FAQS: SWIM MEETS

1. What is the difference between Short Course Season & Long Course Season?

  • Short Course Season

  • This season typically runs from the months of September through March. All meets during this period are hosted in a type of competitive pool which measures 25 yards (or 25 meters). In Minnesota, Championship meets are conducted in Short Course yards pools—the majority of pools in Minnesota measure 25-yards. All Central Minnesota Aquatics practice pools are Short Course 25-yard pools. 

  • Long Course Season​

  • This season generally runs from the month of April through early August. The season is named because the MACs, MRCs and State meet are conducted in Long Course, 50-meter pools. During this season, meets leading up to the MAC, MRC & State meets may be hosted in 25-yard Short Course or 50-meter Long Course pools.

2. What are Minnesota Swimming's Time Standards and where can I find them?

  • Time standards are a set of times established by USA Swimming's Local Swimming Committee (LSC) known as Minnesota Swimming, Inc.
  • Time standards are designed to encourage and challenge swimmers to strive for and achieve higher levels in their swimming.
  • Time standards also allow swimmers to compete against swimmers of similar abilities in specific events and meets. Minnesota Swimming uses a set of times labeled C, B, A, Champ and Zone for each gender and age group between the ages of 6 and 18. Each set of time standards is a new level of achievement; for example, C times are the base standard level and Zone standard times are the highest standard level for Age Group swimmers (14 & younger).
  • You can find a complete list of all the time standards at Minnesota Swimming's website, or by clicking SHORT COURSE YARDS or LONG COURSE METERS time standards. 
     

3. What type of swim meets are there and which ones can my swimmer participate?

  • Minnesota Swimming has many types of swim meets; each designed for different levels of swimmers. Here are a few of the types of meets and what level of swimmer should attend. Each of these meets assumes you understand Minnesota Swimming's time standards which are talked about at the top of this page.
    • "A,B,C,Open" meets-This meet is open to all swimmers, youngest to oldest; beginners to the most skilled. Any group on our team is encouraged to attend this type of meet.​
    • "B,C,Open" meets-This meet is open to all swimmers with times no faster than B standard times. These meets are intended for novice to experienced swimmers meeting these specific time standards.
    • "A+" meets-This type of meet is specifically for swimmers who have achieved A, or faster, time standards in any event. 
    • Minnesota Achievement Championships (MACs)-This is a championship meet for those swimmers who have achieved a C time and no faster. This meet is held at the end of each Short Course and Long Course season. This is a championship meet for which coaches will use a training technique called "taper" in preparing swimmers. 
    • Minnesota Regional Championships (MRCs)-This is a championship meet for swimmers who achieve at least a B time standard, but not faster than an A time standard. This meet is held at the end of each Short Course and Long Course season. This is a championship meet for which coaches will use a training method called "taper" in preparing swimmers.
    • "State" meet-This is a championship meet for swimmers who achieve a State, or "Champ"-qualifying time or faster at the MACs or MRCs. This meet is held at the end of each Short Course and Long Course season. State meets are comprised of the fastest swimmers in the State of Minnesota. 
    • "Zone" meet-This is a National-level championship meet for Age Group Swimmers (14 & under) conducted in the summer (typically August). In order to participate in this meet, all swimmers must achieve a Zone time standard. This meet is conducted in long course meters and is hosted in one of the Central Zone states defined by USA Swimming. Minnesota swimmers with Zone times will represent our great State as "Team Minnesota." Everything for this meet is done through Minnesota Swimming, from registration to competition. Click the Zone logo to learn more!

4. What events/strokes do I register my swimmer for at meets?

  • While there are too many scenarios to list here, a general tip for novice and inexperienced swimmers... A,B,C,Open meets, Intersquad meets and/or Novice meets are great meets to start out your swim meet experience.
  • Begin the first few meets with a few short distance events (50-yard swims), and strokes that are your swimmer's strongest and most comfortable to swim. For example, 50 Free & 50 Back are typically the strongest beginning strokes for most swimmers. But not every swimmer is the same, what some might find challenging, others might prefer, like Breaststroke or Butterfly.
  • Parents, talk to your swimmers on what THEY want to swim. Stress and anxiety are a natural part of the experience, but the key is to keep that to a minimum as much as possible. We especially want those first meets positive and enjoyable so swimmers want to do more.
  • Gradual increases of events, distances and variety of strokes in subsequent meets is the best approach for reluctant swimmers. There is no rush for a inexperienced 8-year-old to do a 200 Freestyle; conversely, an experienced 11 or 12-year-old who only swims 50's & 100's may want to branch out of his/her comfort zone and swim events they have never done before. This approach will build confidence and willingness to do more meets.
  • Try to keep in mind each and every swimmer is different and should not be compared with other swimmers. Some who are overly excited may need a bit tempering; others who are cautionary may need a gentle nudge.
  • Swim meets are not required, but swimmers are encouraged to try at least one in a season. Reach out to your swimmer's coach if you have any questions regarding swim meets.
     

 5. How do I register my child for swim meets?


​6. When signing up for a meet, what does it mean if my swimmer's time is black, red or a NT (No Time)?

  • If your swimmer's time shows up as black, he/she is eligible to swim that event at this meet. 
  • If your swimmer's time shows up as red, he/she's current time is either too fast or too slow to be eligible to swim that event. 
  • If the time shows up as a NT, that means he/she does not have a time in that event or a recorded time in our system.

7. What is the Swims Database and how do I get my times from it?

  • The Swims Database is USA Swimming's list of all a swimmers times from USA Swimming Meets. You can find this database by clicking here.
     

8. How do I view my swimmer's times on our website?

  • Click on "My Account" and then "My Meet Results." Select "My Results" and modify the search as you wish. Hit the "Search" button when you are ready. You should see all of your times or your child's times.
     

9. What is a disqualification (DQ) and what are some examples of how it could happen?

  • The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer.
  • Trained officials observe the swimmers during each event to ensure compliance with these technical rules. If a swimmer commits an infraction of the rules that is observed by an official, a disqualification (DQ) will result. This means that the swimmer will not receive an official time and will not be eligible for an award in that event.
  • A disqualification may result from actions such as not getting to the starting blocks on time, false starting, performing strokes in an illegal manner, or unsportsmanlike conduct. 
  • DQs are also a result of technical rules violations. There are far too many to include here, but below are a few common infractions:
    • Freestyle: 
    • Walking on the bottom, pulling on the lane rope, not touching the wall on a turn, or not completing the distance.
       
    • Backstroke: 
    • Pulling or kicking into the wall once a swimmer has turned passed the vertical onto the breast. Turning onto the breast before touching the wall with the hand at the finish of the race.
       
    • Breaststroke: 
    • An illegal kick such as flutter (freestyle), dolphin (butterfly), or scissors (side stroke); not on the breast; alternating movements of the arms; taking two arm strokes or two leg kicks while the head is under water; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish. 
       
    • Butterfly: 
    • Alternating movements of the arms or legs; pushing the arms forward under instead of over the water surface (underwater recovery); a breaststroke style of kick; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.