Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 11:39     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The lasting impact is because this is a sport where the smallest margins matter. Having a lower seed, outside lane, slower heat, makes a huge difference when the competition comes down to .01
In addition to that, this was a week where most things were cancelled. My son isn't an elite club swimmer, but is a very good high school swimmer. He didn't have practice all week. He made didn't make regionals cut time - but will be in due to being in the top. He was very close though and knowing him, given an extra day and the knowledge of needing the extra push, he would have gotten it done.

Saying it makes a “huge” difference is a bit of an exaggeration.


It's not an exaggeration, it's relative. Is .01 a huge difference, no? Is it a huge difference for a top tier swimmer seeded 1-4th, not really. Does it start to matter more as you go down the seed, yes. Is it a huge difference to the kid who came in 11th at districts and didn't get a second shot, YES.

But that’s relative to other swimmers in their district, how other district meets were run is irrelevant on that point. If you came in 11th at districts a second swim was not going to vault you to a top time such that not only would you have made regionals, but your seeding at regionals would be that much different. Certainly having a second swim is helpful, but all swimmers in that district were in the same position, and it doesn’t impact the fairness of the regional meet itself.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 11:25     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The lasting impact is because this is a sport where the smallest margins matter. Having a lower seed, outside lane, slower heat, makes a huge difference when the competition comes down to .01
In addition to that, this was a week where most things were cancelled. My son isn't an elite club swimmer, but is a very good high school swimmer. He didn't have practice all week. He made didn't make regionals cut time - but will be in due to being in the top. He was very close though and knowing him, given an extra day and the knowledge of needing the extra push, he would have gotten it done.

Saying it makes a “huge” difference is a bit of an exaggeration.


It's not an exaggeration, it's relative. Is .01 a huge difference, no? Is it a huge difference for a top tier swimmer seeded 1-4th, not really. Does it start to matter more as you go down the seed, yes. Is it a huge difference to the kid who came in 11th at districts and didn't get a second shot, YES.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 11:02     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:The lasting impact is because this is a sport where the smallest margins matter. Having a lower seed, outside lane, slower heat, makes a huge difference when the competition comes down to .01
In addition to that, this was a week where most things were cancelled. My son isn't an elite club swimmer, but is a very good high school swimmer. He didn't have practice all week. He made didn't make regionals cut time - but will be in due to being in the top. He was very close though and knowing him, given an extra day and the knowledge of needing the extra push, he would have gotten it done.

Saying it makes a “huge” difference is a bit of an exaggeration.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 10:46     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
The lasting impact is because this is a sport where the smallest margins matter. Having a lower seed, outside lane, slower heat, makes a huge difference when the competition comes down to .01
In addition to that, this was a week where most things were cancelled. My son isn't an elite club swimmer, but is a very good high school swimmer. He didn't have practice all week. He made didn't make regionals cut time - but will be in due to being in the top. He was very close though and knowing him, given an extra day and the knowledge of needing the extra push, he would have gotten it done.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 09:24     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone ever hear back from FCPS and the emails written?


Negative. They completely ignored it.

But we are in National and Patriot ended up also doing timed finals so there was parity. My guess, they view that as a non-issue.

I would be hot if I was in Concorde who did timed finals against Liberty who did prelims/finals. With Liberty youcan definitely see more time drops in finals because they got that second splash.


I keep hearing this but what is the actual lasting impact? The top 10 finishers make it to Regionals regardless of whether there is just timed finals (Concorde) or prelims/finals (Liberty). Yes, there is also the possibility of making Regionals cut times, but having been in this space for 8 years (younger and older swimmers), I have never seen swimmers finish in 11th but get a Regionals cut time. In other words, 10 people from Concorde still make it to Regionals in each event even though it was "just" timed finals. That does not change regardless of whether prelims/finals or timed finals. Yes, it is likely the mix of 10 swimmers that made it to Regionals would be different had there been prelims/finals (e.g., someone who finished 10th in timed finals may have been 11th if they got a second splash and vice versa) - but again, 10 swimmers did make it on to Regionals from Concorde. If your kid finished 10th during timed finals at Concorde, you should be happy with the outcome because they could well have otherwise finished 11th if the format had been prelims/finals.

Now, it is true that seed times may be faster for Liberty District swimmers going into Regionals. That is likely the case. But that will get ironed out in Regionals prelims - those Concorde swimmers will be able to improve their seed times for finals and only Regionals prelims times matter, not those "faster" times from Liberty Districts. Also, swimmers at Regionals will have 2 chances to get States cut times (during prelims and during finals). Finally, for the very best swimmers from the Concorde district, there was one less chance to get a States cut time. But that affects only a handful of very good swimmers and they can go for the States cut times at Regionals. So ultimately, very little impact from the different formats that occurred at the Concorde vs. Liberty Districts meets.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 08:59     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:Anyone ever hear back from FCPS and the emails written?


Negative. They completely ignored it.

But we are in National and Patriot ended up also doing timed finals so there was parity. My guess, they view that as a non-issue.

I would be hot if I was in Concorde who did timed finals against Liberty who did prelims/finals. With Liberty youcan definitely see more time drops in finals because they got that second splash.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 08:51     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anyone ever hear back from FCPS and the emails written?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 19:22     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:Another big storm is forecasted for the day/weekend of Occoquan Regionals in 2 weeks so be prepared for some of these same schools possibly getting impacted again, and like districts and regionals last yr, only having timed finals.


Another big storm?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 18:54     Subject: Re:HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:Is there a website with the cut times?


Your meet sheet from Districts should have the Regional cut times before each event, along with the meet record, the AAA/AAC, and State cuts.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 18:45     Subject: Re:HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Is there a website with the cut times?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 17:59     Subject: Re:HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:Where can we find information about Regionals?


Your team should send that along with the list of swimmers participating from your school. If your kid had a regional cut from this season (hs meets only) or finished in the top 8 in Districts, they are guaranteed to go. Did you have a specific question?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 17:33     Subject: Re:HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Where can we find information about Regionals?
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 11:09     Subject: Re:HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid has state cuts but I still think it’s unfair to allow some competitors to have two bites at the districts apple and others don’t:

- some kids will miss out on getting a regionals cut (and not get to go to regionals) from the first/only swim at districts

End of the day Arlington County was willing to change their Pool programming to allow the Liberty District to keep their 2 evening trials/finals format. Either the Fairfax County pools weren’t or the Concorde District didn’t ask and just adjusted. Don’t be mad at the Liberty District. Be mad at either Fairfax County that agreed to the stupid let’s use pools at the rec center instead of having them at high schools or your District leaders who decided to take the easy route and modify the schedule
- the opposite is true for kids who make the cut, but only at finals
- kids with finals get a better seed time for regionals/state and therefore a better lane at both the follow up meets (and this can absolutely produce a better result (so better time again at regionals finals, states
- kids who end up in the first heat at regionals from their finals swim time at districts now have an additional possible way to make states
- kids who are close after prelims have a sense of less stress performing at finals for districts to try and make a cut for states versus those swimming at regionals

Of course this is not fair to the swimmers who didn’t get two chances at districts. The schools at our districts will be swimming against some schools that got these two bites at the apple next week.


Agree - it’s so unfair that the majority of kids are getting 2 chances to make cuts and improve their seed times, this should not be allowed. Especially for districts like National where they are already disadvantage swimming in the bad pools.


I have a kid in National. Let’s not get too carried away about pool disadvantages. Atmosphere matters more. At the end of the day it’s the swimmer not the pool. Now this is separate from not having the benefit of prelims/finals.




Really? The Liberty Dist seems to have almost all drops and very, very big ones. That’s not true of most pools/meets unless it’s a fast pool or a very high level meet. This is not a high level meet. I think swimming at certain pools matters. Surprised you don’t know that. Your kid never says “that’s a fast pool” and meet mobile shows nearly every single person dropping?

Sure, but I don’t think anyone has ever called a county rec center a “fast pool”. Some are certainly nicer than others, but none are fast in the way you’re describing. Eppley is a fast pool. Oakmont has notoriously warm water and air quality. Most kids hate racing there, even if it’s a step up from AM.


Pools can be fast or slow for lots of reasons: end lanes have open water on the ends (versus the pool ending), water level, salt water, and some unknown reasons…it is not like no rec center pools are like this.

Having some kids get prelims and finals for districts is not fair esp when they regroup together at regionals. Liberty should not be swimming next week with Concorde, for example.

PP. we are very aligned on your second point!!! It’s an unfair advantage.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 08:45     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Anonymous wrote:Another big storm is forecasted for the day/weekend of Occoquan Regionals in 2 weeks so be prepared for some of these same schools possibly getting impacted again, and like districts and regionals last yr, only having timed finals.


Yes, i hope they lock in their contingency plans now and don't alter those plans as the forecast get accurate 72 hours before the event.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2026 08:24     Subject: HS Swim - Districts this weekend?
Another big storm is forecasted for the day/weekend of Occoquan Regionals in 2 weeks so be prepared for some of these same schools possibly getting impacted again, and like districts and regionals last yr, only having timed finals.