We recommend that swimmers compete every 4–6 weeks, at most. Adequate time between competitions is essential to allow for meaningful training gains and skill development. Competition is part of the long-term process,  not something to be overused or treated as a shortcut to progress.

We also want to caution against using meets as a material reward or tying performance outcomes to external incentives like money, gifts, or privileges. This includes items like expensive team gear or tech suits, which are sometimes offered as bribes or motivational tools. While we understand the desire to celebrate effort or results, it’s important to ensure your swimmer’s focus stays on the internal rewards that sport brings: confidence, perseverance, discipline, and pride in personal growth.

Here are a few key reasons we discourage material-based motivation:

● It takes away from the real reward,  the process. When swimmers associate effort and improvement with external rewards rather than personal pride and purpose, they miss out on the deeper lessons sport offers.

● It gets expensive. Regularly rewarding performance with gear, money, or gifts creates a costly and unsustainable dynamic,  and can shift the athlete’s focus away from what matters most.

● It raises the stakes unnecessarily. When rewards are promised for specific outcomes, swimmers face double disappointment if they fall short, not only did they miss the mark, but they also “lost” the reward.

Competitions should also not be used to validate a swimmer’s worth or effort. Every swimmer develops at their own pace. Not every meet results in a personal best, and that’s okay. In fact, competitions are a safe place to fail. They’re where athletes learn to cope with setbacks, stay composed under pressure, and build the resilience required to come back stronger. These are powerful life lessons, and we encourage families to trust the coaches and the process, even when the outcome isn’t immediate.

SDSC typically attends a variety of competitions each season, including the following:

● Hosted Meets:
 These are held in Summerside and organized by SDSC. We typically host 3 meets per year across various competitive levels. These meets provide excellent opportunities for swimmers to race in a familiar environment with strong team support.

● Non-Hosted Meets:
 These local meets are held outside of Summerside but still within the maritimes. Families are responsible for arranging their own transportation, meals, and accommodations. These meets offer additional racing opportunities without requiring full club travel logistics.

● Chaperoned Meets:
 These are team travel meets held outside of PEI, sometimes outside of the maritimes. Swimmers attend as a team under the supervision of SDSC-appointed chaperones. The club arranges transportation, food, and accommodations, and all associated costs are billed to your family’s swim account. These experiences help foster independence, responsibility, and strong team bonds.

SDSC expects to host three meets during the 2025–2026 swim season. Each meet is divided into sessions. Some meets may have only one session per day (such as afternoon only), while others may have two sessions (morning and afternoon). Once details are available, such as dates, times, locations, and session breakdowns, they will be available in the meet package and by visiting our Events page and choosing Swim Meet. This is also where members can declare attendance and sign up for volunteer roles at SDSC-hosted meets. 

A typical season includes approximately 5 to 10 hosted meet sessions. This number may vary slightly year to year. The final session count will be confirmed and published in September once the season’s meet schedule is finalized. 

SDSC relies on the ongoing support of our club members to successfully run hosted meets. These events are essential to our swimmers’ competitive experience and require over 50 volunteers per session to operate smoothly and on time.

We strongly encourage everyone to get involved. Whether you’re timing, officiating, or helping behind the scenes, volunteering not only supports the swimmers, it also gives you the best seats in the house and a front-row view of your swimmer’s progress. Many members find that being on deck is more rewarding and engaging than watching from the stands.

Volunteering is also a great way to meet other club members and become more connected to the SDSC community. Research shows that when athletes see their caregivers actively engaged and contributing, they are more likely to feel invested in their own sports experience. They also grow up with a stronger sense of belonging and are more likely to give back and volunteer themselves in the future. By showing up for the team, you’re not only helping your swimmer, you’re helping shape the next generation of leaders in our sport.