Orange Shoals Otters

The below dates are our scheduled meets for the 2026 season.   Check our Team calendar for the most up to date information!

• 5/15 (Friday) Otters Mini Mock Meet
• 5/28 (Thurs) Away @ Towne Lake Sharks 
• 6/4 (Thurs) Away @ Harmony on the Lakes
• 6/11 (Thurs) Away @ Arbor View
• 6/18 (Thurs) HOME vs Wyngate Waves
• 6/23 (Tuesday) Home vs Eaglerays

Meet arrival times:

• Away meets- swimmers must arrive by 5:00pm to warm up in the pool at 5:30
• Home meets- swimmers must arrive by 4:30pm to warm up in the pool at 5:00
• Bullpen volunteers need to arrive 15m before swimmers

Post Season (Optional):

• 6/27 Cherokee County Meet (State Qualifier) 

Our standard meet schedule consists of 5 swim meets each season, with the first meet being the Thursday of Memorial day weekend.   We have 4 Thursday meets, followed by 1 Tuesday meet at the end of the season.  

Meet schedules are determined by our league.  We typically have either 2 or 3 home meets each year (meets held at our pool) and the remaining meets are away meets (hosted by another team at their pool.)  See the team schedule for confirmed meet dates and more information.

We typically add an "Otters only" mock meet early in the season to help our swimmers and families get a feel for how swim meets run.   This is essentially a "scrimmage" and is not formally scored.

Meet arrival times:

• Away meets- swimmers must arrive by 5:00pm to warm up in the pool at 5:30
• Home meets- swimmers must arrive by 4:30pm to warm up in the pool at 5:00
• Bullpen volunteers need to arrive 15m before swimmers

Pre-Meet practices:

The morning of a meet, your swimmer will still attend a light practice and will receive their assigned events on a "heat sheet" for that afternoon. This information is also available on the swimtopia app & website.

Take note (photo below) of how to help label your swimmer's arm, leg, or back with their events. This MUST be done so that everyone at the meet can quickly and easily confirm each swimmer's event participation! 

If you are a brand-new Otter family, don't fret! We will help explain everything to you! The meet runs like a well-oiled machine, thanks to all of these procedures, and the energy in the air is pure adrenalin and excitement!!

During swim meets:

• Swimmers are expected to stay at or around their age-grouped "bullpen"
• The bullpen area is monitored by parent volunteers who will help assure your swimmer gets to their event 
• If your swimmer cannot be located, the meet does not wait. They might miss their event.
• Items to bring (labeled with name in a bag or backpack is ideal)
  
  • goggles
  • swim cap
  • towel
  • water bottle
  • snack
  • maybe a book or small toy or activity

  **Bullpen parents are not responsible for swimmer's personal items

Each swimmer may swim in a maximum of 3 events plus relays:

(your swimmer's events are assigned by coach, and are available for you to see on the meet morning heat sheet)

• 6yo and under events: 25 freestyle, 25 backstroke, 100 freestyle relay
• 7/8yo & 9/10yo events: 25 freestyle, 25 backstroke, 25 breaststroke, 25 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 100 IM, 100 freestyle relay, 100 medley relay
• 11/12yo, 13/14yo, 15-18yo events: 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 100 IM, 200 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay

Swimmers should arrive at the meet with their arm marked with their events. Your child's event schedule is available the morning of the meet at practice each week. There will be note cards and pens for parents and swimmers to write down their event schedule.