How Scoring Works at Meets.

I am happy to talk with you to help make it clear.  I hope this helps:

Dual Meet Scoring (one team vs. one team):

Individual Events:  The top 5 out of 6 score points:

6 points for 1st.  4 for 2nd.  3 for 3rd.  2 for 4th.  1 for 5th.  (16 possible points per event).

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Here you can actually win the points race without getting first.  If we were to get 2nd, 3rd, and 4th the score would be 9-7.   Depth matters more than speed often in these races.  Simply staying out of last place - so that all three of our athletes score means that the opponent only has two possible scoring athletes, and we have a good chance of out pointing the opponent.
There are 9 Individual events:  200 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, Diving, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 500 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast

Relays:  Only the top 3 places score points:  

8 points for 1st.  4 for 2nd.  2 for 3rd  (14 possible points).

·         In relay events; only the top 2 of the 3 relays from each team may score points.   Here getting 1st is the only way to out point the opponent.  Even if we were to get 2nd and 3rd - we would still be 2 points behind (6 to 8).   Getting 1st and 3rd is truly getting ahead in the score (10 to 4).
There are 3 relays in every meet:  200 Medley, 200 Free, and 400 Free.

It is our goal to score more than half of the available points in each event.  If we do this, the total will always be in our favor.  Once a team has scored its 94th point - it cannot lose as it now has more than half the total number of points allowed.
Every time we win a close race, it is at least one more point for us, and one less for the opponent.  A two point swing.  This is why our swimmers must do push-ups when they get out-touched.

Invitational Scoring (one team vs. many other teams):

Individual Points:  The top 16 finishers overall score points.   All 4 allowed athletes from every team are eligible to reach the top 16 finish - normally there will be 32 total participants in every event.   So outscoring your opponents on the board, or simply having a faster time than half the competition, will allow you to score points for the team (and your letter).   

20 points for 1st  (a 2 point bonus for 1st overall)
17 for 2nd
16 for 3rd
15 for 4th
14 for 5th
13 for 6th
12 for 7th
11 for 8th  (double digits for all top 8)
9 for   9th  (You do get a point bonus for the top spot among the bottom 8)
7 for  10th
6 for  11th
5 for  12th
4 for 13th
3 for 14th
2 for 15th
1 for 16th  (way more than everyone below you).

Relays - the same rules apply - all who place top 16 score points.  Only the points are worth 2 times that of an individual event.  40 for 1st,  34 for 2nd, etc..   With that many points on the line, Relays are massive point hogs.  Safe Starts are key, as we cannot afford to risk that many points.   Even though each swimmer contributes 25% toward the relay - each particapant will collect 50% of the points scored towards their letter.

Here at invitational’s our goal is to score all who enter each event.  Again, quality depth will win these meets.

There is a 3rd way meets are scored, and that only happens in the True Team Sections / State Format - I will not bother to bore you with that - as it is all dependent on the number of participants per event.   Suffice to say that in no other format is Depth rewarded as much as it is in this 3rd type of scoring.

The bottom line:  Everyone matters.  I am a firm believer in that.  We train that way.  We are scored that way.  We will behave that way.

Swim Lessons – What am I looking for?

Learning to Swim; it’s a lifelong lesson – one that saves lives.   Even a competitive swimmer's first job is to avoid death.  The good ones just avoid it faster than most.

Where do I go?  What are the questions I need to ask?  How old should my child be when he/she starts? What do I watch for during my child’s lesson?

First you need to do a self assessment on your own level of comfort with the water.   Some are just not okay with the water at all.  Others are okay with the water as long as your hair stays dry, but once you have your face in the water are a lot less comfortable.  Are you relaxed by yourself in the water, but worry over your child’s safety causes you to tense up?    There are also various stages of tense vs. relaxed when it comes to water.  The single most important thing when you introduce water to a child is to allow that child to enjoy the experience, by being absolutely comfortable with the water. 

  

For parents with a real love of the water, and can’t wait to get in the pool with their baby I highly recommend a ‘Moms and tots’ or ‘Pops and tots’ class.   The child will pick up everything from the parent and basically nothing directly from the instructor – so these classes are primarily about the parents comfort level. 

It is never too late to start, but if you can, at 3 or 4 years old – let’s introduce your child to swimming lessons.  

Here is what you are looking for

•          A ratio of no more than 3 to 1 (kids to instructors).   
•          An instructor that you can see is engaged and is connecting with your child.   
•          An instructor that is encouraging, pointing out all the fun to be had – totally in charge of the mood for the whole lesson, every lesson.
•          A clear objective with the day.  Even if not all of the kids can demonstrate the skill by the end.  As long as there is effort being put forth, and fun being had – it is going great.

Helpers are good – and do not need to be on the same level as the primary – but someone leading has to be in control at all times.

Look for lessons that run for several days in a row.   These are going to have tremendous advantage over those that meet once or twice a week.  Your child’s progression will be remarkably better for going consecutively.

Avoid Red Cross lessons.  The Red Cross is amazing for all it does all over the world and right here at home – but they do not excel at swim lessons – move beyond them.  You will thank me later.   The YMCA is a program I support (NOT due to religious reason, this is purely swimming related, they have a good program progression).    Beyond that swim schools are normally very good – with few exceptions.  You get what you pay for there; a lot.  You may want to seek out your local high school swimmer(s) or team.  They either are, or know the best teachers around.   There are often clinics and camps that are run in schools near you – these are great chances to explore the local scene.   If you take the time to explore locally, you will feel like you are getting a fantastic bang for your buck.  Many teams are seeking to impress the community with how great their swimmers are and offer discounted, sometimes free opportunities to explore the pool.  There will be a wealth of knowledge on deck.

As always feel free to ask questions in the comments below! 

USA's Hardest Workouts... EVER.

From the ASCA 200 Issue Volume 1.  These are unreal. 

·         24 x 400 LCM, 6 of each stroke, descending.  So, 6 x 400 Fly, descending, then 6 x 400 Back, descending and so on.  No interval.  If you can make it, you did it.  Completed by Tom Dolan

·         80 x 200 Free on 2:30 LCM wearing gym shorts.  Completed by Trina Jackson. No one else has done it.  Others tried, but were dragged from the pool barely conscious. 

·         20 x 1500 LCM on 20:00.  Larsen Jensen, made it to #17, then missed his interval.  Stunning.  This give us something to shoot for…

·         4 x 5,000 on 50:00, SCY by Jeff Kostoff.  Did it at Stanford.  That’s 20,000 yards averaging under :60 per 100.  Makes me delirious just thinking about it.

And, the number one toughest workout completed, ever, in the pool:

·         30 x 1,000 on 10:00, completed by Eric Vendt – the gold standard in aquatic masochistic training.  He did this… in HIGH SCHOOL. 

Janet Evans did not make the list - but her intervals on the famous set are here:

4x the following:

1x400 IM (5:15)

2x200 Free (2:00)

4x100 IM (:55)

She would take her heart rate after each round - and the coach (Richard Quick) would often have to shave off interval time to get it to properly elevate. 
As written it is 4800 yards in under 52 mins.  Mostly Non free.
Ready go.