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Host A Swim Meet
What do I need to do to successfully run an NZMS-sanctioned swim meet?
Planning to host a swim meet? Follow our checklist and organiser guide to deliver a safe, compliant, and successful Masters Swimming event.
Hosting an NZMS-Sanctioned Swim Meet
Hosting an NZMS-sanctioned swim meet is a rewarding way to support Masters Swimming in New Zealand and provide swimmers with opportunities to achieve their goals in a friendly and competitive environment. Swim meets play an important role in bringing clubs and swimmers together, encouraging participation, and strengthening the Masters Swimming community.
Whether you are organising a small club meet or a larger regional event, careful planning is essential to ensure the competition runs smoothly and meets NZMS requirements. In addition, hosting a sanctioned meet allows swimmers to record official times, set records, and achieve qualifying performances under recognised competition conditions.
The checklist below outlines the key steps involved in planning and delivering a successful NZMS-sanctioned swim meet. By following these guidelines, clubs and organisers can help create a safe, enjoyable, and well-organised event for all participants, officials, volunteers, and spectators.
Before the Event
Date Selection
- Check NZMS calendar
- Avoid clashes with:
- NZMS Championships
- North/South Island Championships
- Major open water events
- Swimming NZ events
Meet Type
- Fun meet
- Club meet
- Regional meet
- NZMS-sanctioned Championship
Facility
- Suitable pool (25m or 50m)
- Available lanes
- Spectator space
- Changing facilities
- Timing area
- First aid access
- Accessibility requirements
NZMS Requirements
- NZMS approval/sanction
- Published meet information
- Entry process
- Results submission
- Compliance with NZMS competition rules
- Appropriate insurance coverage through the club
- Financial Registration in Gameday
Officials and Volunteers
Meet Management
- Meet Director
- Entries manager
- Volunteer coordinator
Manual Timing
- Stopwatches
- Lane timekeepers
Electronic Timing
- Touchpads
- Timing console
- Hy-Tek/Meet Manager style systems
Technical Officials
- Referee
- Starter
- Stroke and turn judges
- Chief timekeeper
Pool Deck Volunteers
- Timekeepers
- Marshals
- Recorders
- Results staff