Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do our kids need times in every stroke?
   In order to choose their events at Championships, each swimmer must have a “legal” time in the events they want to swim at Championships. By not getting a legal time before the season ends, the swimmer is limited in their choices for Championships. 
   
   
2. What is a “legal time” anyway?
   A “legal” time is counted when a swimmer completes a race in a particular stroke, using the proper technique as set forth in the NCAA rules and is not disqualified. It is not necessary for a child to have a “legal” time in backstroke or freestyle to enter those events at Championships. It is beneficial however, as it helps them be “seeded” in a heat with swimmers who swim about the same speed. It is required that a swimmer have a legal time to swim the Individual Medley (IM), Butterfly and Breaststroke at Championships. These are harder strokes and require more skills. 
   
   
3. Why do my kids only swim two or three events per meet?
   For each age group, in a six lane pool, there are a total of 15 individual swims per meet. Three lanes each of IM, Free, Butterfly, Back, and Breast. We are limited to a total of 10 “exhibition heats” per meet (league rules). If you have a large number of swimmers in a certain age group, it automatically limits the number of individual swims in which one can be entered. Not all of the exhibition heats can be in one age group. We must share those exhibitions with our opponent. We are committed to getting each swimmer a minimum of two swims per meet, but this often includes relays. The relays add an additional 24 swims per age group. 
   
   
4. Why does my child swim the same stroke that he/she swam the last meet?
   Sometimes, your child is not ready to swim an advanced stroke (particularly early in the season) and would not be “legal” in that stroke. Once they become “legal” in practice, the coach may have them swim that event repeatedly until they become “legal” in competition. In large age groups, there may be other considerations, such as giving other children a chance to get legal times. It is common to see the year round swimmers in the harder events early in the season, for the simple reason that they can usually swim those events “legally”. 
   
   
5. Why is there a last minute push to get legal times?
   Often, children do not master a stroke until the last weeks of practice. Our final dual meet typically does not count as a “legal” time for Championships (because entries are due on Sunday and those meets take place on Tuesday). If a child is in a large age group, there are fewer opportunities to swim those events. This is why we encourage families to attend the Invitational swim meets, which allow parents and swimmers to choose the individual events in which they compete. If those swims are legal, they count for Championships. If you do not want to attend those meets, but your child does, ask around. Many of our parents would be willing to give your child a ride to those meets and help them get to their races.
   
   
6. Can swimmers choose the events they’d like to swim in dual meets?
   The short answer is “no”. Our coaches have to consider many factors in making out a line up. There are limited events for children to swim (remember the 15 individual entries per age group) and not every child is “legal” in every event. The coaches may want to challenge an individual who they think will respond well, or not push a child who will respond negatively to failure. This is ultimately a coaching decision, and parents cannot always appreciate the myriad of factors affecting a large number of children when making out a line up. Again, this is why we encourage our swimmers to attend at least one of the invitational swim meets. At these meets, there are fewer limits placed on entries, and a child can pick their individual events. 
   
   
7. Do some children swim more events at meets than others?
   In a perfect world, no. However, there are often factors beyond our control. In large age groups, we have a lottery system in place to try and even out the swims. Some of you may have noticed that at some meets, some individuals have 3 events and others have 2. Typically, the swimmers who only have 2 events one week will have 3 the next. It all depends on how many meets you attend, if someone becomes ill at the last minute, the number of lanes per pool, the number of children in the age group, and if line up changes must be made “on the fly”. Children occasionally throw up minutes before meets, and must be replaced with the closest warm body not already swimming that event. We make a considerable effort to ensure that the line up is fair. The coaches use a chart to try and spread out the swims, while trying to make sure everyone has a chance at and the ability of getting that legal time. We are all human, however, and there are times that the number of swims is not even. We make line up changes if a disparity in number of swims is brought to our attention whenever possible. This is not always possible, and we hope that you understand that every effort is made to make things as fair as possible. Hours before EACH meet are spent reviewing the meet and trying to even out the number of swims. It is quite complicated, and one change can affect an entire line up. 
   
   
8. Does a relay count as a swim?
   A relay counts as a swim – as in “number of swims per meet” but does not count as a legal time. In large age groups, our goal is to have a minimum of two swims per meet. One of those swims will most certainly be a relay due to the limited number of individual opportunities. It is our intent to have at least one individual swim per meet. 
   
   
9. Why do the same kids swim on the top relay?
   While this is not always the case, the coaches have the liberty to make relays up based on the fastest times. In a competitive environment, one would expect this relay to score points for the team and win the relay. There are times that the coaches may want to try a different combination – to play around with the line up, or give other children a chance to win a first place ribbon. At Championships, relays are ALWAYS determined by our computer and are based on fastest times, period. Our goal is to score as many points as possible at Championships therefore, in some large age-groups, a few children may not make a relay.
   
   
10. Why don’t Intra-squad times count as “legal”?
    The Intra-squad meet is not a league sanctioned meet because of the need for officials from at least two teams to judge the meet and the strokes. It is not credible for us to post a time in an event that is not “sanctioned” or overseen by the league. The League does not recognize those times as being “legal.” 
    
    
11. Can my child practice with a different group?
    We would prefer if your child practiced with his/her assigned group. If you need to make a change, please obtain a practice change form and have it approved by the coaches and the board. We will make every accommodation possible when necessary. How can I help my child be more successful on the team?
    • Practices are offered five days each week. The more practices your child attends, the more successful they will be.
    • If you notice an area that needs improvement, consider enrolling your child in our stroke clinics or sign up for a private lesson. Many of the coaches and lifeguards offer private lessons.
    • Consider attending at least one of the Invitationals. This is the EASIEST way to choose your child’s strokes.
    • Set goals with your child and communicate them to the coaches.
    • We have over 100 children and just 5 coaches. Please understand that our coaches are sometimes stretched to the limit. Swim meets are chaotic and mistakes will occur. Please be patient with your child and their coach.
    • When you see an opportunity to improve the team, please bring it to the attention of the nearest Board member. We can only improve when we know there is a problem to address.
    • Check the website frequently. You can find the latest copy of the Windwood Word, an updated list of “legal times” (called the Best Times report), meet results, and other helpful tools.