The Harrison Swim Team is a summer swim program driven by volunteer parents. We are not affiliated with the Harrison school district. The Harrison Swim Team participates in local meets along with joining with the Branson Waves Swim Team in the Tri-State Conference. The Tri-State Conference is composed of various summer and year-round teams from Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. The Harrison Swim Team teaches boys and girls, ages 4 to 18, how to swim competitively with emphasis on having fun both in and out of the water. The goal is to become a skilled athlete in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly techniques and thereby enjoy fitness and good health. In addition to performing well in the water, the swimmer develops a positive attitude as well as team spirit and sportsmanship. Swimming competition promotes a swimmer’s individual achievement, which in turn improves the team’s result. At the same time, the more the team supports the swimmer, the better the personal achievement. All swimming achievements result from commitment to practicing and learning from the coaches. Family involvement is a major asset of the swim team with many parents volunteering to help run swim meets (both home and away).
EMPHASIS
Our staff focuses on these things:
• Character building and self-confidence development
• Physical fitness through swimming
• Learning competitive swimming strokes
• Being a member of a team, working and getting along together
• Having fun in and out of the water
Vocabulary:
Age Divisions
Heats
Events, Strokes, and Distances
Time Divisions, Times, and Seed Times (Competitive Team Only)
Bullpen and Deck Cards
“6 & Unders” and “8 & Unders”
Meet Personnel (Competitive Team Only)
Disqualifications: (Competitive Team Only)
At each swim meet there are official Stroke and Turn Judges who may disqualify a swimmer in an event if USA Swimming rules for strokes and turns are not followed. If a swimmer has been disqualified, the swimmer must notify his/her coach immediately. The most common reasons for “DQ’s” are:
Championships (Competitive Team Only)
Recreational Team: The fee for this team is $100.00 for the first child and $70.00 for each additional child in the same family. The fee includes a free Rapids t-shirt. Goggles and swim gear are not included in the fee and will need to be purchased for the swimmer.
Competitive Team: The fee for this team is $160 per child. This includes Harrison & Branson’s fees and a free Rapids t-shirt. Additional costs will be necessary which include a team cap, goggles, swim gear, entry fees for meets and travel expenses. Meet entries vary from meet to meet, but generally range from $1 to $2 per event.
For either team, swimmers must be able to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) without touching the sides or the bottom of the pool. They must also be able to fully submerge their head under water. The swim team is designed to teach competitive swimming and should not be confused with swimming lessons. If the coaches determine that a child does not meet the requirements or have the physical ability to be part of the swim team, the child will be asked to drop from the team
The swim team is designed to teach competitive swimming and should not be confused with swimming lessons. If the coaches determine that a child does not meet the requirements or have the physical ability to be part of the swim team, the child will be asked to drop from the team.
The recreational team provides amazing opportunities as your children learn to be part of a team. This is for swimmers who are not yet ready for the competitive level. This is not swim lessons. Participants must be able to swim. The recreation team session begins the beginning of June and lasts through approximately the end of June. The fee for this team is $80.00 for the first child and $60.00 for each additional child in the same family. The fee includes a free Rapids t-shirt. Goggles and swim gear are not included in the fee and will need to be purchased for the swimmer.
The competitive team provides a competitive swimming experience to swimmers ages 5-18. Swimming competition promotes a swimmer’s individual achievement, which in turn improves the team’s results. This competitive team session begins the beginning of June through (approximately) the first week of August. The fee for this team is $160 per child. This includes Harrison & Branson’s fees and a free Rapids t-shirt. Additional costs will be necessary which include a team cap, goggles, swim gear, entry fees for meets and travel expenses. Meet entries vary from meet to meet, but generally range from $1 to $2 per event.
For either team, swimmers must be able to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) without touching the sides or the bottom of the pool. They must also be able to fully submerge their head under water. The swim team is designed to teach competitive swimming and should not be confused with swimming lessons. If the coaches determine that a child does not meet the requirements or have the physical ability to be part of the swim team, the child will be asked to drop from the team
If you’re unsure if your child can meet the physical requirements of the team, please sign your child up online (or at the info meeting) and choose the “pay by check” option which will allow you to pay later. You may then attend the first practice as a trial run. If your child feels like they are ready to continue, you can pay after the first practice and officially join the team. We do not offer refunds, but we are happy to let your child try things out via this first practice before you pay.
We do not offer any refunds. However, if you’re unsure if your child can meet the physical requirements of the team, please sign your child up online (or at the info meeting) and choose the “pay by check” option which will allow you to pay later. You may then attend the first practice as a trial run. If your child feels like they are ready to continue, you can pay after the first practice and officially join the team. We are happy to let your child try things out via this first practice before you pay.
Practices are held at the Harrison City Pool. Times will vary depending on the the number of swimmers participating and the level of the swimmers. Swimmers may also be placed in groups according to age and/or swimming level. Each swimmer may choose either AM and PM practices. Below times are approximate:
Recreational Team Meets
June 22nd – Harrison Swim Meet
June 29th – Berryville Swim Meet
Competitive Team Meets
Swimmers may attend as little or as many of these meets as they choose; however to be eligible for the Championship Meet a swimmer must have a qualifying time in each event and have attended three different meets (not including Harrison and Berryville).
These are tentative dates and may change! For two day meets, swimmers do not have to compete both days. Each day has different events, so the day your swimmer will need to be there depends on the events entered. If you prefer to only attend one of the days, just let us know and we’ll schedule your swimmer’s events accordingly! Finals may require both days depending on your swimmer’s results.
June 22nd @ Harrison, AR
June 29th @ Berryville, AR
June 3-4 @ Webb City, MO
June 10-11 @ Nevada, MO
June 17-18 @ Lamar, MO
June 24-25 @ Siloam Springs, AR
July 1-2 @ Joplin, MO
July 8-9 @ BRANSON, MO
July 15-16 @ Lebanon, MO
July 22-23 @ Carthage, MO
July 29-30 – B Finals @ Pittsburg, KS
August 5-6 – A Finals @ Monett, MO
We will email you an invoice for the meet after your child has signed up for events. You can pay by credit card right from this invoice or bring cash/check to Coach Jennifer.
Swimmers on the recreational team will swim with the age group corresponding with their age as of the day of the meet. Swimmers on the competitive team will swim with the age group corresponding with their age as of June 1st of the current summer season. The age divisions are as follows:
Recreational Team Meets:
Swimmers compete against other swimmers based on sex, age, time and stroke. Swimmers compete both individually and with other teammates in relay events. Each meet lasts approximately 2.5 hours. Swimmers can swim in as many events as they would like. Coaches encourage all events to increase experience!
Available Events:
Competitive Team Meets:
Tri-State conference meets last either one or two days. The Tri-State Conference allows the swimmer six individual events and two relay events in a two day meet. In a one day meet, only three individual events and two relay events are allowed.
Swimmers can pick one day or both of two day meets. Swimmers must compete in 3 conference meets to be eligible for the Championship Meets. Swim meets start early in the morning (generally around 7 or 8am) and can last all day depending on the number of swimmers and the weather. Some meets are over by 1pm… others can last until 5 or 6pm.
Available Events:
There are 81 events in the format of “event number: stroke”. The events are below:
The first digit indicates what stroke; the second digit indicates the age group of the swimmers and whether it is a boys or girls event. For example, all 11 & 12 yr olds will swim events ending in either a 7 or an 8. All odd numbers indicate boys’ events and all even numbers indicate girls’ events.
If a swimmer is given a ticket at the end of their event this is for an achievement such as “best time”. These tickets can be immediately redeemed for a patch that can be pressed onto their t-shirt. Many of these events offer free pressing for swimmers. Some charge a small fee. Medals are also sometimes awarded for achievements/placements.
Age Divisions
There are ages divisions in each relay or stroke series in this order: Swimmers will swim according to their age as of June 1st.
6 & under (Invitational only), 8 & Under, 10 & Under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18
Heat Sheets and Psych Sheets
The Heat Sheet is the official program of the Invitational. It lists swimmers’ seed times and heats of each event. A Psych Sheet lists only the swimmers’ seed times of their events; it does not list the breakdown into heats. The Heat Sheets sell for $3.00 – $5.00 at each Invitational meet and are free at Rec 1 meets. The Heat Sheet also lists the lanes required from each team to provide timers or place judges.
More Notes:
The public is allowed to watch all meets! There is sometimes a small fee to watch events.
If you would like to keep up with your swimmer’s time during events you can download the “Meet Mobile” app. This allows you to login to your particular event, keep track of favorite swimmers, and see how others are doing, too.
Rain Days: Because of our outdoor facility, all practices are weather permitting. However, practice is rarely cancelled. ALWAYS show up to the pool for practice, UNLESS you have received a phone call or text from the coaches. The general rule is that we practice even in the rain. If it is lightening, we have to wait 30 minutes after the last flash of lightening is seen before we can re-enter the pool.
Rest
Including warm-ups, a two day swim meet can take up to seven hours or more per day and a one day meet can take over eight hours. Be sure your swimmer gets a good night’s sleep before each race day starting on Thursday night. During the meet, the swimmer should rest to conserve energy between events and be protected from the sun. The sun will drain your energy, so stay as cool and relaxed as possible. While waiting between events, drink lots of water, play cards, video games or listen to music. No running or playing out in the sun.
Warm Ups and When to Be There
All swim meets begin with warm ups, a 20-30 minute session for swimmers to get muscles ready for competition and to get accustomed to the pool, walls, and starting blocks. Warm up times will vary and may start as early as 7am. Arrive early to find a spot at the team tent for your gear and attend the team meeting on the pool deck. It is MANDATORY that swimmers be on the pool deck, ready for swimming 20 minutes PRIOR to warm up times.
Food
Friday and Saturday night have a high carbohydrate meal, such as pasta, baked potatoes, pancakes or waffles to provide maximum energy and endurance for the weekend’s meet. Have a light breakfast such as bagels, toast, cereal, fruit and juice Saturday and Sunday morning. During the meet, snack on bagels or fruit and drink plenty of water (No soda, or sweet and sugary snacks!)
What to Bring
At larger meets team can set up a team tent for a gathering place for all swimmers. Blankets/sleeping bags are usually spread out underneath for swimmers to rest on and parents set up lawn chairs. Depending upon the individual swimmer and the weather… Bring swim equipment swim gear, towels, sandals, t-shirt, shorts, sun screen, a sleeping bag/blanket, ice chest with snacks and drinks to last all day, lawn chairs, resting games (cards, handheld video games, music, etc.), and of course, cheers and good spirit! Be sure to mark all items with swimmers name with permanent marker.
At larger meets, the team can set up a team tent for a gathering place for all swimmers. Blankets/sleeping bags are usually spread out underneath for swimmers to rest on and parents set up lawn chairs. Additionally, many families choose to bring their own tents. Don’t be afraid to bring a big cooler or a couple of small ones. Swimmers get very hungry and thirsty in between events… and so do parents!
Depending upon the individual swimmer and the weather, you will want to bring swim equipment swim gear, towels, sandals, t-shirt, shorts, sun screen, a sleeping bag/blanket, ice chest with snacks and drinks to last all day, lawn chairs, resting games (cards, handheld video games, music, etc.), and of course, cheers and good spirit! Be sure to mark all items with swimmers name with permanent marker.
At first it seems a little odd, but you’ll quickly see the need for this! Meets can get confusing with different lanes, heats, strokes, and events. Swimmers keep track of their events by writing their events on their arms or legs… their preference.
You will need a sharpie marker so it won’t come off in the water. Use the picture below to help guide you. The order is: event number, heat number, lane number, and stroke.
So in the above picture, the first event the swimmer will compete is event 6, heat 4, lane 4, and will be swimming the 50 free.