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  • Announcements regarding our community.

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    adamA
    06/02/2025 - Extra Time Standards now available across the site on: Swimmer Profile | Meet Results | Rankings
  • Explore the following frequently asked questions about SwimStandards

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    adamA
    Q: Why does a swimmer with a time close to a AAA cut only have a power point score of 562? A: AAA cuts are based on percentiles, typically representing the top ~6-7% of swimmers in an age group. Power points, however, are calculated differently: Power points compare times to the fastest historical performances ever recorded, not just recent years. They don’t reset every four years like AAA times, so older, exceptionally fast swims continue to impact the benchmarks. Different events have different scoring scales—longer races often require larger time drops to significantly increase power points. For example, in a distance event like the 500 Free, small time drops may not lead to major power point increases because the top historical times are extremely fast. That’s why a AAA time doesn’t always translate to a high power point score. Q: How often does USA Swimming update power points? A: USA Swimming doesn’t officially disclose how frequently they update power points, but they are based on historical all-time data, rather than just the past four years like AAA, AA, and other time standards.
  • A place to talk about whatever you want.

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    S
    If you've ever been confused about which Local Swimming Committee (LSC) covers which states — or how the country is divided into Zones — you're not alone. Here's a fully updated reference based on the official USA Swimming map. This guide lists all 59 LSCs grouped by Zone and includes 4 Zone entries. It's organized by region and color-coded to match the national zone map many teams use for planning and eligibility. [image: 1746328987481-lsc-zone-map-pdf-05-03-2025_11_02_pm.png] The LSCs are grouped by Zone color as shown on the map: 🟦 Western 🟧 Central 🟨 Eastern 🟩 Southern 🟦 Western Zone # LSC Name Code States Covered 1 Alaska AK Alaska 2 Arizona AZ Arizona 3 Central California CC Central California 4 Colorado CO Colorado 5 Inland Empire IE Eastern WA, Northern ID 6 Montana MT Montana 7 New Mexico NM New Mexico 8 Oregon OR Oregon 9 Pacific PC Northern California (Bay Area) 10 Pacific Northwest PN Western Washington 11 San Diego-Imperial SI San Diego area 12 Sierra Nevada SN Northern NV, parts of CA 13 Snake River SR Southern Idaho 14 Southern California CA Southern California (except SD area) 15 Utah UT Utah 16 Wyoming WY Wyoming 17 Hawaii (Hawaiian) HI Hawaii 🟧 Central Zone # LSC Name Code States Covered 18 Arkansas AR Arkansas 19 Illinois IL Illinois 20 Indiana IN Indiana 21 Iowa IA Iowa 22 Lake Erie LE Northeast Ohio 23 Michigan MI Michigan 24 Midwestern MW Nebraska 25 Minnesota MN Minnesota 26 Missouri Valley MV Kansas, Western Missouri 27 North Dakota ND North Dakota 28 Ohio OH Central and Southern Ohio 29 Oklahoma OK Oklahoma 30 Ozark OZ Eastern Missouri 31 South Dakota SD South Dakota 32 Wisconsin WI Wisconsin 🟩 Southern Zone # LSC Name Code States Covered 33 Border BD West TX, Southern NM 34 Florida FL Florida (excluding southeast) 35 Florida Gold Coast FG Southeastern Florida 36 Georgia GA Georgia 37 Gulf GU Southeast Texas (Houston) 38 Kentucky KY Kentucky, parts of WV 39 Louisiana LA Louisiana 40 Mississippi MS Mississippi 41 North Carolina NC North Carolina 42 North Texas NT Dallas/Fort Worth area 43 South Carolina SC South Carolina 44 South Texas ST South Texas 45 Southeastern SE Tennessee, North AL, NW GA 46 West Texas WT West Texas 47 West Virginia WV West Virginia 🟨 Eastern Zone # LSC Name Code States Covered 48 Adirondack AD Eastern NY 49 Allegheny Mountain AM Western PA, parts of WV 50 Connecticut CT Connecticut 51 Maine ME Maine 52 Maryland MD Maryland 53 Metropolitan MR NYC, Long Island 54 Middle Atlantic MA Eastern PA, DE, South NJ 55 New England NE MA, RI, VT, NH, ME 56 New Jersey NJ New Jersey 57 Niagara NI Western/Central NY 58 Potomac Valley PV DC, Northern VA, parts of MD 59 Virginia VA Most of Virginia Zone Entries (Not LSCs) # Zone Name Zone Color 1 Eastern Zone 🟨 Yellow 2 Central Zone 🟧 Orange 3 Western Zone 🟦 Blue 4 Southern Zone 🟩 Green
  • Unleash Your Aquatic Style: Dive into the Discussions!

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    swimdealsS
    If you're gearing up for a big meet, you've probably noticed how expensive tech suits can get. But do you really need to spend that much to swim fast? Is there a more budget-friendly option that still performs? Enter the Speedo Aquablade — a tried-and-true tech suit that costs nearly half as much as a premium kneeskin. But how does it actually compare in the water? Let’s break it down against the Arena Powerskin ST Next to help you decide which one’s the better fit for your swimmer (and your wallet). [image: 51+rUB4H3QL._AC_SL1200_.jpg] Competitive swimwear doesn't have to drain your wallet. If you're shopping for a tech suit that offers reliable performance without the steep price tag, the Speedo Women's Aquablade Recordbreaker Tech Suit is a budget-friendly powerhouse worth considering. Speedo Aquablade Highlights: Classic Aquablade fabric helps reduce drag and improves glide through the water Open-back Recordbreaker design maximizes shoulder mobility Ideal for age groupers or first-time tech suit users Priced at just $80.40 — nearly half the cost of many kneeskins Prices are current as of the time of writing and may vary. Now compare that to this premium kneeskin: [image: 51O2x+rkbLL._AC_SX679_.jpg] Arena Powerskin ST Next Kneeskin: FINA-approved and made with over 60% recycled materials Lightweight with high compression for race-day performance Designed with durability and sustainability in mind Costs $150.00 — great tech, but a steeper investment So, Which One Should You Choose? If you're asking “Is the more expensive kneeskin really necessary?”, the answer depends on your swimmer's needs and goals. Both the Speedo Aquablade and the Arena ST Next are excellent choices — they just serve different purposes. The Aquablade is a reliable, budget-friendly option that delivers tech suit benefits without the high price tag — perfect for developing swimmers or families managing multiple meets. The Arena ST Next offers premium compression and eco-conscious construction, ideal for athletes who want cutting-edge performance. Each suit has its own pros and cons, so the best pick comes down to your budget, race level, and personal preference. Either way, you’re getting quality gear built for speed.
  • Dive into the latest news and events on swimming around the USA.

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    adamA
    Mark your calendars! The PVS 14 & Under Long Course Championships — also known as Summer JO — are set for July 17–18 and 20–21, 2025 at the University of Maryland’s Eppley Recreation Center. This is the top championship meet of the summer for Potomac Valley’s 10&U, 11-12, and 13-14 age groups. Swimmers must meet qualifying standards to compete. Venue: University of Maryland, College Park Eppley Recreation Center Meet Schedule: Day 13–14 Prelims 12&U Prelims Finals Thu, Jul 17 8:10 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM Fri, Jul 18 8:10 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM Sun, Jul 20 8:10 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM Mon, Jul 21 8:10 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 PM Entry Deadline: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 @ 8:00 PM Late entries accepted through Monday, July 14 @ 12:00 PM (additional fees apply) Qualifying Standards: PVS 2025 14 & Under Championships Time Standards Meet Announcement: Download Meet Info PDF Highlights: Prelims/finals format for all 200m & shorter events Distance events (400/800/1500 Free, 400 IM) are timed finals Relays are timed finals and swum during prelims High Point awards for each age group (10&U, 11-12, 13-14) NO time trials at this meet Spectator Info: $15 per session or $50 full meet pass (under 18 free) Volunteer to earn free admission passes (see your club for sign-up) This is the summer championship meet for age group swimmers in Potomac Valley. Good luck to everyone competing!
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  • The simple guide to all things swimming.

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    With the 2025 MCSL Coaches' Long Course Invitational coming up on Tuesday, July 8, here’s a clear guide to help swimmers, parents, and coaches understand: How swimmers are selected What “scratching” means How to navigate strategic choices Two real-world examples to show how this plays out Who Gets Invited? The top 8 swimmers in each individual event across MCSL are invited, based on: The best legal SCM times from the first three A meets No swim-ups are allowed — only times in your age group count The next two swimmers (9th and 10th) are listed as alternates View All-Star Rankings here — these are the pre-scratch rankings used to determine selections and seeding for the Long Course Invitational. What If There’s a Tie for 8th? Ties for 8th place are broken using each swimmer’s next best time from the first three meets. Example: Swimmer A: 30.10 and 30.30 Swimmer B: 30.10 and 30.50 Swimmer A gets the 8th spot. How Many Events Can a Swimmer Swim? A swimmer can compete in up to two individual events at the Long Course Meet. If you qualify in 1 or 2 events, you're automatically entered. If you qualify in more than 2, you must be reduced to two events. Is Scratching Required? No — scratching is optional (voluntary) before the deadline. Swimmers may voluntarily scratch events they don’t want to swim by contacting the MCSL Automation Chair by the deadline ( Monday, June 30 at 9:00 PM). If a swimmer qualifies in more than two events and does not scratch, MCSL will automatically scratch down to two events using the lowest time-to-record ratio. After the deadline, swimmers can only scratch from the entire meet, not individual events. Can I Hold Out for an Alternate Spot? If a swimmer is already in the top 8 in two events, they cannot “opt out” of one to become eligible for a third event where they placed 9th or 10th. You’re only considered for an alternate spot if you were never top 8 in more than two events. EXAMPLE 1: Safe Strategy — Keep Control Swimmer Jane is: 6th in 50 Back 7th in 50 Free 9th in 50 Fly Jane really prefers 50 Fly. She could: Voluntarily scratch 50 Free or Back before the deadline to make herself eligible as an alternate in 50 Fly. ️ Pros: Full control over which event(s) she might swim ️ Cons: Risky — if no one scratches from 50 Fly, she won’t get to swim it EXAMPLE 2: Strategic Gamble — Let MCSL Decide Swimmer Max is: 7th in 50 Breast 8th in 100 Free 9th in 50 Fly Max prefers 50 Fly, but it’s 9th — not guaranteed. He decides not to submit scratches. Then, after the deadline: Several swimmers ahead of him scratch from 50 Fly Max moves up to 6th place in all three events Now qualified in three events — MCSL will automatically scratch one using the time-to-record ratio, and Max might keep 50 Fly if it ranks best against the record. ️ Pros: Keeps all options open ️ Cons: No control — MCSL chooses which event gets dropped Final Tips for Families Check Top Times after Week 3 to see where your swimmer stands If your swimmer is in 3+ events, talk with coaches about whether to scratch Submit voluntary scratches before Monday, June 30 at 9:00 PM Remember: MCSL will drop extra events for any swimmer entered in more than two Have questions? Reach out to your Team Rep or Coach. Good luck to all swimmers — we’re cheering you on at Long Course!
  • Got a question? Ask away!

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    Reese JankowskiR
    Alright, thank you so much!
  • Feedback, questions, and bug reports related to SwimSnap, our fast and mobile-friendly tool for uploading and viewing psych sheets, heat sheets, and results.

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