How does a swim meet work?

• Arrival/Lodging: Most families arrive the night before the meet begins. Some camp by the pool, some pull trailers and some find local hotels. Meet details and a map of the area are sent out in an e-mail before each meet. Most meets have concession stands available for food purchase.
• Morning Routine: Both Saturday and Sunday start out the same. The team has dryland training / stretching, warm-up in the pool and a team meeting before the meet begins. The order may vary depending on our team’s assigned warm-up time. You will be notified of the order and times once we receive the warm-up schedule from the host team.
• Team Tent: Columbia Falls Swim Team (CFST) owns 2 large white canopies. These are transported to the event by volunteers. Swimmers and families may sit under these canopies during the weekend to enjoy the sense of community. Bring chairs, blankets, food, water and games for downtime.
• Event Order: Saturday brings the Freestyle team relays, individual relays and all preliminary events. The events are always in the same order and the time of each event varies based on number of heats. In order to make it to the finals on Sunday, a swimmer must be one of the 12 fastest swimmers in their event on Saturday.
• Programs: Programs are available at the concession stands. Most meets charge $3 each day. It is advised to bring a highlighter to mark your swimmer’s events and those of the rest of the team. Some families use two colors, one for their kids and one for the rest of the team. Also pack a sharpie to write the events on your child’s arm.
• Staging: As a parent and swimmer, it is important to listen for your event being called for staging. “Staging” is an area by the pool where swimmers congregate before going into the pool area to swim. A swimmer gets their event card at staging. They must have this in order to swim. Usually, events are called 2-3 times before that particular swim. Please go to staging the first time the event is called. This prevents the dreaded calling of your swimmer’s name. Neither coaches nor swimmers like the swimmer’s name to be called over the loudspeaker. It may result in extra sit-ups or push-ups in the next day’s warm-ups. It is important to bring your cap (if you have one), goggles and towel to staging with you. At staging, swimmers are arranged into their events and heats before being led out into the pool area. They are then advised by the starter when to get ready to swim and a “beep” signals the start of the race. The race ends when the swimmer touches their timing pad on their last lap.
• Finals: You will know by the end of Saturday if your swimmer will swim on Sunday. However, if your swimmer is not swimming in finals DO NOT LEAVE BEFORE SPEAKING WITH THE COACH. There are two reasons:
  1. Your swimmer may be in a team medley relay on Sunday morning
  2. Your swimmer may be an alternate, which means they have the potential to swim in finals on Sunday. Alternates are swimmers who had the 13th and 14th fastest time. If a swimmer with a top 12 time does not show for the race on Sunday, then an alternate is moved into that position. Alternates should go to staging when their event is called, just in case they get to swim.
• Nutrition: In order to swim well, your swimmer must eat well. Foods that are good to pack include fresh fruit, veggies, sliced cheese and sliced meat. Coach Kyle will be stressing Food, Water, Shade throughout the season. 

Meet Locations and Travel Information

BST- Hamilton

• Approximate Miles: 170
• Bitterroot Aquatic Center

59 Kurtz Lane

Hamilton, MT 59840

http://www.bitterrootaquaticcenter.com/

• Lodging: On Site Camping, Townhouse Inn, Bitterroot River Inn & Conference Center, Motel 6, Super 8, Super 8 RV Park
• Restaurants: Back Door Deli, BJ’s Restaurant, Bradley O’s Steakhouse, McDonald’s, Naps Grill, Pizza Hut, Second Street Sushi, LTD, Signal Grill, Subway

Chester

• Approximate Miles: 185
• Chester Memorial Pool

508 Main St

Chester, MT 59522

http://chester-montana.com/pool/

• Lodging: On Site Camping, Great Northern B&B, Independence Inn
• Restaurants: Spud’s Café, The Grand Bar & Grill, Montana Lounge

Choteau

• Approximate Miles: 156
• Lodging: Stage Stop Inn, Local Campground

• Restaurants: Log Cabin Cafe, Elk Country Grill, Outpost Deli, Bylers Bakery

Conrad

• Approximate Miles: 151
• Conrad City Pool
  601 South Virginia
  Conrad, MT 59425

http://www.conradmt.com/attractions/pool.php

• Lodging: On Site Camping, Pondera RV Park, Super 8, Weikum Inn
• Restaurants: A&W, Coaches Corner, Home Café, Joe’s Family Steak House, KFC, Main Drive-In, The Lobby

Cut Bank

• Approximate Miles: 120
• Cut Bank Pool
  SW Park (Corner of 1st Ave & 1st St. SW)
  Cut Bank, MT 59427

http://cutbankciviccenter.org/pool.php

• Lodging: On Site Camping, Super 8, Glacier Gateway Plaza
• Restaurants: Alex’s Deli & Bakery, Pizza Hutt, McDonald’s, Java Time

Fort Benton

• Approximate Miles: 240
• City Pool
  Old Fort Park
  Fort Benton, MT 59442
• Lodging: On Site Camping, Lark & Laurel B&B, The River Guest House, Grand Union Hotel, Pioneer Lodge Motel, Benton RV Park, Chouteau County Fairgrounds RV Park
• Restaurants: Union Grille Restaurant, Wake Cup Coffee House, The Freeze, The Banque

Shelby

• Approximate Miles: 143
• Shelby City Pool
  121 12th Ave North
  Shelby, MT 59474
• Lodging: On Site Camping, Best Western Shelby Inn & Suites, Comfort Inn, Crossroads Inn
• Restaurants: Alibi Lounge, The Griddle, Ringside Ribs, Kowloon Chinese, Pizza Hut, Subway