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Who can sign up for meets?

Lake Erie Swimming hosts many meets each year. There are meets for all levels of swimmers. We encourage any interested Sharks to sign up! Note: Swimmers with unresolved balances will not be allowed to participate in meets.

When is my child ready for competition?

That is a difficult question, as research on athlete development provides no clear-cut answer. In an article by Passer (1988) addressing this question, he reviewed several areas of development in attempting to provide guidelines on determining readiness for competition:

• Motivational readiness: Because competition is a social comparison process, the young athlete is motivated to compete when he or she possesses a social comparison orientation. Research suggests that around the age of 5-7 kids have the desire for and ability to use social comparison information.
• Cognitive readiness: Competition requires numerous cognitive and reasoning skills (i.e., perspective taking, differentiating between effort and ability) that take some time to develop in youngsters. Researchers suggest that kids do not develop the cognitive abilities to have an understanding of the competitive process until approximately age 12.
• Physical growth, physiological capacity, and development: These factors must also be considered when trying to decide readiness for competition.

Which meet should my swimmer sign up for?

Lake Erie Swimming structures meets around national time standards called National Age Group (NAG) Motivational Times. Based on these times, they have scheduled three levels of competition: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Most Youth Shark swimmers compete in Bronze and Silver meets. Bronze meets are typically “slower-than” meets: swimmers must be slower than the NAG B time standard in their age group to swim an offered event. Silver meets are typically “faster-than” meets: swimmers must be faster than a NAG B time-standard in their age group to attend.

The Shaker Sharks host two meets each season: the Team Time Trials at the end of October and an Invitational at the beginning of December. Since the Sharks host these two meets, we encourage all interested swimmers to attend.

Lake Erie Swimming also sponsors a Passport Program for novice swimmers. You will see these meets clearly marked on the meet schedule. These are the most appropriate meets for beginning swimmers. At each meet, swimmers can stamp their passport with a new location. At the end of the season, they earn prizes based on the number of locations visited (meets attended).

How do I sign up for a meet?

The meet schedule has the cost and entry deadline listed for each meet. Additionally, a more specific information sheet will be distributed about a week before the entry deadline. If you do not receive an information sheet, download it from www.shakerswimming.org, check with a coach, or contact Sarah at 216-295-4163.

To sign up, enclose your payment in an envelope with your swimmer’s name and the name of the meet you wish to enter written on it and hand it to a coach or mail it to Shaker Swimming. Be sure to enter by the deadline; no late entries will be accepted.

Swim meet fees are non-refundable. Approximately four weeks before each meet, we must hand in the registration for the meet. The fee goes directly to the meet host. We do not get a refund from the host if a swimmer does not participate.

If you discover, even at the last minute, that your swimmer will not be participating, please let the coaches know by calling 216-295-4163 and leaving a message with your swimmer’s name.

What events will my swimmer compete in?

Your child’s coach will choose their events. Coaches choose events with careful consideration of each swimmer’s physical, social, and emotional readiness. Coaches view meets as learning experiences not just an opportunity to accumulate awards. As swimmers accumulate meet experience, coaches will challenge them to swim longer distances and different strokes.

Your child’s events will be posted at the Middle School Pool and Woodbury Pool prior to the meet. Look at this “Meet Entry” to see what your child is swimming. If you notice a problem, consult your child’s coach.

What are relays?

Relays are events that require four swimmers. They offer young swimmers their first steps into team swimming competition. Coaches choose who swims on relays. Being selected to participate is an honor. Selection indicates that the coaches think your swimmer is ready to represent the Shark program and ready to cooperate with his/her teammates.