As we get ready for our big divisional finals meet, it’s worth keeping in mind that our end of season invitationals weekend is just around the corner.  To those families unfamiliar with this part of the season, it is essentially an extra swim meet for those swimmers who have met a time standard in any of the various strokes.  For many, it is considered a goal and a sign of achievement to meet the time standards, and attending the meet a reward for getting those times.  Even so, it is entirely up to you and your swimmer if this is something you’d like to do.

Teams from all over NWAL participate in one of three general qualifying meets, and as in past years we will participate in the Red, White & Blue invitational.  For each event in this meet there are three significant qualifying times: the Red, the Blue, and the Cut off (or “White”).  To qualify for the meet a swimmer has to have been faster than the Red time in at least one official meet this summer (time trial times don’t count).  Swimmers who have achieved the Red time, but not the Blue time, will compete for awards (and team points) in that event, against only those who also have not made the faster Blue time.  For those who have made the Blue standard, they will be competing against the faster swimmers in the meet, also for awards and points.  Those swimmers who have been faster than the Cut off time, may not swim that event at Red, White, & Blue - they are eligible to swim that event at the Ponderosa Invitational.  The idea behind this structure is to allow kids to swim against other kids with a similar range of ability.

The time standards for Red, White & Blue are posted on the bulletin board at the pool.  You can also go to our Swimtopia website, and click on meet entry sign up (it is open).  You will be able to see which events each swimmer has qualified for – and sign up if you choose.  Times from divisionals will count, so you might want to check how close your swimmers are, if you’d like to give them a little extra motivation.  Like Sprint Sizzler, there is a meet entry fee of $7 for each event, and $12 for each team relay ($3 for each swimmer).  We will not be automatically assembling team relays for the invitationals, so if you’d like to participate in a relay with other swimmers in the same age/gender group who will be attending – please coordinate with each other and make a clear note of which relay and swimmers when you sign up.

Entries for Red, White & Blue will be due Sunday June 19^th by 9 PM.  Entries for Ponderosa will be due Saturday by 9 PM.  If you are sure you would like to attend please feel free to sign up early.