TWST 101

Frequently Asked Questions (And Some Answers to go with them too)

 

1. What is a Time Standard ?

Time standards serve many purposes for competitive swimmers. They serve as intermediate motivational goals for swimmers to work towards. Once a swimmer has achieved a time goal, they feel a sense of accomplishment: a job well done. They also set out the next goal-level once a time is achieved. Time standards also govern which meets your swimmer can enter.

 

The time standards, in progressing in difficulty, are B, BB, A and TAGS.

 

More information is available on time standards at the Gulf Swimming Web Site.

 

 

2. How do I enter my child for a meet ?

Entering your child in a meet is more of a process than an event. However, it can easily be broken down in to 4 easy steps.

 

Step #1 – Review Invitation

 

About three weeks before a meet, an entry form is placed in the meet entry and invitation box located on the sloped walkway that leads to coaches’ office. Check the box regularly for updates. Each meet entry has much important information but the most important is whether your child can qualify for the meet. If the invitation says “Open”, then any swimmer can enter. If the sheet says, “BB and Under”, then only those swimmers who have “BB and Under” times can register for the events. Most new swimmers start out with “BB and Under” event times. So look for meets that are “Open” or “BB and Under”.

 

Step #2 – Submit Entry

 

So your swimmer is ready to swim in the meet. The next step is to decide which events to swim. If you are new to the team, please ask your coach to help with these decisions. Once you have decided, then you should fill out a meet entry form (located in the meet entry box) and place it in the wood box in the coaches office. Please remember to include a check covering the cost of the events you have selected. Do not enter any relay events: the coaches handle those entries.

 

Also, you can submit your entries via email to Beth Jones at stichnbeth@aol.com.

 

Step #3 – Confirm Entry

 

The week of the meet, Beth Jones posts a list of meet entries she has received and processed on the Coaches’ office bulleting board. It is important to review the list and notify Beth of any problems with your entries.

 

Step #4 – Day of Meet

 

As soon as you get to the meet, it is important to “Circle-In” your swimmer. “Circling-In” is the final step to confirm your child’s entry. The Clerk of course will then assign each swimmer a heat and lane for the event and post it for everyone to see. Usually, there is a number board indicating which events have been posted. Once, you get your swimmer’s lane assignment, he or she is ready to swim.

 

This all might seem like a lot of things to remember, but it becomes second nature after a few meets.  

 

    3. What in the heck is a short course and a long course ?

        (I thought they just swam in  a pool !)

 

In short course, the races are measured in yards: in long course, meters. A meter is almost 10% longer than a yard !!

 

The TWST inside pool is 25 yards and the outside pool, measured across, is also 25 yards. The outside pool measures 50 meters, longwise.

 

    4.   Where can I buy a really cool TWST sweatshirt?

 

At the TWST wet shop which is located in the Coaches’ office. Susan Rash coordinates the wet shop. It is open on Wednesday evenings during practice.

    5.   I need to buy my swimmer a new set of fins ? What is the best place to do that ?

Swim Shops of the Southwest is TWST’s preferred vendor and they are at the WAC most Wednesday’s during practices selling suits, fins, goggles, etc… They have a complete line of swimming equipment and clothing at reasonable prices.