FAQS
What is the difference between Summer Swimming and Year-Round Swimming?
Click HERE
What is Winter Maintenance? Click HERE
What are the different Training Groups? Click HERE
Where can I find Cole Harbour Hurricanes Gear? Click HERE
| Meet Intentions | At the beginning of the Summer Season, you will be asked to update your availability/ intentions to particpate in the Summer Swim meets. This be completed in the new TeamLinkt app! The meets will all be listed in Teamlinkt (Summer Swim Meets schedule) for the current season. You MUST complete this task for each of your swimmers, as this information is then used to submit the meet entries. Please note, we are able to scratch a swimmer but CANNOT add one later, so if you think you might attend, say 'yes.' Please keep in mind, the Coaches choose individual events at meets, with the exception of Provincials. Relays are also chosen by coaches. |
| Meet Packages | Before each swim meet, Swim NS will put out a meet information package, which we will send out by email. Meet packages contain a schedule of the order of events for that day and other relevant details. Review the schedule but remember that meets can - and do - run over the expected time. Treat the schedule as a guideline - keep track of time, be aware of the events happening, and listen for annoucements - all will help keep you on track. |
| Warm-up (pool)
| At each swim meet, their will be ~15 minutes of lane-time assigned to each club for their swimmers to warm-up in the pool. This schedule is usually included with the Meet Package, or sometimes comes out shortly thereafter. The Cole Harbour Hurricanes require all swimmers attending a meet to arrive and report to the coaches 15 minutes prior to this warm-up time. All swimmers MUST participate in the pool warm-up, regardless of the time of their first event, or they may not be permitted to participate in the meet. |
| Warm-up (land) | At each swim meet, there will also be a land warm-up session, as a group, led by one or more of the Coaches. Swimmers are expected to have sneakers and appropriate clothing and ALL MUST participate. This is usually immediately following the pool warm- up session so swimmers must get ready quickly. |
| What to expect | Participation swimmers are gathered by the Coach before heading to the MARSHALLING AREA as a group. Age Group swimmers are expected to listen for announcements and report for marshalling on their own. Either way, swimmers must have their caps and goggles with them, and be ready to race. Parents/ Guardians are not permitted on deck unless volunteering. Depending on weather, swimmers often take water, towels and clothing with them, as needed. Once the swimmers are marshalled, parents/ guardians find a spot to watch and cheer! Swimmers are to speak to their coaches following the race and then will need to exit the pool area. Don't forget to leave the deck with whatever you brought! Those families with younger swimmers may wish to arrange a meeting spot with your child. Participation swimmers should also be sure they see their coaches before they leave the meet as they get report cards at the end of each meet, with a checklist of specific skills the coaches look for in each race. |
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What is the difference between a Participation Swimmer and an Age Group Swimmer?
Any and all swimmers aged 12 & Under, begin the program as a Participation Swimmer. These swimmers must complete the 50 m Freestyle in a time of 55 seconds or less AND have mastered all of their stroke techniques to the satisfaction of our coaching staff, before they may attempt the 100 IM. Don't worry, the coaches will let the swimmers know when they are getting close! Once the 100 IM has been completed in a time of 2.15 or less AND all strokes, touches & turns satisfy the coaches, they will GRADUATE TO AGE GROUP. Once in age group, they will swim based on their age as of June 30th and they may be disqualified for improper strokes & turns, so it is best to ensure they are ready for the added challenge!
What are templates and why do the meets have them?
There are two main templates/ schedules of events for Summer Swim Meets - Templates A & B. This allows swim meets to be run in a timely manner as not all events are offered at every meet. Some swimmers may wish to consider which template is being run, when choosing which meets to attend. A swimmer may only participate in three individual events at any given meet and the coaches will choose which. (Note, relays would be in additon to the three individual events, and also chosen by the coaches).
Only the Provincial Meet runs a full schedule and allows the swimmers to choose events but more on that later!
| Template A | Template B | |||
| Participation (12 & U) | 50* Free or 25 Free | 50* Free | ||
| 25 Breast | 25 Fly | |||
| 100 IM** | 25 Back | |||
| 100 IM** | ||||
| Age Group | 10 & U | 25 Free | 25 Fly | |
| 25 Breast | 25 Back | |||
| 100 or 200 Free | 100 IM | |||
| 11 & 12 | 200 Free | 200 IM or 100IM | ||
| 50 Free | 50 Fly | |||
| 50 Breast | 50 Back | |||
| 13 & 14 and 15 & Over | 200 Free | 200 IM | ||
| 50 Back | 50 Breast | |||
| 100 Breast | 100 Free | |||
| 50 Free | 50 Fly | |||
| 100 Fly | 100 Back | |||
| RELAYS | Age Group Relays (2 templates will run medley & 1 template will run free) in the middle of the day | Open Relays (2 templates will run free & 1 template will run medley) at the end of the day | ||
Notes:
• *Swimmers must achieve the 50m Freestyle time standard of .55 to swim the 100m IM
• **Swimmers must achieve the 100m IM time standard of 2:15 to move into the age group events. These times may be achieved at
invitational meets or time trials using legal starts/strokes/turns
• 11 & Over: mixed gender and age (scores and awards by multi-age group)
• 13+14 - must swim 200 and 200 IM; choice of 2 other events
• 15 + O - choice of 3 events
• 100m IM will be swum as 12 & Under (scores and awards by multi-age group)
• 200 IM & 200 Free will be swum as 11 & over (scores and awards by multi-age group)
• Clubs are asked to organize in-house 400 Freestyle racing opportunities and email the results to Swim Nova Scotia. These will be included
in the weekly rankings
• Clubs are asked to organize 50m Kick in-house. This event should be available for 12 & under swimmers, and they should use a flutter board. Dolphin or flutter kick are acceptable, everyone will start in the water with one hand on their board and one hand on the wall with the flutter board touching the wall for the finish. These will be included in the weekly rankings
• 50m Kick will be swum as 12 & under, with the use of a flutter board, dolphin or flutter kick are acceptable, everyone will start in the
water with one hand on their board and one hand on the wall with the flutter board touching the wall for the finish; will swim two per
lane and as ‘flighted’ heats.
• Participation swimmers will receive a Skills Report from their Coach.
• Participation swimmers that graduate to the Age Group program will receive a graduation certificate.
• PARA swimmers can swim in the appropriate level; Coaches should follow up with Swim Nova Scotia on their level and classification.
Where do I find Results and why are they important?
Results are posted either on a wall or board at the meet, as they are printed. They are an important way for swimmers to measure their own personal progress by comparing them to their previous times and goals they have set for themselves. You will hear a lot about PB's this year - Personal Best times.
These RESULTS are also posted on the Swim NS website, usually the Monday following the meet.
How do I get involved and volunteer at the Swim Meets?
Many volunteers are needed to run a swim meet. Each club is encouraged to provide officiating volunteers for each meet, whether they are hosting or not. Please consider donating your time to a morning or afternoon session on the pool deck! The Cole Harbour Hurricanes are one of only a few summer swim teams that use an indoor pool and are therefore unable to host a meet. Hosting a meet is a great deal of work for a club’s parent volunteers, so we try to contribute as many volunteers as we can to help support their efforts. As our athletes have the benefit of an opportunity to attend all of the meets each year, this is the least we
an do to support the summer swimming community.
The Cole Harbour Hurricanes request that each family has at least one member with lane timing certification. To become certified as a Timer, you must attend a Level 1 Officials Clinic: Intro to Swimming, which takes less than an hour. After you become familiar and comfortable with Timing, there are opportunities to progress into other officiating positions by simply attending additional training clinics. such as Chief Timer, Judge of Stroke and Turn, Starter, etc.. Clinics to gain official certifications are held periodically by Swim Nova Scotia and/or the various swim teams and are free of charge. Notices of clinics will be circulated to all families. and clinics held for Year Round Swimming officials can also be attended by volunteers from the summer swimming community.
It is always rewarding to be involved; and as an added bonus, you get a great view of the swimmers - especially your own! We encourage our members to speak with other parent volunteers who act as Timers and other higher level officials. You will find they have fun, learn more about the sport of swimming and get fulfillment from actively supporting their child athletes through direct involvement.
| Volunteer Position | Duties | Required Certification |
| Deck Marshal | Sort and direct swimmers to their lanes prior to their heats as they queue for their event. Guide swimmers when on deck to ensure a smoothly running meet and to report absent swimmers to Timers. | None |
| Scribe | Record swimmers' time as measured by Timer(s) and the Chief Timer. | None |
| Safety Marshal | Is responsible (to the Referee) for all aspects of safety related to conduct during the warm up period. | Level I (Red Pin) Safety Marshal Clinic |
| Timer | To time the swimmer in their assigned lane and to record the time if the lane does not have a Scribe. | Level I (Red Pin) Intro to Swimming |
| Chief Timer | To brief Timers before session about timing techniques, Provide an additional time for as many lanes as possible, Maintain a check on accuracy & efficiency of Timers, Ensure Timers are aware of and perform special duties: - capturing split times, | Level II (White Pin) Timer Clinic |
| Starter | Starts each race using a consistent tone and cadence, Works collaboratively with Referee to ensure all swimmers have a fair start Take notes related to the start and sweeps of the finish. Complete other duties as assigned, such as recall rope, Acts as Stroke or Turn judge (start end) if needed and if qualified. | Level II (White Pin) Starter Clinic |
| Judge of Stroke & Inspector of Turns | Judge of Stroke: Watch swimmers for violations in swimming strokes, Inspector of Turns: Watch swimmers for violations in turn techniques and wall touches. | Level II (White Pin) Judge of Stroke and Inspector of Turns Clinic |
| Meet Manager | Manages the meet by not performing every task, rather delegating to individuals or teams of volunteers. Role requires a personal commitment: availability of time (pre, post and during meet), ability to: delegate work to volunteers, maintain teamwork, adhere to timelines, and monitor progress on multiple priorities. | Level II (White Pin) Meet Manager Clinic |
| Chief Finish Judge | Maintain accuracy and integrity of the official times assigned to every swim, Determines the official time from manual watch times when automatic timing equipment is not available. | Level II (White Pin) Chief Finish Judge Clinic (SNS Staff) |
| Clerk of the Course | Responsible for organizing and marshaling the swimmers on deck, seeding or reseeding heats and if instructed by the Referee, may combine heats where there are empty lanes. Inform swimmers | Level II (White Pin) Clerk of the Course Clinic (SNS Staff) |
| Chief Recorder | The Chief Recorder is responsible for checking results from results of times and placing in each event received from the Referee and shall witness the referees signing the results. | Level III (Orange Pin) Chief Recorder Clinic (SNS Staff) |
| Referee | The Referee has full control and authority over all officials, approve their assignments, and instruct them regarding all special features or regulations related to the competitions. They shall enforce all rules and shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the meet, the final settlement of which is not otherwise covered by the rules. | Level IV (Green Pin) Referee Clinic |
What do I need to know about Provincials?
Provincials are held at the end of each summer. 2026 Provincials will be held in Windsor from August 14-16th.
Participation and Age Group swimmers are eligible to attend. The Cole Harbour Hurricanes have their own criteria for eligibility, in addition to that of Swim NS. All CHH swimmers must attend a minimum of 4 swim meets OR the CHH TIME TRIAL & 3 swim meets, in order to participate in Provincials.
See details below and you will receive more of an explanation as the season progresses. Feel free to ask your parent rep!
2026 Summer Provincials Qualifying Criteria - to be posted when available