The Heat Swim Team is part of both the YMCA and USA swimming organizations. Each organization has its own progressive Championship series. The YMCA has Jr. Districts, Districts, Area Champs (aka Y-State) and Y Nationals. USA Swimming has Regionals, Age Group Champs (aka JO’s), Sr. State, Sectionals, Jr. Nationals, Sr. Nationals.
Prerequisites:
* Swimmers must be members of the YMCA
* Swimmers must have competed in 3 YMCA meets (dual meets, Y- Invites) in order to
participate in YMCA Championship meets. Swimmers on organized High School
teams only have to complete 2 YMCA meets.
* Swimmers must have registered with their team by Dec 1.
- For swimmers 12 and under who do not have District times.
- This is a great chance for all swimmers to win awards and in a positive atmosphere.
- No Relays
- Timed Finals
- No team awards
- For all age groups (5-21) who are close or have surpassed District Guidelines
- Guidelines allow for a broad range of swimmers. Competition from Central Illinois
- This meet is very Team oriented. (team awards)
- Relays are available. If swimmers swam in Jr. Districts they can still swim relays at Districts but cannot swim individual events.
- Prelims and Finals (new as of 2008)
Area Champs (Y-State)
- For all age groups (5-21) who are close or have surpassed Area Qualifying times.
- Swimmers must swim the qualifying time at the District meet in order to move on to Area Champs (Y-State).
- A more selective meet with competition from IL and MO as well as chances to win awards both individually and as a team.
- Relays must swim qualifying times at Districts.
- Timed Finals, Boys one day, Girls another.
- For ages 13-21 who have achieved a Y National qualifying time.
- These qualifying times are similar to IL High School State standards.
- This is an elite meet with competition from across the US.
- Prelims and Finals
Prerequisites:
* Achieve qualifying standards
* Be a member of USA Swimming
- For all ages
- Standards are faster than YMCA District times.
- Fast Competition from a region of IL (Central IL)
- Timed Finals
- No Relays
- No team awards
Age Group Champs (JO’s)
- For ages 14 and under
- Achieve qualifying times
- Great competition and atmosphere
- Timed Finals
- No team awards
- These meets are oriented towards older swimmers (13+)
- These meets have some of the top elite competition in the state.
- Qualifying times are similar to HS state cuts.
- There are team awards for this meet.
- There are relays for these meets.
- These meets have very elite, selective qualifying times.
- Swimmers will see competition from across the US.
- There are team awards for this meet.
- There are relays for these meets.