Meet Entry

The Process Explained
The various swimming organizations decide who will host what meet, sometimes years in advance as with the Olympics.

Annually, the FGC meets to determine the local meet schedule and award meets. Member clubs bid for the right to host these meets.

At least 45 days prior to a meet, the coach of the host club must send the complete meet information (and fees) to the appropriate FGC official for review and approval. Upon approval a meet sanction number will be issued.

At least 30 days prior to the meet the host must

• E-mail the FGC webmaster and participating teams the meet information
• E-mail the webmaster and participating teams a “meet events file” complete with appropriate time standards
• Post the meet information at the Direct Athletics Web Site.

Then, the coaches determine which events their swimmers should enter.

The swimmer or swim parent will enter the swimmer into the meet, using Direct Athletics' Meet Entry Web Site.

Here's a complete set instructions for getting up and running on DA's system,

The Swimmer or Swim Parent will ensure that his or her Meet Fee Escrow Account is appropriately funded.

Not too bad, huh. All the hard work is done before you have to do your bit!

Meet Entry Fees
CSSC uses an escrow account system to collect meet entry fees. After you enter a swimmer into meet the appropriate fees a totaled and that amount is deducted from your swimmer's escrow account.

Every meet has an entry deadline. Up until that date changes can be made. However, after that date the entries are "locked" and cannot be revoked. The swimmer's account will be charged whether or not they actually attend the meet.

Each meet host bills the team for the swimmers that are entered based on the due date and CSSC in turn must pay its fees in full prior to the start of the meet. If a swimmer was entered in a meet and does not show, there is no way for CSSC to recover the entry fees.

Only enter your swimmer into the meets and events he or she will swim. If things change and your swimmer can not swim, go to Direct Athletics and update the meet entries, if possible.

If it's not possible because the due date has passed, let the coach know; but, expect the swimmer's escrow account to be charged.

Time Standards
Most of the meets CSSC competes in have strict time standards which determine whether or not a swimmer is eligible to compete.

For instance, in sub-J. O. meets a swimmer may only compete in events for which he or she has not achieved a Junior Olympic cut. Olympians Vlad and Anne could compete in a sub-J. O. in the open 1650y freestyle event. Neither has ever swum that event in competition so they do not have an official qualifying time.

On the other hand to participate in the Junior Olympics, a swimmer must have achieved the relevant J. O. qualifying time prior to the start of the meet. Neither Vlad nor Anne can swim the mile at J. O.'s. Again, neither has a qualifying time and aren't they pleased!