Swim meets are classified according to the time standards that they offer, A meets (swimmers with A times), BC meets (swimmers with B or C times) etc. The time standards sheet tells you what class your swimmer’s events fall into. (See Time Standards on Home page under "More Information"). If their times are not yet on this sheet, they are considered Pre-C swimmers and should swim in our Quad meets. Competitions in Minnesota are usually divided into the following classifications: Zone, CH, A, B, C and Quad meets. There are time standards established for each classification, each event and each age group. The following age groups apply: 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 15-18, 15 & Older and Senior. Swimmers must compete in the appropriate classification and age for each event.

Swim meets are also divided into short course (SC), 25 yards, and long course (LC), 50 meter. The 50 meter competitions are usually in the summer. The coaching staff enters swimmers in all swim meets. Coaches will put swimmers in the events they would like them to swim, not always in their best events. Requests may be placed in the comment section on the registration, however coaches will always have the final say. The classifications for swim meets are usually as follows:

• Quad Meets:  The BLA Quad are meets with all of Blackline Aquatics; including the Bloomington, Richfield and Chaska swimmers. They are intended for Age Groupers and Novice with no meet experience, C times, or Pre-C times. A/B swimmers wanting to experience new events are also welcome. These meets are not sanctioned, so the times can’t be used for B and above meets or Final meets of the season.
• B/C-Open:  Swim meets for swimmers with B and C times. These meets have been opened to swimmers that do not have C times in all of their events. Swimmers without C times must have their coach’s permission to enter these meets.
• A/B/C-Open:  Swim meets for swimmers with A, B and C times. These meets have been opened to swimmers that do not have C times in all of their events. Swimmers without C times must have their coach’s permission to enter these meets.
• A:  Swim meets for swimmers with A times or faster times.

The classifications above are the most common classifications, but there are other variations.

Relays:  The coaching staff will invite swimmers to represent Blackline on relays. The coaches will inform the swimmers of the selection criteria, which is usually the four fastest swimmers. The coaching staff will not take any recommendations on relays. All decisions are on the coaches’ discretion.

It is an honor to be selected for a team relay. If your swimmer is selected for a Championship relay we expect the swimmer to participate. A swimmer does not have to swim an individual event at a Championship to swim in a relay.

Time Trials:  Time trials are offered at some swim meets as a last chance swim. Time trials are not encouraged by the Richfield coaching staff, but there might be specific reasons why it would or should be done. It will be the coaches’ decision whether or not a swimmer will be allowed to time trial an event. The coaches’ decision will be final. The coaching staff will always do what they believe is best for the swimmer.