Meet And Session Types
Timed Finals Vs. Prelims/Finals
Timed Finals
Most meets your swimmer attends use timed finals. Each swimmer races an event once, and everyone's times across all heats determine the final results.
Winning your heat does not necessarily mean winning the event.
All DCST home meets are timed-finals meets.
Prelims & Finals
Some championship and larger meets use preliminaries and finals, usually shortened to prelims/finals.
During prelims, everyone entered in the event races. The fastest swimmers advance and race the event again during finals.
PRELIMS → QUALIFY → FINALS
The finals race determines the final places among the swimmers who advance.
What If My Swimmer Qualifies for Finals?
Don't leave!
Results are posted after the event. Swimmers who qualify for finals generally have a limited amount of time to declare that they will not return for the finals session. DCST strongly recommends swimming finals when you qualify. If you're unsure whether your swimmer qualified or what happens next, check with your swimmer's coach before leaving the meet.
Championship Meets
Districts and State aren't the only championship opportunities available to DCST swimmers. As swimmers progress and achieve qualifying times, they may become eligible for other YMCA and USA Swimming championship meets.
These meets have their own qualifying standards, age requirements, and eligibility rules. Coaches will help swimmers and families understand which championship meets they qualify for and which are appropriate for them. DCST is a dual YMCA and USA Swimming team, but we prioritize YMCA championships over USA Swimming championships if dates overlap.
YMCA Championships
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Junior Districts (Winter Only)List Item 1
Junior Districts gives swimmers up through age 12 a championship meet opportunity even if they have not yet reached the qualifying standards for higher-level championship meets. This makes Junior Districts a great opportunity for swimmers who are still working toward District and other qualifying times.
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Districts (Winter Only)List Item 2
Swimmers must meet the eligibility and qualifying requirements for the meet, including time requirements for swimmers ages 12 and under. Districts also provide an opportunity to achieve qualifying times for higher-level championship meets.
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YMCA StateList Item 3
The YMCA State Championship is held in both the winter and summer seasons and brings together qualifying YMCA swimmers from across Illinois.
To compete in an individual event at State, a swimmer must achieve the required State qualifying time for that event.
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YMCA Nationals
The YMCA National Championship is held in both the winter and summer seasons and brings together qualifying YMCA swimmers from across the country.
Swimmers must achieve the required YMCA National qualifying time and meet YMCA eligibility requirements to compete.
USA Swimming Championships
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Illinois Swimming Regionals
A championship opportunity for Illinois Swimming athletes who meet the applicable Regional qualifying standards.
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Illinois Swimming 10&U State
A statewide championship for swimmers age 10 and under who achieve the required qualifying times.
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Illinois Swimming 11–14 Age Group State
A statewide championship for swimmers ages 11–14 who achieve the required Age Group State qualifying times.
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Illinois Swimming Senior State
A statewide championship for swimmers who achieve the required Senior State qualifying standards, regardless of age.
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Central Zone 14&U Championship (Summer Only)
A summer championship bringing together qualifying swimmers age 14 and under from across USA Swimming’s Central Zone.
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Central Zone North Sectionals (Summer Only)
A high-level summer championship for swimmers who achieve the Central Zone North Sectional qualifying standards.
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Futures Championships (Summer Only)
A national-level summer championship for swimmers who achieve USA Swimming Futures qualifying standards.
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Junior National Championships
A national championship for qualifying junior swimmers from across the country, with winter and summer championship opportunities.
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USA Swimming National Championships (Summer Only)
USA Swimming’s premier national championship, bringing together many of the fastest qualifying swimmers in the country.