Heat Sheets & Sharpie Writing
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How to Read Heat Sheets
How to Read Heat Sheets
Reading a heat sheet for the first time can feel like trying to decode a secret language, but once you know what the columns mean, it’s actually quite logical.
Think of Heat Sheets as the "Program" for the meet.
The Event Header
At the top of every section, you’ll see a bold line describing the race. It usually looks like this:
Event 14 Boys 15-18 50 Yard Freestyle
Event Number: Meets run in chronological order by event number.
Gender/Age: Who is swimming.
Distance/Stroke: What they are swimming.
Heat Sheets will be available to download from the website 24 hrs before the meet.
Understanding the Columns
Under the header, you’ll see rows of names organized into Heats. Here is what the standard columns represent:
Lane: The physical path in the pool. Usually numbered 1 through 6 or 8.
Name: The Swimmer by Last Name, First Name.
Age: Swimmer's Age (Helps confirm they are in the right event).
Team: Club/Team Abbreviation. Example: "HFD" for "Huntington Forest Dolphins".
Seed Time: Their fastest previous time. This determines which heat they are in.
Sharpie Writing on Swimmers
Sharpie Writing on Swimmers
Each swimmer should have their Event information written on their arm or leg using a waterproof marker (Sharpie). If you’d rather not wait for the marker to wash away on its own, a soft cloth with a dab of baby oil does the trick immediately! Write it where it's easy to see and read - not on their back! Parents should write their swimmer's event info on their arm or leg BEFORE arriving at the swim meet. Coaches will be getting ready for the swim meet and will not be available to write information on swimmers.
Event 2, Heat 3, Lane 4, 25 Freestyle.
Event 15, Heat 2, Lane 2, 25 Breast.
Event 18, Heat 4, Lane 4, 50 Fly
Event 28, Heat 3, Lane 6, Freestyle relay
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