MCSL rule changes for summer 2026

[Anonymous]

I'll go first.....

Change the age group determination rule. Kids should age up on the day of their birthday just like they do in year-round swim. They shouldn't swim based on what their age is on June 1st.

What other rule changes would you like to see in MCSL?

[Anonymous]

Why?

[Anonymous]

You want 10% of the kids to have to swim completely different lengths of races over the course of a recreational 6-week season? What an idea. Astonish us with more of your brilliance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll go first.....

Change the age group determination rule. Kids should age up on the day of their birthday just like they do in year-round swim. They shouldn't swim based on what their age is on June 1st.

What other rule changes would you like to see in MCSL?

That's a dumb one and thankfully it's dead on arrival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want 10% of the kids to have to swim completely different lengths of races over the course of a recreational 6-week season? What an idea. Astonish us with more of your brilliance.

Np here. What if they swim the age that they are by divisionals of that season. For example, if they turn 9 on july 15th, they swim as a 9 year old the whole season, 50 free from time trials on.

Once you are 9 it’s because you have completed 9 years of life ( in Spanish your birthday is your cumpleaños—complete year) so you’re more 9 than 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want 10% of the kids to have to swim completely different lengths of races over the course of a recreational 6-week season? What an idea. Astonish us with more of your brilliance.

Np here. What if they swim the age that they are by divisionals of that season. For example, if they turn 9 on july 15th, they swim as a 9 year old the whole season, 50 free from time trials on.

Once you are 9 it’s because you have completed 9 years of life ( in Spanish your birthday is your cumpleaños—complete year) so you’re more 9 than 8.

You'd want to pick a set date rather than the date of a meet that moves around. Otherwise kids could be the same age twice and skip years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want 10% of the kids to have to swim completely different lengths of races over the course of a recreational 6-week season? What an idea. Astonish us with more of your brilliance.

Np here. What if they swim the age that they are by divisionals of that season. For example, if they turn 9 on july 15th, they swim as a 9 year old the whole season, 50 free from time trials on.

Once you are 9 it’s because you have completed 9 years of life ( in Spanish your birthday is your cumpleaños—complete year) so you’re more 9 than 8.

So now you’re disadvantaging a different group of kids?

[Anonymous]

How about changing June 1 to August 1? That will cover divisionals and all-stars?

[Anonymous]

Is this thread just about age up dates?

I'd like to see MCSL adopt NVSL rules on maximum number of events to be more inclusive in A meets. A 2 event max seems preferable to the MCSL rule which allows 3 individual events, plus IM plus a relay - so a swimmer can swim in 5 events each A meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this thread just about age up dates?

I'd like to see MCSL adopt NVSL rules on maximum number of events to be more inclusive in A meets. A 2 event max seems preferable to the MCSL rule which allows 3 individual events, plus IM plus a relay - so a swimmer can swim in 5 events each A meet.

I like this rule, but would it help or hurt smaller teams that can’t fill lanes? Would an empty lane be more or less of a penalty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this thread just about age up dates?

I'd like to see MCSL adopt NVSL rules on maximum number of events to be more inclusive in A meets. A 2 event max seems preferable to the MCSL rule which allows 3 individual events, plus IM plus a relay - so a swimmer can swim in 5 events each A meet.

I like this rule, but would it help or hurt smaller teams that can’t fill lanes? Would an empty lane be more or less of a penalty?

They could modify the rule similar to how they do age ups when they can't fill lanes (if there aren't enough 13-14yo boys, for example, they can age up an 11-12yo) - so if they really don't have enough swimmers to fill the lanes, a swimmer could swim a 3rd event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this thread just about age up dates?

I'd like to see MCSL adopt NVSL rules on maximum number of events to be more inclusive in A meets. A 2 event max seems preferable to the MCSL rule which allows 3 individual events, plus IM plus a relay - so a swimmer can swim in 5 events each A meet.

No, it's about a crazy summer swim parent who has a kid who got beat by a kid who is playing by the same rules as everyone else and they are upset because they want their kid to win a race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want 10% of the kids to have to swim completely different lengths of races over the course of a recreational 6-week season? What an idea. Astonish us with more of your brilliance.

Np here. What if they swim the age that they are by divisionals of that season. For example, if they turn 9 on july 15th, they swim as a 9 year old the whole season, 50 free from time trials on.

Once you are 9 it’s because you have completed 9 years of life ( in Spanish your birthday is your cumpleaños—complete year) so you’re more 9 than 8.

So now you’re disadvantaging a different group of kids?

There’s always someone who will be upset, I guess. But it always seemed weird to me the way it is.

I agree with the pp about limiting events in A meets. More kids would have the fun/pride of doing A meets AND there would be more parent volunteers around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want 10% of the kids to have to swim completely different lengths of races over the course of a recreational 6-week season? What an idea. Astonish us with more of your brilliance.

Np here. What if they swim the age that they are by divisionals of that season. For example, if they turn 9 on july 15th, they swim as a 9 year old the whole season, 50 free from time trials on.

Once you are 9 it’s because you have completed 9 years of life ( in Spanish your birthday is your cumpleaños—complete year) so you’re more 9 than 8.

Prior to the turn of the century the date was in July (don't remember if it was the first or a date that followed the completion of the season). Not sure why they changed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this thread just about age up dates?

I'd like to see MCSL adopt NVSL rules on maximum number of events to be more inclusive in A meets. A 2 event max seems preferable to the MCSL rule which allows 3 individual events, plus IM plus a relay - so a swimmer can swim in 5 events each A meet.

No, it's about a crazy summer swim parent who has a kid who got beat by a kid who is playing by the same rules as everyone else and they are upset because they want their kid to win a race.

Np. Maybe. But there is a very valid point that you have say, an actual 9 year olds swimming as an "8 and under".

This would be fixed by moving the cut off date to August 1. That way everyone swims their actual age. Someone just screwed up years ago when the current cut off date was selected.