Meet Day Hub

Arrive at the start of the session, not just before your own race. Warm-up and any pre-meet briefing/induction happen at the very beginning, and you need to be there for both — not just turn up for your event.

Every pool feels different, so use this time to acclimatise even if your event isn't first on the programme — and check your stroke counts for turns.

Warm-up can be chaotic with more swimmers per lane than you're used to. Your coach will tell you what they want you to do. If your feet get tapped, move aside to let the faster swimmer through. You'll get time to practise starts, dives and turns towards the end.

Eat little and often through the day — foods high in protein and carbs keep your energy up. Meet day isn't the day to try new foods; stick with what you know works for you.

Poolsides are hot and stuffy, so it's easy to get dehydrated. Drink little and often rather than a whole bottle right before a race. After racing, favour foods like pasta and chicken with vegetables over anything greasy to help your body recover.

Know your race times so you're ready — toilet break and land-based warm-up done in advance. You'll be called to marshalling, put into your heat and lane order, and should stay in that order throughout. Ask a marshall if you're unsure of anything.

Wear your club t-shirt (or tracksuit) to marshalling to stay warm — club t-shirts should be worn poolside throughout the gala, not just at marshalling. Take spare goggles, cap and a water bottle — a drawstring bag is ideal for keeping these together at the end of your lane.

You'll confirm your name to the official at your lane. Other than backstroke, you'll dive over swimmers from the previous race — they'll be holding the lane rope and won't be in your way. Exit under the lane rope at the end of your race, not over the starting blocks — and only leave your lane once the referee indicates for you to do so.

Heats are seeded by time, not age, so especially at your first meet you may swim against swimmers of different ages. Your heat placing doesn't decide your age-group result — that's confirmed once every swimmer in your age group has raced.

Arrive for the start of the gala or session, not just your swimmer's event or heat time. Event and heat times matter, but arrival time is the most important one — swimmers need to be there from the start for warm-up and any pre-meet briefing.

• Food and drink, if the venue has no café
• Layers — poolsides run hot, spectator galleries can be cold
• A portable fan and a seat pad (gallery seating is rarely comfortable)
• Something to fill the gaps between races — a book or work
• For non-swimming siblings: books, games or colouring — poolside can be a long, boring day for them
• Cash and a card — most venues take card, but cash helps for cake stalls and raffles

Spectator fees vary from meet to meet — they're set by the organiser, not WSC, so we can't give a fixed figure here. Details are always in that event's own meet pack, and we'll make sure you're told what to expect before you go. For many events, WSC handles entries on swimmers'/parents' behalf; for others you'll be guided on how to enter directly — either way, we'll point you to the right place each time. Heat sheets may be for sale, though many meets now use apps such as Meet Mobile instead.

You will not be allowed poolside or in the changing rooms during the meet, in line with Swim England safeguarding requirements. Marshalls at the entry points can help if needed. Your swimmer's Team Manager and coach will look after them poolside throughout.

You may deal with a super-excited child after a great swim, or an upset one after a race that didn't go to plan. Remember: you're not their coach. They'll talk to their coach about what went well and what didn't — you're there to share the moment, and for a hug if that's what's needed.

Meets rely entirely on volunteers — there are strict Swim England requirements on the ratio of officials, coaches, team managers and volunteers to swimmers, and without enough of us the club cannot take part in any event. See the A–Z of Volunteering tab for roles to suit every comfort level, from cake stall to timekeeping.

All volunteers and officials are required to hold Swim England membership and an ASA number. WSC covers the cost of this through the pool fees it collects, and the club organises it for you through its Membership Secretary.

Keep an eye out for volunteer requests before each event on Spond, where all members are set up. You can reach Toni Kirlew — or any of our working groups — directly through Spond at any time.

Racing kit for galas and events is often more specialist than everyday training swimwear. As your swimmer progresses through the squads, they may wish to move into competition race suits ("race skins") — compression suits designed to reduce drag and improve performance. Available from specialist swimwear shops.

Some meets set their own rules on what swimwear is permitted (for example, textile-only suits for younger age groups) — always check the specific meet pack for that event. Swim England's swimwear guidance, covering acceptable swimwear including religious/medical exceptions, is available at swimming.org. For specific guidance on periods and swimming — including period wear rules for training and competition — see Swim England's dedicated periods hub.

Club kit — t-shirts, zip-up tops, hoodies and bags, with optional name printing — is available to order online from Wyvern Swimwear. Club t-shirts must be worn poolside at all times during galas and events (see the Swimmers tab for the full race-day kit list); hoodies, zip-ups and bags are optional extras.

Swimmers get cold quickly once out of the water at the end of a race or at the close of a gala. Pack a towel for immediate drying, and warm layers such as tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie — changing robes or onesies are popular for layering up afterwards.

A key role in delivering a friendly, well-run meet: health & safety announcements at the start of each session, event/heat numbers, swimmer names, warm-up rules, marshalling guidance and results/awards. Arrive 15 minutes before each session starts.

Suits someone confident speaking in public who can convey messages clearly. Meet knowledge helps but isn't essential.

Sets up and runs the electronic timing system (touchpads and results board) throughout the meet, flagging unusual results to the referee. Also covers the "spotter" role — calling out empty lanes and confirming finishes the pads may miss ("soft touches").

Suits someone with basic computer literacy, comfortable working under time pressure.

Working with another volunteer, sell donated cakes, hot and cold drinks and snacks to spectators and swimmers. Relaxed, sociable, and away from the poolside race environment.

Suits someone friendly, comfortable handling cash/card payments.

Looks after the officials running the meet: welcoming them, ordering food (guidance from the Volunteer Coordinator), setting up hot/cold drinks and food at each break, and clearing away after.

Requires a minimum of two WSC DBS-checked volunteers in a changing room at any one time. Ensures only swimmers who need to be there are present, and confidently manages parents trying to enter.

Not the most popular role, but many tasks can start during the final session. Ideal if your swimmer is racing in one of the day's last events. Well suited to parents of older swimmers with no school-night rush.

Welcomes spectators, takes entry payment (cash/card), issues wristbands and sells programmes. Arrive 30 minutes before doors open. Suits someone who loves meeting people — you're the first friendly face visitors see.

Ensures the event runs safely and in line with Swim England guidelines, including sign-off of the safety checklist with the referee before racing starts (arrive 30 minutes early). Available throughout for injuries or equipment failure — this role isn't combined with any other task.

Suits an assertive, confident person, ideally first-aid trained with a Health & Safety background.

Hands out bronze, silver and gold medals once results are finalised and announced. Medals must be signed for; spare medals and sign-off sheets return to the event organiser at the end of the meet. Bring your own pen and highlighter.

First point of contact for visiting clubs — handing out poolside passes and packs, answering queries or referring them to the Event Organiser. Typically only needed before the first session starts.

Arrive 15 minutes before racing; collect start sheets from the meet team. Directs swimmers to the correct seat/lane per the start sheet. A great way to get to know swimmers from every club — be ready with encouragement even when you're hot and tired yourself.

Keeps officials and volunteers watered and alert — refilling drink bottles and delivering sweets throughout each session. Always a popular face on poolside!

Arrives early to place club/squad signage, put up marshalling stage numbers, and distribute paperwork to Marshalls, the Medal Desk and Door Entry. Suits someone punctual who likes an early start.

Sets up and displays donated raffle prizes with another volunteer, sells tickets throughout the event and organises the draw before the meet ends. Unclaimed prizes and winners are passed to the fundraising lead afterwards.

Enters times and DQ codes for upload to Meet Mobile, generating results for each event. Can be high-pressure at pools without automatic timing (AOE). Suits someone confident with computers, comfortable under pressure.

Takes results from the recording room and distributes four copies — medal desk, announcer, poolside noticeboard and spectator viewing point — once all heats for an event are complete. Some quick footwork required to get past keen parents!

Makes sure the club has enough volunteers to run each meet safely, allocating roles, arranging DBS checks/training, and briefing volunteers on the day. No meetings required — commitment is in the run-up to, and on the day of, each event.

Keeps swimmers moving safely during warm-up, prevents early diving-in, manages lane numbers, and ensures a prompt finish. Suits a parent familiar with warm-up format from a swimmer's-eye view. Done once warm-up ends!

Takes and records the official time for your allocated lane with a stopwatch, working alongside the automatic timing system as a backup for it. It's the entry-level qualification on the officiating pathway and a great way to get poolside for the first time.

Open to anyone aged 14+. Training is a short theory course (completed online through the Institute of Swimming) followed by a practical assessment at an event, signed off by a Referee or Starter.

Covers Inspector of Turns and Relay Take-Over Judge duties — watching starts, turns and relay changeovers for infringements and reporting anything seen to the Referee, who makes the final decision. It's the first British officiating qualification.

Open to qualified Timekeepers aged 15+. Training combines online theory with mentored poolside experience, followed by a practical assessment.

Builds on J1 with full stroke judging (Judge of Stroke) and Finish Judge duties — watching technique across all four strokes for infringements, and recording the order swimmers finish in as a backup even when electronic timing is used. As with J1, J2 officials report what they see to the Referee rather than disqualifying swimmers themselves.

Candidates must be 16+, already hold J1, and have logged poolside experience as a J1 first. Training combines theory with mentored practical sessions.

One of the most visible roles poolside — responsible for giving every swimmer a fair start, using the starting equipment and working closely with the Referee on any false starts.

Candidates must already hold J2 with a minimum of 20 hours' poolside experience before starting Starter training, which is assessed through a workshop and mentored poolside sessions.

The most senior official at a meet, with complete control of the competition, venue and all other officials to ensure the rules, safety and fair play are upheld throughout. Infringements reported by other officials are decided by the Referee, whose decision is final.

The top qualification on the officiating pathway, typically requiring at least a year as a qualified Starter beforehand, combined with formal theory, an exam and assessed poolside practice.