Meet General Information

SATURDAY BSSC MEETS START AT 9:00AM with warm-ups at 8:10 AM. Swimmers arrive by 7:55 AM.

WEEKDAY BSSC MEETS START AT 5:30PM with warm-ups at 4:40 PM. Swimmers arrive by 4:25 PM.

Note: Signup online at the Swim Portal for meets by 11:59 pm on the signup deadline dates. Coach assumes "yes" to relays unless you notify him otherwise...relays are FUN!

Addresses of Pools (All BSSC pools are outdoor meter unless specified, State are indoor):

  • Dike: 255 7th St, Dike, IA 50624. [Closed for 2024 Season. No hosted meets.]

  • Dysart: 410 Lincoln St, Dysart, IA 52224.

  • Independence: 609 5th St. SE, Independence, IA 50644.

  • LaPorte City: 508 Oak Street, La Porte City, IA 50651.

  • Oelwein (yard pool): 400 4th St NE, Oelwein, IA 50662.

  • Parkersburg: 100 Cemetery Lane, Parkersburg, IA 50665.

  • WASC: 501 5th Ave SW, Waverly, IA 50677. [Closed for 2024 Season. Hosted meets at The W pool.]

Register for meets at the Swim Portal. Register in advance. The Swim Portal lists registration deadlines specifically for each meet. 

Meet Etiquette:  Please remind your swimmer each meet about meet etiquette. Racers -- stay in the water until all swimmers in an event have finished, tell other swimmers something positive after an event (e.g. "Good job!", "Nice race!", etc.), and TALK TO THE COACH as soon as you get out of the water.  This is the BEST time to get feedback about your event (including if you were disqualified and why).

MEET SUPPLIES

 Please no cameras or other recording devices behind the blocks or in changing rooms.

For swimmers

  • Suit

  • Goggles

  • Extra goggles (sometimes they break!)

  • Towels (2-4, depending on how many events they will swim)

  • Sunscreen

  • Non-breakable water bottle

  • Healthy snacks

  • Warmer clothes for cool days/evenings

  • Things to do when waiting between events

  • Meet Etiquette: Racers -- stay in the water until all swimmers in an event have finished, tell other swimmers something positive after an event (e.g. "Good job!", "Nice race!", etc.), and TALK TO THE COACH as soon as you get out of the water. This is the BEST time to get feedback about your event (including if you were disqualified and why)

Some swimmers bring tents to protect from sun/rain (as long as there is no thunder/lightening, swimmers will swim in rain!) and money for snacks.  A big gym bag works great to pack everything.

DON’T BRING:

  • Glass bottles

  • Balls

  • Jewelry

NOTE—Some swimmers bring electronics (Gameboys, DSs, iTouches, etc.).  This is up to parents, but the SWIMMER is RESPONSIBLE for anything that “disappears” - not anyone else. Valuables, including money, have been stolen at swim meets.

For parents and other audience members

  • Lawn chair

  • Hat

  • Umbrella

  • Snacks/supper and/or money for concessions

  • Sunscreen

  • Copy of swim events (called “heat sheet” - we will email this to you before each meet)

  • Black sharpie marker (to write your swimmer's events on their skin)

SPECIAL MEETS (Ben Newell, Swim Offs, Silvers, State)

BEN NEWELL MEMORIAL MEET: We encourage swimmers to try races at Mason City which will allow them to swim with their own age group for distances that we do not typically offer or are only done as Senior/Open during the regular BSSC season.

Meet Location:  Mason City Aquatic Center

Swimmer cost:  Splash Fee/per swimmer: $10,  Individual entry/per race: $5,  Relay Entry/per race: $2.50

    Race restrictions:  4 individual/1 relay per session

    Awards:  1st-3rd, medal; 4th-8th ribbon

    Only long course times allowed - we cannot convert times from short course meter/yard races.

SWIM OFFS: Swim offs is our season-end conference meet where all teams of the Big Six Swim Club meet up and compete for points. The most points wins! Plus there is a Sportsmanship award. There is one entry per event for each team. We ask swimmers to declare if they're available or not for attending the meet. Coach determines who swims in which races based on available swimmers. We always hope that EVERYONE is available, but realize not everyone will be able to be in the race of their choice.

Swim off hosts are on a rotating schedule as follows:

  • 2022 Parkersburg

  • 2023 Waverly

  • 2024 Dysart

  • 2025 TBD

  • 2026 Independence

SILVER CHAMPIONSHIPS:

STATE: Swimmers may qualify for the state swim meet if they "got a Q time." Refer to the Iowa Swimming website to see a list of state qualifying times (Q times). If there is a state qualifier, a relay team may be created out of BSSC swimmers. More information will be provided as the season progresses. Again, splash fees will be charged to defray coaching expenses.