If you're new to high school swim, you may find it a bit confusing. So forget what you know about USA Swimming, YMCA, or typical summer league meets. High school swim is structured like the collegiate sport. There are two teams: the boys' team and the girls' team. Each team combines both swim and dive. So it's the boys' swim and dive team, and the girls' swim and dive team. Swim and dive points are added together for each team to determine the meet scores. At the end of the event the girls, the boys, both, or neither may have won their meet.

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

Dual Meets

In 2005, Robinson moved from the Patriot Division to the Concorde Division in the Northern Virginia region due to realignment and the opening of the South County Secondary School in Lorton, Virginia.  Here are a list of the districts in the Northern Virginia Region.

The high school swim & dive season begins with six dual meets in which Robinson successively competes against the other teams in our district, plus one dual meet against a team outside our district. These dual meets form the core of the high school season.

Don't look for traditional meet sheets, a scoreboard, or times to be posted at the end of the lanes at the dual meets. Our team rep will pass out to the Robinson spectators a list of our swimmers by event; however, you won't get a list from the other team. And swimmers can be changed by either team virtually up to the minute they swim. If you arrive after the lists have been handed out, just ask another Robinson parent where they got theirs.

All high school meets have 11 swimming events - eight individual events and three relay events. For dual meets, each team enters four swimmers in each individual event and four relay teams in each relay event. Swimmers may enter a maximum of four events, no more than two of which can be individual events. Swimmers are selected by the coach for each event or relay based on their times and the coach's goals for that meet. Lanes are assigned with the fastest swimmers/relays getting the inside lanes. Relays are labeled A, B, C, and D usually with the fastest competitors assigned to the A Relay. In meets against less competitive teams, swimmers may have the opportunity to swim off events to mix things up and have some fun. For these more relaxed meets, relay teams may be scrambled as well.

There are three relay events and eight individual events. The order of the events is as follows for all high school meets – whether dual meet or championship meet:

§        200 Yard Medley Relay
§         200 Yard Freestyle
§         200 Yard Individual Medley
§         50 Yard Freestyle
§         100 Yard Butterfly
§         100 Yard Freestyle
§         500 Yard Freestyle
§         200 Yard Freestyle Relay
§         100 Yard Backstroke
§         100 Yard Breaststroke
§         400 Yard Freestyle Relay

For dual meets (which have a maximum of four entries per team):

• Relays are scored: 10-5-3-0 — with only two relay teams being allowed to score for each team in each relay event.
• Individual events are scored: 8-6-5-4-3-2-1-0.

Boys and girls alternate in swimming each of the events, with the boys starting the meet. There is typically a 10-minute break after the 500 yard freestyle. The dive meet is held in conjunction with the swim meet, either before the meet or concurrent with it, depending on whether the facility has a separate diving well. Points from the dive team are added to swim team points to arrive at a total meet score. Meets are won or lost based on total points. Sometimes dive results determine the outcome of the meet. So it's important for swimmers and their friends and family to support the dive team as well. Yes, the meets have come down to a 1 or 2 point win/loss.

Don't be surprised if you don't know the score at the end of the meet. By the time the swimmers emerge from the locker rooms, however, the word should be getting around. There are no ribbons or other awards for the dual meets, just an opportunity for swimmers to better their times, help the team win, set a team record, or get a Region or State qualifying time—or perhaps even achieve All American.

Championship Meets

District Championship:

Following the dual meets on successive weeks are the district championship meet, the regional championship meet, and the state championship meet. For Robinson these are the Concorde District Championship, the Northern Region Championship, and the AAA Virginia State Championship. As in dual meets, individuals may enter a maximum of four events, no more than two of which can be individual events. Unlike dual meets, however, these meets do have meet sheets and use score boards, and often use touch pads for more accurate timing.

The team's dual meet win/loss record has no affect on Districts. Robinson'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 Finals. Relays are swum only during finals. The top six swimmers/relays from Finals, plus any other swimmers who have met the Region qualifying time standard advance to Regions. Region and State qualifying time standards. To be eligible to participate in 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 Consolidate Finals will determined 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. See page 13 for Region and State qualifying time standards.
Region and State qualifying time standards

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 determined 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 highlight of the high school swim season is States - an exciting meet to make. As noted above, the swimmers/relays from the Final heat at Regions and those with State qualifying times get the opportunity to swim in States. This meet is also divided into prelims, and Consolations and Finals. Those reaching Finals receive medals. Most years states is held somewhere in Northern Virginia, but from time to time it is held elsewhere in the state. When States is located outside of Northern Virginia, the Rams Athletic Boosters cover the travel, lodging, and food expense of the athletes.

Scoring. Scoring will be 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 determined the points assigned.

Awards: A trophy is provided to the top three girls' and boys' teams. Medals are given for individuals and relay teams through 8^th place. Making the Finals heat guarantees you of medalling because swimmers in Consolations Finals cannot bump up into the Finals heat. State patches are provided for the winning girls' and boys' team.

Region and State Qualifying Time Standards Explained
Region and State qualifying time standards

Region and State qualifying time standards are not cuts. Think of them more as guarantees. You do not need to have swum the time standard to make Regions or States. You can make Regions by being one of the top six Finalists at Districts and States by being one of the top eight finalists at Regions. In fact, Region and State time standards are set at the average of 8^th place in recent years. Thus, if you meet the standard you are swimming at a level that will probably enable you to medal in the meet. Swimmers who have met the standard may swim in the meet regardless of their performance - or even ability to attend - the preceding championship meet.

The Winter Sports Banquet and Other Festivities

But wait, even after States the season isn't quite over. The Winter Sports Banquet and traditional end of season team party bring the season to a close for all members of the team to celebrate the team's accomplishments that year. All team members receive a packet with their certificate of participation and any other honors or recognitions they've achieved that year. This could include an athletic letter, scholar athlete award, patches for championship meets, team record certificates, and an assortment of other special plaques and awards. See the "Other Awards and Recognition" section of the How to Make the Biggest Meets of the Year page for more information on special recognition that can be achieved.