To Parents + Swimmers

While the entire team generally qualifies for swim meets at St. Mary’s, other International schools and the U.S. military bases, swim meets at Tatsumi are designed for swimmers looking to hone their skills in a more competitive environment and to race against the best swimmers in Tokyo. Tatsumi meets are sponsored by the Japan Amateur Swimming Federation (JASF). There are a variety of meets offered throughout the year with different qualifying times. It is important that our swimmers adhere to the following rules for JASF sponsored meets.

IMPORTANT – As of April 1, 2011 all swimmers entering in meets sponsored by the Japan Amateur Swimming Federation must wear a FINA approved swimming suit. The FINA logo must be on the suit as the officials in the clerk-of-course will check all swimmers prior to their race. Parents videoing and/or taking pictures must submit a permission slip to for approval. Please see the coaches for the appropriate paperwork before or at the meet.

Rules and Reminders for Swimmers attending JASF Meets

- Swimmers should be at the pool 2 hours before their race start time (2 + 1/2 hours for swimmers 12 yrs. + over) to allow for an adequate warm up and race preparation. The team usually sits in one place together so, look for some familiar faces upon arrival to the pool.

- A meet program may be available or can be purchased. Learn how to follow the program in order to understand when your race will be and give adequate time for race preparation.

- Make sure you are prepared and have swim suits, goggles, and bathing caps. Bathing caps are required for the warm up pool.

- Swimmers must wear a T-shirt in the team area and when going to and from the pool area for warm-ups and/or races.

- No diving in the warm up session except when there are designated sprint lanes.

- Swimmers can not write their event #’s on their hands.

Parents are not allowed on the pool deck or near the clerk-of-course

- Take your garbage with you leaving. Do not leave your garbage under the seats.

Garbage needs to be placed in the appropriate bins near the entrance to the pool.

- Entry deadlines for JASF meets are often 4 – 6 weeks before the actual meet date. Be sure to check the team bulletin board regularly to stay informed.

- Coaches will look at swimmers practice attendance / attitude / and work ethic before entering swimmers in these meets.

- Swimmers in the team area should are expected to behave appropriately and cooperate with other team members.

- The swimmer should go and see the coach after each swim. The coach will discuss the swim with each swimmer. It could be that another swimmer on the team will be swimming at the same time so, the swimmer may have to wait until the race is over before the coach can comment on their swim.

- Results are usually posted somewhere in the facility. Please do not hesitate to ask other parents for help or information.

- The pool area is usually very warm. Being hot at a swim meet is uncomfortable and makes the time pass very slowly.

-Tatsumi meets are a lot of fun for the swimmers ! He/she gets to visit his/her friends and meet kids from other teams. He/she also gets to “race” and see how much he/she has improved from all the hard work he/she