About the MSL Championship Meet

Champs is the last meet of the season, usually held in late June. It is the Marin Swim League equivalent of the World Championships or the Olympics as ALL TEN teams come together to participate in one big swim meet.

Champs is as much about team pride as it is about determining which team has the fastest swimmers in each event. The competition is based on depth and breadth of the team, as well as commitment. Maximizing participation in this meet is our team goal.

• Eligibility
• Format
• Scoring
• Awards
• Tips for New Families

Eligibility

To be eligible to swim in the Championship meet, a swimmer must have swum in at least three dual meets. There are, however, no qualifying times.  EVERYONE CAN AND SHOULD SWIM IN THIS MEET!

Format

Champs is a full day event and is broken into two sessions:

• The Morning Session is for 10 & Unders and runs from 7:30 AM until about 12:00 NOON. Warmups start promptly at 6:30am, and relay swimmers should be lined up for their races by 7:15 AM.  
  • 8 & U Boys and 9 -10 Girls swim in the Deep end of the pool. 
  • 8 & U Girls and 9 -10 Boys swim in the Shallow end of the pool. 
  • All Relays are in the deep end.
• The Afternoon Session is for 11 & Ups and runs from 2:00 PM until about 6:00 PM. Warmups start promptly at 1:00 PM and relay swimmers should be lined up for their races by 1:45PM.
  • 11 -12 Boys & Girls swim in the Shallow end. 
  • The 13 & Older Boys & Girls swim in the Deep end.   
  • All Relays are in the deep end.

Swimmers do not need to qualify for Champs. Anyone is welcome. You sign up for events for Champs just like you do for any other swim meet.

Unlike dual meets, heats at Champs progress from slowest swimmers to fastest swimmers. Hence the fastest heat is the last heat in that age group. The same order of races is followed as in dual meets:

1. Medley Relays
2. Freestyle
3. Backstroke
4. Breaststroke
5. Butterfly
6. Individual Medley
7. Free Relays

Scoring

Points are awarded through 16th place for individual events (based on time) and through 10th place for relays (also based on time) so the dynamics of this meet are very different from the dual meets, where only the top three finishers score points.  Every swimmer is important to their team!  

Team trophies are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place only.

Awards

Medals are awarded to places 1-8 and ribbons to places 9-16. These swimmers earn points for their team.  These medals and ribbons are available to swimmers at Champs Dinners/Celebrations on the day after the Champs Meet.

• At 12:00PM, the high point awards are given out to the 10 & under boy and girl winners of each age group.
• At 6:00 PM, the high point awards are given out to the 11 & older boy and girl winners of each age group, and to top five championship teams.

Tips for New Families​

• It is your responsibility to get your child to the line up spot. Please explain to them the importance of listening to the line marshals so they will make their race. 
  • The staging (lineup) area for 8 & under boys is the ramp at the deep end of the pool.
  • The staging (lineup) area for 8 & under Girls is the road above the pool near the locker room.
• Marshals at the staging area will be lining up children from all ten teams and will not know your child. Please help out by
  • Writing your child's name in bold black letters on his or her swim cap
  • Writing your child's race, lane, and heat numbers on his/her hand. 
• Each team has a tent in the field outside of the pool. This is the place to camp out and leave your stuff.
• There is no "camping" in the bleachers, and no folding chairs, tents, or other gear is allowed in the pool deck area since space is so limited.