Meet Check In
When you arrive at an Inland NW Masters swim meet, you should proceed to the check in table. This is where you will collect your event cards. These cards indicate the heat and lane assignment for the events you have signed up for on the entry form.

Deck Entries
If you have not previously signed up for the meet, you may still participate in most regular season meets as a deck entrant. Deck entries are limited to four events and the entry fee is $15 (Swimmers who pre-register for regular season meets may swim five events for $10). Championship meets do not allow deck entrants.

Entering the Water & Warm Up
At all USMS meets you must enter the water feet first, being careful for other swimmers who might be in the lane you are entering. The only time you may dive during a meet is when a sprint dive lane is set up and during the start of your event. The sprint dive lane is one way swimming only (from the block to the end of the pool). You may not use any equipment (pull buoys, kick boards, paddles, etc) when warming up or cooling down at a meet.

Whistle Start
Before each heat you will hear a series of whistle blasts, each indicating instructions for swimmers to do.

• Three short blasts indicate for you to stand behind the blocks ready to swim.
• One long whistle blast indicates get on the block, or in the case of Backstroke, enter the water feet first.
• You will then hear the referee say what the event is (i.e.; 200 Yard Backstroke) and then “take your mark,” followed by the starters blast indicating for you to begin swimming.

page updated June 11, 2005