Website
	This website is designed to be the one place where you can get all of the information that you need to know to be a member of Richmond Aquatics Club. On this website you will find "News and Updates" - this will tell you when meet information has been posted, practice is cancelled etc.

Swim Meets

The swim meet schedule is located on the website under Swim Calendar. Every swimmer must enter the meets that they want to attend. A swimmer who doesn't attend meets is like planning a trip to Orlando, Florida with a map of Maine. You'll be driving forever, and you'll never actually get there. So setting goals and attending meets keep us focused on the prize! To attend meets, simply go to the Meet Declaration page - fill it out and hit submit.

Swim Meet Information
	There is also a page called "Swim Meet Information". This page contains all of the Information- location, directions,warm-up times, and the events. This is important information you need to know. It will also be posted on the pool deck (remember - you can't go there with your shoes on!)

Meet Entries

Once a meet has been entered, the meet entries will be posted on the website. It is important to check for your entries. This will show you the events and the time you were entered. If this is your first time swimming a meet, the coaches will have to guesstimate your time. Sometimes we are good at this - other times...not so good. The only way to get us an accurate time is to get in the water and swim some meets! Remember that you can make suggestions on which events you would like to swim at the meets, but the final decision on the entries belong to your coaches!

Championship Meets

Each season has championship meets. Our goal should always be to work to attend the BIG DANCE! Senior Mets, Zones (all ages) and Junior Olympics (all ages) are the fasted meets in our area. Our team goal is to work to get as many swimmers to the championship meets as possible. The Silver Championship meet is only held in the Short Course Season. The qualifying time standards are posted on the website.

Short Course vs. Long Course
	Our swim season is broken up into two seasons. The Short Course season runs from September to April and the Long Course season runs from May to July. Short Course means that we swim in a 25 yard pool. Long Course means that we swim in a 50 meter pool. The 50 meter long course pool is the size of the pool that they compete in for the Olympic games. (50 Meters = an Olympic Size pool)

Meet Entries

Each meet that we attend, RAC has to pay for each swimmer per event. When we send our entries in, it is on a first come - first served basis. There are limits as to how large US swim meets can be. If the team hosting the meet has too many entries - we can be "shut out" of any particular meet. The Long Course season is particularly difficult because it is a short season and there are less long course pools available. We try to get our entries in at least a month prior to the meet. It is very important to get the Meet Declaration form in as soon as possible. If you enter a meet and don't show up without telling a coach ahead of time, there is a $25 fee. Swimmers will not be entered into meets until that fee is paid.

Meet Procedure

Before the meet make sure you check the day and times of warm-up. Make sure that you leave enough time to get to the pool at least 15 minutes before warm-up. The warm-ups at a crowded meet is packed. We will want RAC to be able to get a lane all to ourselves. We can't do that if swimmers are coming late to warm-up. We are required to scratch each swimmer who is not there 30 minutes into warm-up. If we scratch a swimmer, that swimmer will be taken out of the meet. If we leave you in and you don't show up- you can be taken out of the rest of the meet. (Most meet hosts don't usually do this, but they can. At a championship meet, this rule is strictly enforced.) Make sure to email RichmondAquatics@aol.com if you cannot attend a meet that you entered.

During The Meet

During all US swim meets you want to make sure that you dress warm. Warm-up is useless if the swimmers don't stay warm while sitting on the deck. If a warm-up pool is available, all swimmers must swim down after their events. This will help them prepare to continue to swim fast later on in the meet. US Meets usually last 4 hours. Swimmers should NOT bring junck food (soda, chips, candy) to eat during a meet. Swimmers should have a healthy snack like an orange, bananas, power bar etc.