don't know what is going on and would like a one-on-one explanation, feel free to see Jodie Bross or Megan Byrtus! They will be happy to help explain anything you do not understand. Just please, do not ask the coaches during the meets - they are very busy keeping track of all the swimmers and keeping the meet going.