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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Have questions? Reach out to your Team Rep or Coach. Good luck to all swimmers — we’re cheering you on at Long Course!

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.

The LSCs are grouped by Zone color as shown on the map:

• 🟦 Western
• 🟧 Central
• 🟨 Eastern
• 🟩 Southern

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🟦 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

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🟧 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

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🟩 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

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🟨 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

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Zone Entries (Not LSCs)

#	Zone Name	Zone Color
1	Eastern Zone	🟨 Yellow
2	Central Zone	🟧 Orange
3	Western Zone	🟦 Blue
4	Southern Zone	🟩 Green

@Wendy-Miller
This is what I can find:

It’s not high resolution, but I hope it works.

As the high school and college swim season progresses, many swimmers and coaches wonder whether their times can be entered into the USA Swimming SWIMS database. The classification of a meet determines whether times are officially recognized.

Below is a breakdown of the three types of meets and what qualifies for official USA Swimming times.

Sanctioned Events
Sanctioned meets follow the full USA Swimming technical and administrative rules and are fully recognized by USA Swimming.

Key Requirements & Benefits:

• The meet must follow USA Swimming rules.
• All times achieved are recognized by USA Swimming.
• All participants (swimmers, officials, coaches, meet staff) must be USA Swimming members.
• Full insurance coverage is provided for USA Swimming members and the host organization.

Approved Competitions
Approved meets follow USA Swimming technical rules but may not require all participants to be USA Swimming members (e.g., YMCA meets).

Key Points:

• The meet must follow USA Swimming technical rules (e.g., proper timing equipment).
• Times are recognized, but only for USA Swimming members.
• Non-USA Swimming members can participate.
• Insurance coverage depends on the host:
  • If hosted by a USA Swimming club, full insurance applies to USA Swimming members.
  • If hosted by a non-USA Swimming entity, insurance applies only to USA Swimming members participating under a USA Swimming club.

Observed Swims
Observed swims occur in meets run under other organizations' rules (e.g., high school, NCAA, IPC) but have USA Swimming-appointed officials observing swims to ensure compliance.

Important Notes:

• The meet does not follow full USA Swimming rules.
• Only times from observed and approved swims are recognized.
• Only USA Swimming members’ times are eligible for SWIMS.
• No requirement for participants to be USA Swimming members.
• No insurance coverage for swimmers or the host, except for designated USA Swimming Observers.

Which Times Count for SWIMS?

Type of Meet	Times Count for SWIMS?	USA Swimming Membership Required?	Full USA Swimming Rules?
Sanctioned	Yes	Yes	Yes
Approved	Yes (Only for USA Swimming members)	No	Yes (Technical rules only)
Observed	Yes (Only for observed swims & USA Swimming members)	No	No (Non-USA Swimming rules)

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️ Final Thoughts
If you're aiming for times that qualify for USA Swimming rankings, records, or national meets, make sure your meet is either sanctioned or approved. If you're competing in high school or college meets, ensure USA Swimming officials are observing if you want those times to count.

For more details, refer to 2024 of the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations.

Have questions? Drop them in the comments below! ️

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@ReedK27

Hope someone with experience could share their thoughts.
Here’s an answer from ChatGPT (yes, my job as SwimGPT is to find and review ChatGPT’s answers about swimming! ).

For swimming specifically, getting recruited to a Division 1 (D1) college involves showcasing your athletic ability through times, rankings, and achievements, as well as demonstrating a commitment to academics and teamwork. Here are swimming-specific tips to help you navigate the recruiting process:

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1. Know the Times and Standards

• Benchmark times: Research the times for your target D1 programs. Look at the team’s recent performances in conference meets or their top times lists to determine where you’d fit in their roster.
• NCAA “A” and “B” cut times: Familiarize yourself with these standards as benchmarks, though not all D1 programs require NCAA-level times.

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2. Build Your Swimming Profile

• Highlight key events: Identify your strongest events (e.g., 100 free, 200 back, 500 free) and focus on those.
• Maintain accurate stats: Keep track of your best times, rankings, and splits (if applicable). Use platforms like SwimCloud or USA Swimming’s Deck Pass to showcase your progress.
• Relay splits matter: Coaches value strong relay swimmers, so include your best relay splits along with your individual events.

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3. Create a Strong Highlight Video

• Include race footage: Focus on your stroke technique, starts, turns, and finishes in actual competition settings. If possible, show underwater footage to highlight your streamline and breakouts.
• Training snippets: Include a short clip of practice to show your work ethic and training style.

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4. Communicate with Coaches

• Research programs: Find schools that align with your academic and athletic goals. Narrow your list to 10-15 programs based on their performance level, conference, and coaching style.
• Personalized emails: Email coaches with the following details:
  • Your name, high school/club, and year of graduation.
  • Your best times (mention long course and short course separately, if applicable).
  • A link to your SwimCloud or other profiles.
  • Why you’re interested in their program.
• Subject line matters: Use something like, “Prospective Swimmer: [Event/Time] – Class of [Year].”

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5. Attend College Swim Camps

• Many college swim programs hold summer swim camps where you can meet coaches and experience their training environment. This is an excellent way to get on their radar.

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6. Compete at High-Level Meets

• Regional and national competitions: Participate in meets like Futures, Sectionals, Junior Nationals, or NCSA Championships. Strong performances at these meets attract college coaches.
• College invite meets: Some programs scout talent at larger competitions where their current team competes.

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7. Academics and NCAA Eligibility

• Maintain a strong GPA and take challenging courses. Swimming programs value student-athletes who can balance academics and athletics.
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center early to ensure you meet all academic and amateurism requirements.

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8. Show Coachability

• Work ethic: Demonstrate that you’re a team player who thrives in a structured training environment.
• Positive attitude: Showcase your resilience, motivation, and enthusiasm for improving.

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9. Stay Organized

• Track communication: Keep a spreadsheet with the schools you’ve contacted, coach names, and responses.
• Follow-up emails: If you don’t hear back, send a follow-up email after a couple of weeks.

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What Swim Coaches Look For

• Competitive times: Times that can contribute to the team in dual meets and championship events.
• Versatility: The ability to swim multiple strokes/events is often a plus.
• Improvement trajectory: Steady progress over time can be just as appealing as hitting fast times early.
• Team fit: Coaches look for athletes who align with their program’s culture and work ethic.

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10. Additional Tips

• Involve your club coach: Club or high school coaches often have connections with college programs and can recommend you to college coaches.
• Consider all divisions: While your focus might be on D1, don’t overlook D2, D3, or NAIA schools, as they can also offer excellent programs and opportunities.

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Sample Email to a College Swim Coach:

Subject: Prospective Swimmer – [Event/Best Time] – Class of [Year]

Dear Coach [Last Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [year in school] swimmer at [High School/Club Team Name] in [City, State]. I specialize in [event(s)], with personal bests of [time(s)], and am interested in your program at [College Name].

I admire your team’s performance in [recent competition, e.g., NCAA Championships, conference meets] and believe that I can contribute to your team’s success. Academically, I have a [GPA] and plan to study [intended major].

Here is a link to my SwimCloud profile: [Insert link]. I’ve also attached my best times and meet results for your reference.

Thank you for your time. I would love to learn more about your program and how I can contribute to your team.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]

Generated by ChatCPT

Hi SwimStandards Community,

If you're aiming to swim for an Ivy League school, you might be wondering: Do Ivy League schools offer athletic scholarships? The short answer is no, but there's more to the story! While the Ivy League doesn’t provide athletic scholarships, their need-based financial aid can make attending these schools surprisingly affordable.

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Why No Athletic Scholarships?

Ivy League schools have a long-standing policy of not offering athletic scholarships. Their focus is on balancing academics and athletics, ensuring student-athletes are viewed as students first. While this might sound discouraging, it doesn’t mean you can’t afford an Ivy League education as a swimmer.

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How Does Financial Aid Work?

Instead of athletic scholarships, Ivy League schools provide need-based financial aid, which can cover most—if not all—of your costs depending on your family's financial situation.

Key Points:

1. Generous Need-Based Aid:

   • Ivy League schools meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.
   • Many schools, like Harvard and Yale, have "no-loan" policies, meaning your aid package will consist of grants and work-study—not loans.
   • Families with incomes below certain thresholds may pay little to no tuition:
     • Harvard/Yale: Full tuition coverage for families earning less than $75,000/year.
     • Other Ivies have similar policies.

2. Net Price Calculators:

   • You can use the Net Price Calculator on each school’s financial aid website to estimate your costs.

3. External Scholarships:

   • While Ivy League schools don’t offer merit-based scholarships, you can apply for external scholarships to help with costs. Many swimming organizations or local clubs provide scholarships for student-athletes.

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How Being a Recruited Swimmer Helps

Even though Ivy League schools don’t offer athletic scholarships, being recruited as a swimmer can significantly help in other ways:

• Admissions Boost: Coaches can advocate for you, improving your chances of admission to these highly selective schools.
• Likely Letters: If a coach supports your application, you may receive a "likely letter," which is a strong indicator of admission.
• Access to Resources: Once admitted, recruited athletes enjoy access to top-tier facilities, training, and support from the team.

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What Should You Do If You Need Financial Help?

1. Apply for Need-Based Aid:

   • Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the CSS Profile (required by many Ivy League schools).
   • Provide all financial documents requested by the school to qualify for aid.

2. Search for External Scholarships:

   • Organizations like the USA Swimming Foundation and local swimming clubs often offer scholarships for swimmers.
   • General scholarships for student-athletes can also help reduce costs.

3. Discuss Finances with the Coach:

   • If you're being recruited, don’t hesitate to ask the coach about financial aid policies and how other swimmers manage costs.

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Discussion Questions

• Have you or someone you know received need-based aid at an Ivy League school?
• What are some scholarships or programs that swimmers should look into?
• How do you think Ivy League financial aid compares to athletic scholarships at other schools?

Let’s share advice and experiences! Your story could help someone navigate their journey to swimming in college. ‍️

Generated by ChatGPT

Hi SwimStandards Community,

We all know that swimming in college takes dedication, but what does it take to swim at an Ivy League school? These schools combine top-tier academics with NCAA Division I swimming, making the process competitive but achievable with the right approach.

Here’s a breakdown of what it takes to swim for an Ivy League college:

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1. Understand Ivy League Swimming

• Ivy League schools are NCAA Division I, and their swim programs are highly competitive.
• While they don’t offer athletic scholarships, being recruited as a swimmer can significantly boost your chances of admission.
• Look up meet results (e.g., Ivy League Championships) to understand the time standards in your events. This helps you target schools where your performance aligns with their roster needs.

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2. Excel in Your Events

• Focus on achieving competitive times in your key events. Target times that align with Ivy League conference championship qualifiers.
• Work with your coach to plan for meets like Junior Nationals, Sectionals, or Futures.

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3. Maintain Academic Excellence

• Ivy League schools expect high academic performance. Aim for:
  • A GPA of 3.8+ (unweighted) or equivalent.
  • SAT 1450+ or ACT 32+.
  • A rigorous course load with AP/IB or honors classes, particularly in STEM areas.

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4. Build Relationships with Coaches

• Reach out to Ivy League coaches during your sophomore or junior year. Include:
  • A brief introduction.
  • Your academic achievements (GPA, test scores).
  • Swimming stats (times, events, and race videos).
  • Why you’re interested in their program.
• Attend swim camps at Ivy schools to connect directly with coaches.

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5. Compete at High-Level Meets

• Participating in regional or national meets like Junior Nationals, Futures, or Sectionals helps you gain visibility.
• Race against top swimmers to prove your ability to compete at the Division I level.

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6. Showcase Your Passion for Swimming

• Create a swimming résumé highlighting your:
  • Best times and rankings.
  • Meet results and key achievements.
  • Links to race videos (if available).

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7. Navigate the Recruitment Process

• Ivy League recruiting follows NCAA rules:
  • Coaches can contact you after June 15 of sophomore year.
  • If recruited, you may receive a "likely letter," which indicates strong admission support.
• Even with recruitment, you must complete the regular admissions process.

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8. Develop a Strong Application

• Even as a recruited athlete, your application should reflect:
  • Academic excellence.
  • Leadership roles and extracurricular involvement.
  • A compelling personal statement about your journey as a swimmer.

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9. Consider Financial Aid

• Ivy League schools don’t offer athletic scholarships but provide need-based financial aid.
• Use Net Price Calculators to estimate costs and discuss aid options with admissions.

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10. Stay Persistent

• If recruitment doesn’t work out:
  • Explore walk-on opportunities.
  • Consider club swimming, which can still offer competitive opportunities while balancing academics.

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Questions for Discussion

• Have you been recruited by an Ivy League team? What was your experience like?
• What tips would you give to swimmers trying to balance academics and athletics for competitive programs?
• Do you think swimming recruitment is easier or harder compared to other sports at Ivy League schools?

Let’s hear your thoughts! Share your experiences or advice in the comments below.

The United States has a rich tradition of swimming competitions at the national level, providing a platform for swimmers of all ages and abilities to compete on the biggest stage. These events are organized by USA Swimming, the national governing body for competitive swimming. Over the years, there have been several key national meets, each catering to different levels of competition. Here’s a breakdown of the main national-level swim meets in the USA:

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USA Swimming National Championships (a.k.a. "Nationals")

The USA Swimming National Championships, often referred to simply as "Nationals," is the premier competition for elite swimmers in the U.S. This annual event is held in the summer in a long-course (50-meter) pool, drawing the nation’s top athletes. Many Olympic swimmers use this event as a stepping stone to international competitions.

• Sponsorship History: From 1973 to 2023, Philips 66 was the title sponsor of the Nationals, marking a 50-year partnership with USA Swimming (source). Despite this long sponsorship, not all editions were called the Philips 66 National Championships. The event is also referred to as the USA Swimming National Championships or simply Nationals, especially in years when there is no title sponsor.

• Changes Over Time: In the past, there were two national meets annually: a Spring Nationals (short course, 25 yards) and a Summer Nationals (long course, 50 meters). As recently as 2007, these dual meets were held, but today only the summer Nationals remains. In some years, Nationals also serves as the USA Olympic Trials or World Championships Trials (source).

• 2024 Change: USA Swimming combined its Summer Nationals and Junior Nationals into one meet, called the 2024 Speedo Summer Championships. This adjustment streamlined the competition calendar for that year.

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Toyota U.S. Open

The Toyota U.S. Open is another top-tier national competition that typically takes place in late fall or early winter. What makes the U.S. Open unique is that it is open to international teams/swimmers, offering foreign athletes the chance to compete against the top American swimmers.

• History: The U.S. Open Swimming Championships were first held in 1985 and were held annually in December through 2006. Since 2007, the event has generally been held in early August during years when the U.S. Nationals are not held in August, or when the Nationals are closed or partially closed to foreign swimmers. This change coincided with the return of the USA Short Course Nationals in December (source).

• Purpose: The U.S. Open serves as a key competition for swimmers aiming to qualify for international events like the Olympics, World Championships, or Pan Pacific Championships. The time standards for this meet are slightly more relaxed than for Nationals, making it more accessible to a broader range of high-level swimmers, including international competitors.

• Annual Event: Currently, the U.S. Open is held annually, typically in late fall or early winter, sponsored by Toyota.

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3. Speedo Junior National Championships

The Speedo Junior Nationals is specifically designed for junior swimmers (typically 18 years old and under) and takes place during the summer in a long-course (50-meter) pool. This meet provides young, rising swimmers with a platform to compete at the national level, and for many, it serves as a stepping stone to senior-level competitions like Nationals or the Olympic Trials.

• Sponsorship: Speedo has been the title sponsor of the Junior Nationals for many years, cementing its place as a crucial developmental event for young athletes.

• 2024 Change: In 2024, USA Swimming merged the Summer Junior Nationals with the Summer Nationals into the Speedo Summer Championships, consolidating both competitions into one event.

• Winter Junior Nationals: There is also a Speedo Winter Junior National Championships, which is held in short-course yards (SCY) format. This meet occurs later in the year and provides another opportunity for junior swimmers to compete on a national level. You can learn more about the differences between the Speedo Junior National Championships and the Winter Junior Nationals in this post on Swim Standards.

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TYR Pro Swim Series

The TYR Pro Swim Series (PSS) is an annual series of competitions designed for elite swimmers, including Olympians and national team members. These events take place at different times and locations throughout the year, offering swimmers multiple chances to race against top competition.

• History: The Pro Swim Series was formerly known as the Speedo Grand Prix. It consists of 7 meets held in either short course yards (SCY) or long course meters (LCM). Swimmers compete in both Olympic and non-Olympic distances, but only Olympic distances count toward points and prizes (source).

• Points & Prizes: First place earns 5 points and $1,000, second place earns 3 points and $600, and third place earns 1 point and $200. The swimmer with the most points by the end of the series wins a $10,000 bonus. While any swimmer of any nationality can compete in the Pro Swim Series, some swimmers may not be eligible for certain prizes (source).

• Sponsorship Change: In 2017, the title sponsor Arena stepped down, and TYR took over as the title sponsor beginning in 2018 (source).

---

Here's the updated section in markdown format:

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TYR Pro Championships

The TYR Pro Championships is a separate event from the Pro Swim Series and serves as a high-level competition for elite swimmers. It typically takes place in early August in a long-course meters (LCM) format. For example, the 2025 TYR Pro Championships will be held from August 5-8 in Irvine, California (source).

• No 2024 Event: Notably, there was no TYR Pro Championships in 2024, likely due to the Olympic Trials, but the event will resume in 2025.

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Conclusion

USA Swimming organizes a wide array of national-level competitions, each serving different purposes and athlete groups. From the elite National Championships to the developmental Junior Nationals and the highly competitive Toyota U.S. Open and TYR Pro Swim Series, these events are integral in shaping the careers of America’s top swimmers. Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer, a junior athlete looking to make your mark, or simply a fan of the sport, these meets showcase the best talent that U.S. swimming has to offer.

As swimmers and coaches prepare for meets, one interesting strategic decision comes up for long-distance freestyle events like the 1000y and 1650y freestyle. The 2025 PVS SC Junior Olympics Qualifying Times note gives swimmers the option to enter these events either with their fastest time (seed time) or with the time standard if they are also entered in two or more events on the same day.

So, how do you decide which option is best? Let’s break down the strategies behind choosing seed time vs. standard time in your entry.

The Context: 1000y and 1650y Freestyle

These long-distance events are often physically taxing, especially if you're already entered in multiple events that day. For example, if you’re swimming several sprints or mid-distance races earlier, you might want to conserve energy for those events. The PVS SC JO rule gives you some flexibility with how you enter the distance freestyle events, which opens the door for some strategic thinking.

When to Use Your Seed Time

Using your fastest time generally places you in heats with swimmers who are at a similar competitive level, but it also means you’re committing to race at your best. Here’s when you might choose this option:

• Focus Event: If the 1000y or 1650y freestyle is one of your primary events at the meet, you'll want to enter with your seed time to ensure you're competing at the top level. Racing against swimmers of a similar speed can push you to perform better, and faster heats often have better pacing.
• Confidence in Your Stamina: If you're confident in your conditioning and feel that the multiple events won't wear you down, you’ll likely want to use your seed time. This shows you're ready to go all-out in the long-distance race, no matter how many events you’ve swum that day.
• Chasing a Personal Best: If you're gunning for a personal record (PR) or an important milestone time, entering with your seed time is the way to go. The competition in faster heats can drive you to push yourself, and you'll likely find more swimmers pacing at your level.

When to Use the Standard Time

On the flip side, using the standard time gives you a bit of breathing room and can place you in a more relaxed heat. This option is particularly useful if you’re swimming several events that day. Here’s when it makes sense to choose the standard time:

• Energy Management: If you're swimming two or more events on the same day, conserving energy might become crucial. By entering with the standard time, you’re placed in a slower heat where the competition may not be as fierce, allowing you to cruise through the distance freestyle event while saving energy for your more important races.
• Prioritizing Other Events: If your focus is on sprint or mid-distance events like the 100 Free or 200 IM, and the distance freestyle is more of a secondary event for you, the standard time is a smart choice. This way, you can complete the distance race without draining your stamina for your primary events.
• Recovery Time: The long freestyle events can take a toll on your body. Using the standard time might help you avoid the intensity of the faster heats, giving you a chance to swim at a controlled pace and still qualify without exhausting yourself for the rest of the meet.

The Fine Line: Balancing Competitiveness and Energy

Ultimately, the decision comes down to what your goals are for that particular meet:

• Are you aiming to hit the podium in the 1000y or 1650y freestyle? Then you’ll want to use your seed time and go all-in.
• Are you using the long-distance freestyle event as more of a secondary or "filler" event in your schedule? Then opting for the standard time is a solid choice, allowing you to focus your energy on your priority races.

This rule, as stated in the 2025 PVS SC JO Qualifying Times, offers flexibility to tailor your meet strategy based on your strengths, energy levels, and event focus. Swimmers and coaches should weigh the benefits of a competitive heat versus the need to conserve energy—especially when swimming multiple events on the same day.

Have you used this strategy before?

What’s your take on choosing seed time versus standard time in distance events? Share your thoughts and experiences!

USA Swimming offers a range of open water events, primarily covering various distances depending on the age group and competition level. Here are some of the most common open water events recognized by USA Swimming:

1. 5K (5 kilometers)

• One of the standard distances for open water competitions.
• Common at the national and international levels, including age group competitions.

2. 10K (10 kilometers)

• The Olympic distance for open water swimming.
• Featured in major events like the FINA World Championships and the Olympic Games.

3. 7.5K (7.5 kilometers)

• Typically used in junior and youth competitions.
• Popular for age groups under 18 at the national level.

4. 2.5K (2.5 kilometers)

• Often used in age group competitions for younger swimmers or introductory open water events.

5. 1.25K (1.25 kilometers)

• A shorter distance used in youth or beginner competitions.

6. 1K (1 kilometer)

• Usually for novice or beginner swimmers to introduce them to open water swimming.

7. 25K (25 kilometers)

• Ultra-distance open water event.
• Usually featured in major international open water championships like the FINA World Championships.

Age Group Open Water Events:

• 10 & Under: Events typically range from 1K to 2.5K.
• 11-12 Age Group: Events range from 2.5K to 5K.
• 13-14 Age Group: Competitions include distances of 5K and sometimes 7.5K.
• 15 & Over: These swimmers compete in 5K, 10K, and in some cases, 25K events.

Championship Events:

USA Swimming hosts open water national championships where events like the 5K and 10K are standard, but distances can vary depending on the competition (e.g., Junior Nationals, Olympic Trials).

These events are often held in natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, or the ocean, with courses typically laid out in loops or straight paths.

When your swimmer registers with USA Swimming, they are assigned a unique 14-character ID. This ID is essential for meet entries, team databases, and tracking progress in USA Swimming events. The ID is always 14 characters long and normally written in all capital letters. Here’s a breakdown of how the ID is generated and what has changed with the new system as of September 2022.

The USA Swimming ID Format (Pre-2022)
The original USA Swimming ID format consists of 14 characters and is generated using the following information:

1. First 6 digits: The swimmer's birth date (MM/DD/YY).
2. Next 3 letters: The first three letters of the swimmer's legal first name.
3. Next letter: The swimmer's middle initial (if none, this space is filled with an asterisk "*").
4. Last 4 letters: The first four letters of the swimmer's last name. If the last name has fewer than four letters, asterisks (*) are used to fill the missing spaces.

Example:
For James Arthur Gray, born on April 15, 2005, the ID would look like:
041505JAMAGRAY

For swimmers with shorter names, the ID is padded with asterisks.
Example:
Lily Jo (without a middle initial) would have the ID:
MMDDYYLIL*JO**

USA Swimming’s New ID System (Post-2022)

In September 2020, USA Swimming introduced a new registration system through the USA Swimming DeckPass portal. This new system creates an entirely different member ID for swimmers, coaches, officials, and non-athlete members. If your swimmer registered before 2022, they must create a new registration and merge their old account with the new one.

The new USA Swimming ID is assigned during the registration process through either the USA Swimming DeckPass system or your club’s team website.

How to Find Your New USA Swimming ID
To access the new USA Swimming ID, follow these steps based on your platform:

USA Swimming DeckPass:

1. Go to the USA Swimming website and log in with your username and password.
2. Click “My Member Cards” to view your membership card.
3. Under your name, you will see your unique Member ID.

Always use your swimmer’s full, legal name and correct birth date during registration. If you encounter any issues, feel free to reach out to your team’s admin for assistance.

The USA Swimming ID is essential for ensuring proper meet entries and keeping team records consistent, so make sure to keep it handy and verify it across all systems.

If you’ve worked with swim meet data, you’ve likely encountered a variety of file formats used by different meet management systems. These formats are essential for transferring entries, results, and swimmer data between platforms like Hy-Tek's Meet Manager, Team Unify’s TouchPad, and others. Let's break down the common file formats and standards, and clarify their roles in managing swimming data, especially in relation to SwimCloud's requirements.

1. SDIF (Standard Data Interchange Format)

• What it is: SDIF is the underlying standard or protocol that defines how swimming data should be structured and exchanged between systems. It includes details like swimmer information, times, event data, and more. This standard ensures that different software systems can communicate with each other consistently.
• Purpose: SDIF is a universal format for exchanging swimming data, primarily between systems like USA Swimming’s SWIMS database and meet management software.
• File Types: The .sd3 and .hy3 file formats are specific implementations that follow the SDIF standard.

2. .sd3 (Standard Data File)

• What it is: The .sd3 file format is used to export and transfer meet data (entries and results). It's based on the SDIF standard and is one of the primary formats for submitting meet results to systems like USA Swimming.
• Purpose: Primarily used to transfer meet results and swimmer performance data from meet management systems.
• Supported By: Systems like Hy-Tek’s Meet Manager, SwimTopia’s Meet Maestro, and Team Unify’s TouchPad export .sd3 files.
• Note: In some cases, .sd3 is used as a generic reference to results files that follow the SDIF standard, but depending on the software, the actual file type might be .hy3.

3. .hy3 (Hy-Tek Results File)

• What it is: .hy3 is a proprietary format developed by Hy-Tek for use within its own ecosystem (e.g., Meet Manager and Team Manager). It contains detailed meet results and swimmer performance data, including splits, disqualifications, and rankings.
• Purpose: Used to store and share meet results for import into Hy-Tek’s Team Manager and to update swimmer performance data.
• Supported By: Hy-Tek’s Meet Manager and Team Manager.
• Is .sd3 the same as .hy3?: While .sd3 and .hy3 both follow the SDIF standard for formatting meet data, .sd3 is a more generic format used by multiple platforms, while .hy3 is specific to Hy-Tek software. Therefore, they are not exactly the same, though both serve similar purposes in meet data management. SwimCloud may accept .hy3 as equivalent to .sd3 when dealing with Hy-Tek files.

4. .cl2 (Hy-Tek Team Manager File)

• What it is: The .cl2 file is another proprietary format from Hy-Tek, primarily used for team roster and entry data, though it can also include meet results. While it is exported by Meet Manager, it's often referred to as a Team Manager file because it is used by Team Manager to update rosters and entries.
• Purpose: .cl2 is used to transfer team rosters, swimmer entries, and sometimes results between Team Manager and Meet Manager.
• Usage: Primarily for sharing entry data before the meet, but it can also be used post-meet to update results in Team Manager.

5. Other File Formats Supported by SwimCloud

SwimCloud, a popular data platform for swimmer performance tracking, accepts several file types for meet results submission. Here’s what they support:

• Active Hy-Tek’s Meet Manager: (Zipped .cl2 and .sd3 files)
• Team Unify’s TouchPad: (Zipped .sd3 files)
• SwimTopia’s Meet Maestro: (Zipped .sd3 files)
• Lenex Meet Manager: (.len files)
• Splash’s Meet Manager: (.xml files)

6. Clarification on Zipped .cl2 and .sd3 Files

SwimCloud mentions they accept Zipped .cl2 and .sd3 files. This is not a typo. Here's why:

• .cl2 contains team entry and roster data, which is essential for identifying all swimmers and teams involved.
• .sd3 or .hy3 contains meet results. If you're using Hy-Tek, your results file may be .hy3 instead of .sd3, but both follow the SDIF standard for exchanging meet data. SwimCloud likely accepts .hy3 from Hy-Tek users because it serves the same function as .sd3 in the broader context of results submission.

By zipping both files together, SwimCloud ensures they receive all the necessary data for the meet, including both swimmer rosters and results from all participating teams. This aligns with their requirement that results must include data from all teams in the meet, not just single-team results.

Conclusion:

While it can be confusing due to the variety of file formats in use, understanding the differences between SDIF, .sd3, .hy3, and .cl2 is key to managing swim meet data effectively. Platforms like Hy-Tek, SwimTopia, and SwimCloud work with these formats to ensure smooth data exchange between meet management software and performance tracking systems.

If you're involved in competitive swimming, you’ve probably come across Hy-Tek's Meet Manager, Team Manager, or the Meet Mobile app. But how do these tools work together, and what role does Active Network play in all of this? Here's a breakdown of how these platforms fit into the swimming world and how they’re interconnected.

1. Active Network: The Parent Company

In 2007, Active Network acquired Hy-Tek, a leading provider of software solutions for managing swim meets and teams. By bringing Hy-Tek into its portfolio, Active Network aimed to provide a comprehensive suite of tools for organizing sports events. Later, Active Network also acquired Meet Mobile, which allowed the company to create a seamless experience for swim meet organizers, swimmers, coaches, and spectators.

2. Hy-Tek: The Backbone of Swim Meet Management

For decades, Hy-Tek's Meet Manager has been the go-to software for running swim meets. From creating event heat sheets to managing entries and calculating results, Meet Manager is an indispensable tool for meet directors.

Team Manager, another Hy-Tek product, helps swim teams manage their rosters, track swimmer performance, and handle entries for upcoming meets. After a meet, results are imported into Team Manager, updating each swimmer's personal bests and tracking their progress over time.

Together, Meet Manager and Team Manager serve as the backbone for competitive swimming teams and meet organizers worldwide.

3. Meet Mobile: Real-Time Access to Swim Meets

Meet Mobile is a mobile app that allows swimmers, coaches, and spectators to follow swim meets in real-time. Whether you're checking heat sheets, viewing results, or tracking a swimmer's performance, Meet Mobile brings swim meets to your fingertips.

Before the integration with Hy-Tek, meet organizers had to manually upload meet data to Meet Mobile. However, after Active Network acquired both Hy-Tek and Meet Mobile, the platforms became closely integrated. Now, Meet Manager can publish results directly to Meet Mobile, providing real-time updates as the meet progresses—no manual uploads required.

4. How They Work Together

• Meet Manager is used to run the meet, create heat sheets, and record times.
• Team Manager manages swimmer data, team rosters, and post-meet performance tracking.
• Meet Mobile gives the public access to real-time meet data, including heat sheets, live results, and event rankings.

Thanks to Active Network’s acquisition of both Hy-Tek and Meet Mobile, the swimming community now benefits from an end-to-end solution that handles everything from meet setup to live result tracking.

5. Why This Matters to the Swimming Community

For meet organizers, the integration between these platforms has streamlined the process of running swim meets. There’s no longer a need to manually export and upload meet results; it’s all done automatically through Meet Manager. Swimmers and parents now have real-time access to heat sheets, swimmer times, and placements via Meet Mobile, making it easier than ever to stay informed.

By combining the power of Hy-Tek and Meet Mobile, Active Network has created a complete ecosystem for competitive swimming. This integration helps swim meets run more efficiently, providing a better experience for everyone involved—from swimmers to spectators.

Conclusion:

The relationship between Active Network, Hy-Tek, and Meet Mobile has revolutionized the way swim meets are managed and experienced. Whether you’re a coach, swimmer, or parent, these tools make the process of organizing and participating in swim meets smoother and more connected than ever before.

When swimmers compete at higher altitudes, the reduced oxygen levels can affect their performance, often resulting in slower times compared to those swum at sea level. To account for this, many organizations apply an altitude adjustment to the times, which compensates for the physiological effects of swimming at elevation.

For example, Swimcloud uses altitude settings from Hy-Tek meet result files to display both the swimmer's actual time and an altitude-adjusted time, marked with an "A" tag. This adjusted time provides a fairer comparison with performances at lower elevations.

Different organizations use slightly different conversion factors for these adjustments. For instance, the NCAA applies a 20-second adjustment to the 1,500-meter freestyle for meets held at altitudes between 4,251 and 6,500 feet. These adjustments ensure that athletes competing at higher altitudes are not at a disadvantage when their times are compared to those of swimmers who competed at sea level.

What's the Official Time?

It's important to note that the official time is always the actual time swum at the meet, not the altitude-adjusted time. The adjusted time is simply for comparison purposes and does not count for qualification or records.

Does Swim Standards show altitude-adjusted times?

No, Swim Standards does not display altitude-adjusted times. We focus on showing actual meet times as recorded. Please note that we are not an official rankings platform.

If you have any questions or thoughts on this, feel free to join the conversation below!

In competitive activities like swimming, athletes are often ranked based on their performance at various levels, such as national, zone, LSC (Local Swimming Committee), or club competitions. One useful way to interpret these rankings is through percentiles, which show how a swimmer's rank compares to others in their group.

What is a Percentile?

A percentile tells you what percentage of participants you performed better than. For example, if you're in the 90th percentile, it means you performed better than 90% of the participants.

The Formula for Calculating Percentile

To calculate the percentile of a ranking, we use the following formula:

This formula essentially measures how far you are from the top position (rank 1) relative to the total number of participants. Let's break down what each part of the formula means:

• Rank: This is your position in the ranking list. If you're ranked 20th out of 6178 swimmers, then your rank is 20.
• Total Participants: This is the total number of participants you're being compared against. In our example, it's 6178.
• Rank - 1: We subtract 1 from your rank because the formula assumes the first position is the absolute top, and we want to measure how many positions you're away from it.

Example Calculation

Let’s walk through an example:

National Rank: 20 out of 6178 swimmers.

Using the formula:

This means that if your rank is 20th out of 6178 swimmers, you are in the 99.69th percentile. In other words, you performed better than approximately 99.69% of the participants.

What Does the Percentile Tell Us?

• High Percentile (Near 100%): This means you’re among the top performers. For instance, a percentile of 99% means you performed better than 99% of all participants.

• Low Percentile (Near 0%): This indicates that a large number of participants performed better than you. A percentile of 10% would mean you performed better than only 10% of the participants.

Why is Percentile Important?

Percentiles provide a clearer picture of where you stand in a large group, especially when comparing ranks across different sizes of participant pools. For instance, ranking 10th out of 100 is very different from ranking 10th out of 10,000. Percentiles help normalize these differences, making it easier to understand your performance.

In summary, the ranking percentile is a valuable metric for assessing how your performance stacks up against others. By understanding the formula and what it represents, you can better interpret rankings and appreciate the significance of being in a particular percentile.

ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN

TRIALS—THURSDAY (11 a.m.—men and women)

1. 200-yard Freestyle Relay
   • 10-minute intermission starting immediately at the conclusion of the relay
2. 500-yard Freestyle
3. 200-yard Individual Medley
4. 50-yard Freestyle
   • 20-minute intermission
5. One-meter Diving—Trials*
6. 400-yard Medley Relay

FINALS—THURSDAY (7 p.m.)

1. 200-yard Freestyle Relay
2. 500-yard Freestyle
3. 200-yard Individual Medley
4. 50-yard Freestyle
5. One-meter Diving—Finals*
6. 400-yard Medley Relay

TRIALS—FRIDAY (11 a.m.—men and women)

7. 200-yard Medley Relay
   • 10-minute intermission starting immediately at the conclusion of the relay
8. 400-yard Individual Medley
9. 100-yard Butterfly
10. 200-yard Freestyle
11. 100-yard Breaststroke
12. 100-yard Backstroke

• 20-minute intermission

13. Three-meter Diving—Trials*
14. 800-yard Freestyle Relay—All but last three heats of time finals

FINALS—FRIDAY (7 p.m.)

7. 200-yard Medley Relay
8. 400-yard Individual Medley
9. 100-yard Butterfly
10. 200-yard Freestyle
11. 100-yard Breaststroke
12. 100-yard Backstroke
13. Three-meter Diving—Finals*
14. 800-yard Freestyle Relay—Last three heats of time finals

TRIALS—SATURDAY (11 a.m.—men and women)

15. 1,650-yard Freestyle—All but last heat of time finals
16. 200-yard Backstroke
17. 100-yard Freestyle
18. 200-yard Breaststroke
19. 200-yard Butterfly

• 20-minute intermission

20. Platform Diving—Trials*
21. 400-yard Freestyle Relay

FINALS—SATURDAY (7 p.m.)

15. 1,650-yard Freestyle—Last heat of time finals
16. 200-yard Backstroke
17. 100-yard Freestyle
18. 200-yard Breaststroke
19. 200-yard Butterfly
20. Platform Diving—Finals*
21. 400-yard Freestyle Relay

Notes:

• Note 1: A consolation final immediately shall precede the championship final for each event except the 1,650-yard freestyle and diving events. Eight lanes will be used in all swimming events.
• Note 2: The 1,650-yard freestyle event will begin at approximately 4:45 p.m., with the last heat of the preliminaries to end at approximately 6 p.m.
• Note 3: Preliminaries for both men and women will begin at 11 a.m. Finals for both men and women will start at 7 p.m.
• Note 4: Awards ceremonies will be held immediately after the championship final of that given event.
• Note 5: For a detailed schedule of diving, refer to Rule 6-2-2.

Some additional notes regarding the recognized group events by USA Swimming:

• The 25 event is specifically for short courses and is limited to participants who are 8 years old and under.
• The 100 IM event is exclusive to short courses and is not an approved event for participants who are 13 years old and above.
• USA Swimming has one group specifically for swimmers who are 10 years old and under. While some clubs consider 8 years old and under as the Mini Group and 9-10 as the upper group. At SwimStandards, we categorize them as follows: 8 & Under (Mini), 9-10 (Midi), 11-12 (Juni), and 13 & Over (Maxi).

USA Swimming uses a specific scoring system for swim meets, which varies depending on the type of meet and pool size. Here's a breakdown of how scoring works:

Dual Meets

• Individual events: 5-3-1-0
• Relays: 7-0

This means

• For individual events, the point values are 5 for first place, 3 for second place, 1 for third place, and 0 for fourth place.
• For relays, the point values are 7 for first place and 0 for second place.

Triangular Meets

• Individual events: 6-4-3-2-1-0
• Relays: 8-4-0

All Other Meets

• Individual events (Individual point values shall be doubled for relays):
  • 4-lane pools: 5-3-2-1
  • 5-lane pools: 6-4-3-2-1
  • 6-lane pools: 7-5-4-3-2-1
  • 7-lane pools: 8-6-5-4-3-2-1
  • 8-lane pools: 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
  • 9-lane pools: 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
  • 10-lane pools: 11-9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

When consolation and championship finals swim, scoring shall be as follows for individual events (Individual point values shall be doubled for relays, even when relays swim as timed finals):

• 6-lane pools (12 places):
  • A (final): 16-13-12-11-10-9
  • B (consolation): 7-5-4-3-2-1
• 7-lane pools (14 places):
  • A (final): 18-15-14-13-12-11-10
  • B (consolation): 8-6-5-4-3-2-1
• 8-lane pools (16 places):
  • A (final): 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11
  • B (consolation): 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
• 9-lane pools (18 places):
  • A (final): 22-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12
  • B (consolation): 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
• 10-lane pools (20 places):
  • A (final): 24-21-20-19-18-17-16-15-14-13
  • B (consolation): 11-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

In swimming, consolation refers to a secondary or consolation final in a multi-round event where swimmers who did not qualify for the main or championship final compete for a lower placement or ranking. The consolation final usually swarms immediately before the championship final and may be called the "B final".