Meets and Events
How Swimmers are Selected for Events
In accordance with MSSL regulations, swimmers may swim in four events with no more than three individual events. Parents can select events for their swimmers, however, the coaches will make final decisions which events each swimmer will enter. The coaches enter swimmers based upon the swimmer’s performance at practices and meets, stroke requests made online when entering your swimmer into the meet, as well as the needs of the team. Relay teams are put together based solely on the swimmer’s certified time documented in the team database. Relay teams my change week to week as the swimmers’ times improve.
Order of Events
1)Medley Relays
2) Freestyle
3) Breaststroke
4) Individual Medley
5) Backstroke
6) Butterfly
7) Freestyle Relays
Each event will start with the youngest girls’ group in each event and work up through the age groups, alternating girls and boys.
Length of Course
| Age Group | Strokes | Distance |
| 6 & under, | Freestyle and Backstroke | 25 yards |
| 8 & under | Breaststroke, Butterfly | 25 yards |
| 100 Freestyle Relay, Medley relay | 100 yards | |
| 9-10 | Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly | 25 yards |
| Freestyle and Medley relays | 100 yards | |
| 10 & under | Individual Medley (IM) | 100 yards |
| 11-12, 13-14, 15-18 | Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly | 50 yards |
| IM | 100 yards | |
| Freestyle & Medley relays | 200 yards |
Seeding
All entries will have the fastest official times listed on them. Swimmers will be placed so that the heat progression occurs from slowest to fastest.
Scoring
Dual Meet Scoring
Individual Events: 7-5-4-3-2-1, points for 1st-6th
Relays: 14 for 1st, 10 for 2nd , 8 for 3rd, 6 for 4th
When competitors tie, the points of the places involved will be added together and equally divided among the tied swimmers. After disqualification, the following places move up in order of finish. No points or ribbons are given to the disqualified entry.
If teams are equal in points at the end of a meet, the total number of first place finishes will determine the winner.
Rules of Competition
Rules for MSSL are published each year in the MSSL Rule Book. All meets are governed by these rules.
Questions on rule interpretations should be directed to the team rep. At no time are parents allowed to question or argue ruling with the officials or referees.
You may view the MSSL rulebook on the MSSL website at https://mssl.swimtopia.com
Disqualifications
Disqualifications are a part of any swimmer’s season. If a judge notices a stroke infraction, then the swimmer will be disqualified from that event. As the disqualified swimmer exits the pool, an official will notify the swimmer of the disqualification and what infraction occurred to cause the disqualification. Please be aware that the official is only transferring information radioed to him by the judges and is not responsible for your child’s disqualification. Please support your swimmer and tell them what a good job they did and allow the coaches to work on what happened to cause the disqualification. If there is a protest on any calls, do not address the officials. Take your concern to our team representative who will handle the situation for you.
Miscellaneous Information
Swimmers must be entered in the meet before the exchange of information with the other team. No additions can be made after the exchange.
In order to swim at the divisional meet, a swimmer must participate in at least two dual meets and receive a finishing time.
Swimmers must start and finish the race in their assigned lane.
Standing on the bottom during a race shall not disqualify a swimmer for freestyle and backstroke as long as he/she does not walk or spring from the bottom.
Grabbing the lane ropes will not disqualify a swimmer from freestyle or backstroke as long as he/she does not pull on the lane rope to gain an advantage.
Swimming competition shall be suspended when thunder is heard or lightning is visible. Competition will be suspended for a period of fifteen minutes from the last occurrence.
