I coached in both Texas and Mich. In Texas the best swimmers are not represented in the State meet but rather a few representatives are sent from each district. Super fast districts could only send their allotment. In Michigan if you hit the qualifying time during the season, you were in automatically. I think qualifying times are the way to go. I wonder why every state couldn't do qualifying times and add token swimmers from slower districts to maintain the status quo? What other states are like Texas (may only send a district allotment)? I can't believe Texas hasn't changed to qualifying standards! What do you think?
Wow! I used to think that Illinois had a messed up system, but then I read about these others...
My senior year (I swam senior year and Grade 9), I lived in Delaware. In DE, if you made the State cut at any time during the HS season, you were in the State meet. However, remember, we're talking Delaware. The cuts were pretty slow and the State meet was still a very manageable size...
My husband has coached HS swimming in Illinois for several years now. In Illinois, there are Sectional meets that occur a week before States. To make State, you have to:
A. swim the State cut at the Sectional meet - there is no limit to how many kids can go from each Sectional in a particular event
B. even if you don't make the State cut, if you win your event at Sectional you can make State
So, every now and then you have a really slow sectional where the winner doesn't make the cut and still gets to go to State. In our sectional, though, you often get 6 kids who all make the cut and all go to State.
Wow! I used to think that Illinois had a messed up system, but then I read about these others...
My senior year (I swam senior year and Grade 9), I lived in Delaware. In DE, if you made the State cut at any time during the HS season, you were in the State meet. However, remember, we're talking Delaware. The cuts were pretty slow and the State meet was still a very manageable size...
My husband has coached HS swimming in Illinois for several years now. In Illinois, there are Sectional meets that occur a week before States. To make State, you have to:
A. swim the State cut at the Sectional meet - there is no limit to how many kids can go from each Sectional in a particular event
B. even if you don't make the State cut, if you win your event at Sectional you can make State
So, every now and then you have a really slow sectional where the winner doesn't make the cut and still gets to go to State. In our sectional, though, you often get 6 kids who all make the cut and all go to State.
