FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does my Barracuda have to wear an official team suit?

No. Each team selects an official suit each year—and Sport Fair comes to the pool one night during evening practices (May 30, 2024) for Barracudas to buy the team suit—but a previous year’s team suit or any competition swim suit is acceptable for meets and practices.  However, there can be no non-Lake Audubon team logos (ex. USS teams or high school teams) on the suit.  A suit with some purple is encouraged for competition if possible. NO TECHNICAL SUITS are allowed to be worn at RSTA meets.  If a swimmer competes using a technical suit, they will be disqualified.  

Is my Barracuda required to swim in every meet?

No. We understand this is a summer recreation league, but we do love to have as many shiny happy Barracudas for 6 fun-filled Saturdays in the summer from June to July.  Each swimmer's participation impacts not only the their own success, but also contributes to the success of the team and impacts the seeding and performance of relays.

The only attendance "rule" is that swimmers must swim in at least three regular season dual meets to retain their priority registration status for the following year.  We also understand there are unforeseen circumstances that will keep a Barracuda out of the water (not swimming), such as a fever; but there are plenty of circumstances that can be communicated well in advance, such as a game conflict or vacation. Since we are a team, it’s very important for families to communicate meet attendance in the Swimmer Commitment section of the website.

How are meets seeded?

Coaches seed the meets on Tuesdays before a Saturday meet. They strategically determine the events each swimmer will compete in based on every swimmer's availability indicated in the Swimmer Commitment section, so it is very important to indicate "Commitment" as soon as possible - to include 100% attendance, no attendance, or partial attendance.

Each event has several heats and the number of heats will be determined by how many swimmers are entered in the event. The slower heats go first, and the fastest swimmers are in the last heat. 

How do I know what my Barracuda will be swimming?

The meet sheet—a guide to all the heats in all the events—is posted on the RSTA website on Friday nights. It’s a good idea to print one out to bring to the meet. We encourage families with younger Barracudas (before applying sunscreen) to write her/his events with a permanent marker on her/his arm. For example, if swimming backstroke in heat three, lane three, write BK H3L3. The OnDeck App is another great option to see your swimmer's event(s). This app is different than Meet Mobile, which allows you to follow along with the meet and results in real time. (Final meet results are posted on OnDeck, Meet Mobile, and the RSTA website after the completion of the meet.)

Why do all swimmers need to check in with the clerk of course?

The clerk of course is charged with confirming swimmers in each event (heats and lanes) and for lining up the 8 & Under swimmers in their heats. By checking in with the clerk of course, meet delays can be avoided. We want to make sure every Barracuda gets time to shine in the pool, so please be sure to look out for any and all Barracudas during the meets!

How many events can a swimmer be entered in during a meet, and who decides what events a swimmer is entered in?

Swimmers can swim up to 3 strokes and 2 relays per meet—no more, but possibly less. The coaches take into consideration many factors when strategically seeding a meet. They consider swimmers' skill level, attendance, performance, and best times (when possible) of the swimmers on both our team and on the opponents' team when making the determination of which events swimmers will enter.

Coaches are looking at the big picture and put swimmers in positions to best help the team and to encourage the development of the swimmer. While a particular event may not be a swimmer's fastest event or favorite stroke, coaches seed the meets in the best interest of the team and to provide a means for learning both the fundamentals and the fine points of swimming, as well as to encourage healthful participation in swim team activities.

Also, any swimmers who want to participate in the IM meet need to have legal times in all four strokes.

How do relays work?

Coaches put together the relays on Tuesday nights when they seed the meet. Timely knowledge of attendance for every swimmer (via TeamUnify meet declaration) is crucial, as it affects placement for all swimmers across all age group and mixed age relays.

What is the order of events at a meet?

Events are swum in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Age Group Relays, Breaststroke, Freestyle, Mixed Age Medley Relay. Within each stroke or relay, swimmers compete in age groups from youngest to oldest (8 & under, 9–10, 11–12, 13–14, 15–18), with boys then girls swimming within each age group. See more details here.

How are meets scored?

Competition and scoring in each individual event is based on the points scored by each team’s classification of swimmers’ times competing against the other team’s same classification of swimmers’ times in the “A,” “B,” or “C” categories (Time Standards, p. 22). First, second, and third place points are awarded in each class for each event (so C class swimmers can earn as many points for the team as A class swimmers).  The points in each category are assigned as follows: • 1st = 5 points • 2nd = 3 points • 3rd = 1 point.  Competition and scoring of relays shall be organized without regard to individual swimmer classifications and scored as follows: • 1st = 8 points • 2nd = 4 points • 3rd = 2 points.

In case of ties, the points of the places involved shall be split by the competitors. (A two-way tie for first place would equally share first and second place combined points, with no second place awarded. A three-way tie for first place would equally share first, second, and third place combined points, with no second or third place awarded. A two-way tie for second place would equally share second and third place combined points with no third place awarded. Points for any tie for third place would be split equally among the third place winners.

Where can I find meet results?

Event results are posted at the pool during the meet as soon as they are finalized. Final results can be found on our TeamUnify website, as well as on the RSTA website, a day or two after the meets.  Meet results are also posted on the OnDeck and Meet Mobile apps.

My child finished first in her heat; why didn’t she get first place in the meet?

Placement is awarded based on final times that fall in an "A", "B", or "C" category, determined by RSTA Time Standards (p. 22). Your swimmer may have won her heat, but your swimmer was such a fast Barracuda that her time ended up as a qualifying time under A, B or C. If your swimmer's time placed her first through third within the “A”, "B' or "C" age group of swimmers, your swimmer will have earned points for the team. 

My child didn’t finish first in his heat, yet he received a first place award; why is that?

Awards are given based on final times for each stroke and age group in A, B, and C swim categories (Time Standards). Sometimes a swimmer swims in a heat with swimmers from different categories, so a swimmer could earn a first place award in "C" category even if he lost to swimmers who got a "B" time in the same heat.

What is the IM Finals Meet?

The Individual Medley (IM) Finals meet is an optional RSTA-wide event held once each summer. This year, the IM Finals meet will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Lake Newport Pool. The 100m Individual Medley is a 100-meter event — each swimmer independently swims 25 meter butterfly, 25 meter backstroke, 25 meter breaststroke, and 25 meter freestyle, in that order in a single continuous race.  

Who can participate in the IM Finals Meet?

RSTA encourages maximum participation in league-wide events. Swimmers who wish to compete in this event and who are deemed capable by their team coaches may do so. Swimmers must be able to swim four legal strokes. Please note the 100-meter IM is a long and strenuous event and may not be suited to the stamina of all swimmers, especially younger and/or less experienced swimmers.

What is the All Star Meet?

The All Star Meet is a league-wide event held once each summer and marks the end of the RSTA season. This year's All Star meet will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2023 at 7:30 a.m. at Lake Newport Pool. 

Who can participate in the All Star Meet?

To the extent possible, the top 12 swimmers in each stroke by gender and age group are invited to compete in the All Star Meet, with the caveat that no swimmer will compete in more than two of the four individual events. This caveat is designed to allow for maximum participation in this league-wide meet. Swimmers may qualify for All Stars using race results up to and including the last dual meet of the season. League-wide top times are posted on the RSTA website after each weekend of dual meets, so swimmers can check where they are in the rankings for their age group.