Participating in swimming competiions (swim meets) is not a requirement of WSU Masters membership. WSU Masters provides many opportunites to participate in competitions should you desire to test your abilities in a competitive environment,

Meet information is available in the Splashmaster which you will receive as part of your registration with Inland Northwest Masters. To enter a meet fill out the form and send it in with your check. Be sure to fill in the seed times for the events you want to swim. If you do not know what your seed times are, ask a WSU Masters coach to help obtain an accurate time by doing a time trial at any workout. Keep in mind that Inland Northwest meets tend to be small and move quickly. If you sign up for events that are back-to-back, you won't have much rest between swims, so plan carefully.

Other competitions such as postal events, open water swims, and triathlons will also be announced to the club membership. You are not required to participate in oompetitions, though it is encouraged.

The WSU Masters coaching staff will remind you of up coming meets and the deadline for entries during the announcement period at workouts. The coaching staff will often gather entries and send them in as a group.

Once you have entered a meet, let the coach know which events you will be swimming. Also tell the coach if you would like to swim in a relay. If you would like to go to a meet, but still aren't sure how to enter, don't hesitate to ask a coach for help.

Meet Apparel
We recommend that you wear team apparel with the WSU Masters logo at all meets (team suit, swim cap, ball cap, t-shirts, and sweats). This will project a positive image of our program to other teams and also makes it easier for us to recognize each other.

Meet Coaching
At most meets a WSU Masters coach will be present. Always let the coach know if you plan to attend an event and let him/her know you are there as soon as you arrive. The coach will be able to give you important information on the facility conditions, and race strategies, help with dives, get your splits during races, and assist in other ways. Use the coach. Some of the best times to pick the coach's brain with all those swimming-related questions are at swim meets.

Meet Food
Since most meets run longer than a few hours, bringing food and drink can make a big difference in how well you perform and how much you enjoy the meet. At most Inland Northwest Masters meets, the hosting team provides minimal food and drink. It is wise not to rely on this food to get you by as supplies can be limited. Items that you may want to bring to meets include: bagels, muffins, fruits, lowfat cookies, sandwiches, and fluid-replacement drinks such as Exceed or Gatorade.