About High School Swim

Previous-season reference. Information below is preserved from the old team site. Dates, eligibility rules, qualification standards, and district references need confirmation for the new season.

Navigating the world of high school swim can initially seem overwhelming if you're familiar with USA Swimming, YMCA, or standard summer league formats. However, it's crucial to understand that high school swimming is modeled after the collegiate system. There are two distinct teams: one for the boys and one for the girls. Both these teams encompass swimming and diving disciplines. The scores from swimming and diving are consolidated to determine the outcome of the meet. Consequently, by the event's conclusion, it's possible for the girls, boys, both, or neither team to emerge victorious in their respective meets.

Here's an overview of what to expect and how to enjoy the high school season..

District / Regional Alignment

McLean High School is in the Liberty District in Region D (the Northern Region) of the Virginia High School League as of 2021.

Dual Meets

The high school swim & dive season kicks off with McLean participating in six consecutive dual meets against district rivals, in addition to a single dual meet against an out-of-district opponent. These dual meets represent the heart of the high school season.

At these meets, you won't find traditional meet sheets, scoreboards, or times displayed at lane ends. Instead, the coaches will send out virtual meet sheets to McLean spectators, detailing swimmers by event. However, you will not receive a list from the opposing team.

Furthermore, both teams have the flexibility to modify their swimmer line-ups nearly until the very moment they dive in. If you miss the virtual distribution, don't hesitate to ask another McLean parent about how to access the list. But keep in mind that things can always change.

Every high school meet comprises 11 swimming events: eight solo and three relay races. For dual meets, each team introduces four swimmers for each solo event and fields four relay teams for each relay. Swimmers can participate in up to four events, with a maximum of two being individual races. The coach selects swimmers’ entries in each event or relay based on their best times and the strategic objectives for the meet. The fastest swimmers and relays are typically allocated the innermost lanes. Relays are usually labeled as A, B, C, or D, with the fastest participants often assigned to the A Relay.

During meets against less competitive teams, swimmers might get a chance to participate in off events, bringing in a fun twist to the regular lineup. In these meets, relay teams might also see a mix-up for a change of pace. There's a fixed order for events in all high school swim meets, be it dual or championship:

1. 200 yard medley relay
2. 200 yard freestyle
3. 200 yard individual medley
4. 50 yard freestyle
5. 100 yard butterfly
6. 100 yard freestyle
7. 500 yard freestyle
8. 200 yard freestyle relay
9. 100 yard backstroke
10. 100 yard breaststroke
11. 400 yard freestyle relay

For dual meets, where each team can have up to four entries: - Relays score as: 10–5–3–0. Only two relay teams from each side can score in each relay event. - Individual events are scored in the order: 8-6-5-4-3-2-1-0.

The boys and girls take turns swimming each event, with the boys usually starting off. Expect a short 10-minute respite after the 500- yard freestyle. The diving component of the meet either precedes the swimming or takes place simultaneously, based on whether there's a separate diving area. Dive team scores are combined with the swim team's, determining the overall meet outcome. Sometimes, the results from the diving section can tip the balance of the entire meet, making it imperative to support our divers just as vigorously. Indeed, there have been meets that have ended with a nail-biting difference of just a point or two.

At the end of the meet, you might not immediately know the score. But once the swimmers are out of the locker rooms, word typically spreads. Dual meets might not come with ribbons or accolades, but they provide invaluable opportunities: swimmers can aim to improve their times, contribute to a team victory, set a new team record, qualify for Regional or State championships, or even attain the prestigious All-American status.

Championship Meets

The old site names both Liberty and Concorde districts, and uses the older “AAA” state label. These references are retained here for review.

District Championship

After the consecutive weeks of dual meets, the competition progresses to higher stakes with the district, regional, and state championship meets. For McLean, this sequence includes the Concorde District Championship, the Northern Region Championship, and the AAA Virginia State Championship. As with dual meets, participants can enter up to four events, but only two of these can be individual races. In contrast to dual meets, these championship events provide meet sheets, utilize scoreboards, and often employ touch pads to ensure precise timing.

The team's dual meet win/loss record has no effect on Districts. McLean's top four swimmers in each individual event and the top relay in each relay event are selected to participate in Districts. District prelims are scheduled for Friday night and finals for Saturday night. The fastest eight swimmers/relays from prelims qualify for Finals; the next fastest eight swimmers/relays qualify for Consolation (B) finals. The top six swimmers/relays from Finals, plus any other swimmers who have met the Region qualifying time standard advance to Regions. To be eligible to participate at Districts, a swimmer must compete in four of the seven dual meets.

Scoring: Scoring is through 16 places.

Relay Events: 40-34-32-30-28-26-24-22-18-14-12-10-8-6-4-2. Individual Events: 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.

The order of finish in the Finals and Consolation Finals will determine the points assigned. The winning team receives a Championship Picture Plaque and 50 patches.

Awards and Recognition: The winning team receives a Championship Picture Plaque and 50 patches. Medals are given to the top four individual finishers and the top three relays. The top swimmer in each event is named to the First Team All District; and the second swimmer in each event is named to the Second Team All District. Members of the All District teams receive certificates at the end of the season. All members of the winning team receive a District Championship patch .

Regional Championship

Regions is the next step up in competition. You qualify for Regions by being one of the top six finishers in the Finals heat at Districts or having swum the Regions qualifying time at any high school meet during the current season including any heat at Districts. As in Districts there are prelims and finals. Unlike districts, relays participate in prelims as well. After Prelims, the fastest eight individuals/relay teams will advance to Finals, and the second fastest eight swimmers/relays advance to Consolation Finals. All eight individuals in the Finals heat and the top four relay teams advance to states, along with any additional individuals or teams who have met the State standard time.

Scoring: Scoring is through 16 places.

Relay Events: 40-34-32-30-28-26-24- 22-18-14-12-10-8-6-4-2. Individual Events: 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-9-7-6- 5-4-3-2-1. The order of finish in the consolation finals and finals will determine the points assigned.

Awards: Trophies go to the championship and runner-up teams. Medals are given for first through eighth place for individual events and first through fourth places for relays. The top swimmer in each event is named to the First Team All Region; and the second swimmer in each event is named to the Second Team All Region. Members of the All Region teams receive certificates at the end of the season. All members of the winning team receive a Region Championship patch.

State Championship

The pinnacle of the high school swim season is the States - a prestigious and thrilling meet to qualify for. As previously mentioned, the swimmers and relays from the final heat at Regions, as well as those who meet the state qualifying times, earn the chance to compete at States. This championship is structured into preliminaries, Consolations, and Finals. Medals are awarded to those who make it to the Finals. While States is typically hosted in Northern Virginia, it occasionally takes place in other parts of the state - which can be very expensive and is a big reason why we need to fundraise.

Scoring: Scoring is through 16 places.

Relay Events: 40-34-32-30-28-26-24- 22-18-14-12-10-8-6-4-2. Individual Events: 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-9-7-6- 5-4-3-2-1. The order of finish in the consolation finals and finals will determine the points assigned.

Awards: The top three girls’ and boys’ teams are honored with trophies at the conclusion of the competition. Additionally, both individual swimmers and relay teams up to the 8th place are awarded medals. Securing a spot in the Finals heat ensures a medal, as swimmers in the Consolations Finals cannot advance into the Finals heat. Furthermore, state patches are bestowed upon the victorious girls’ and boys’ teams as a mark of their outstanding achievement.