True Team Sections start this weekend and is a truly unique format within Minnesota High School Swimming and Diving. It can be a bit confusing, so Minnesota Swim and Vibe thought we would try to break it down for you all.
True team was founded in 2005 and the according the Minnesota Swimming High School Coaches Association, “True Team competition is based on the idea that every team member’s performance counts towards the team’s score in competition”.
Just like the MSHSL championship format, there are section meets and then a state meet and the same section assignments apply. That’s about where the similarities end. Here are some of the differences.
Entry Limitations:
MSHSL Sections – 4 entries per individual event, including diving. 1 entry per relay event
True Team Sections – 4 entries per individual event, including diving. 4 entries per relay event
Diving:
MSHSL Sections – Divers compete 11 dives with cuts to 20 after 5 dives and 16 after 8 dives.
True Team Sections – Divers can choose to compete in 11 or 6 dives and there are no cuts
Scoring:
MSHSL Sections – All swimmers compete in a prelims session, with the top 8 qualifying for the championship final and 9-16 qualifying for the consolation final. Scoring goes 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11, 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Championship finalist cannot move back past 8th and consolation finalists cannot move up past 9th. Relays are double those points
True Team Sections – Scoring is linear and bases on four times the number of teams competing. If there are 10 teams, first place is 40 point and then each place below that is 1 point less. Relays again are double. For our example, 80 points for first and then 2 points less for each place below that. There is only a timed finals session rather than a prelims/finals format.
Advancement to State:
MSHSL Sections – Individuals or relays that finish in the top 2 in finals or their time is at or below the designated state qualifying time in finals qualify for the state meet. For diving, the 4 top placing divers of each section qualify for state. Individuals are locked in their events, relay members can change
True Team Sections – Teams must declare their intention to swim at the true team state meet prior to the start of the section meet if they were to qualify. The top scoring team from each section (assuming they declared to attend the state meet) qualify as a team for the state meet. All of the team’s that do not win each section have their section results scored based on the NISCA point system, which gives each team a total NISCA point score. The top four NISCA point scoring teams are added as the wild card teams for the state meet (assuming they declared intent to swim at the state meet). Nobody is locked into any event from sections. The entire lineup could be completely different if a team chose to do so.
The True Team Championship format provides an excellent mid season “big” meet for high school teams. Minnesota Swim and Vibe thanks the MSHSCA for putting this together every year, the host schools for all the work they put in to making the section meets happen, and wish everyone participating the best of luck!