Competition

Swim Meets
Competition for the Red/Black and Junior groups is encouraged but not required.  Swimmers can request individual events but coaches have
the final decision. Coaches enter relay teams and assign individuals to swim on those relays.   
Types of meets in which Red/Black and Junior swimmers may compete include:
  • Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Summer League Meets
  • ISI Invitationals
  • Championship Meets
  • Select meets outside Iowa
  • All star selection meets

Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Summer League Meets
CRAA sponsors a team (The Waves) that participates in this swim league. CRAA swimmers may compete either with The Waves team or any
other team which participates in this league (Bowman Woods, CRCC, Elmcrest, etc). All age groups participate in the same session for these
meets. These meets are typically on Tuesday or Thursday mornings or late afternoons and last anywhere from two to four hours. There are not
entry fees for participation in the dual meets with this league.

ISI Invitationals
The ISI Invitationals are swim meets that are typically bigger than ECISL or Parks and Rec. meets. These meets may have minimum or
maximum qualifying times in order to participate. The invitational meets that most Red/Black and Junior group swimmers attend are always in
eastern Iowa. These meets generally have entry fees that are approximately $2.00 per event plus a $3.00 meet participation fee.

Championship Meets
  • In February, CRAA has a series of championship meets in which Red/Black and Junior swimmers are encouraged to participate. The first
    is the ECISL Championships. This meet is the championship meet for all teams who participate in the league. Team scores are kept at
    the meet.  There are no entry fees for this meet.

  • The next is ISI Regionals. This meet is for all swimmers who have not achieved “Q” times. It is the biggest meet of the season for all non-
    “Q” swimmers. This meet does not keep team scores.  There are entry fees for this meet.

  • The last championship meet for Red/Black and Junior swimmers is ISI Age Group Championship Meet. This meet is generally at Coe
    College the last weekend in February. This meet is for all swimmers who have made the qualifying standard for individual events as well
    as swimmers who swim in relays only.  There are entry fees for this meet.

For the summer season, CRAA participates in as series of championship meets in which the Red/Black and Junior swimmers are
encouraged to participate as well.

  • The first championship during the summer season is the All City Meet.  This is the championship meet for the Cedar Rapids Parks and
    Recreation swim league.  CRAA swimmers participate in this meet representing either “The Waves” or any other city team.  There is a
    nominal fee of $4.00 for this meet if participating as a “Wave.”

  • The next is ISI Regionals. This meet is for all swimmers who have not achieved “Q” times. It is the biggest meet of the season for all non-
    “Q” swimmers. This meet does not keep team scores. There are entry fees for this meet.

  • The last championship meet for Red/Black and Junior swimmers is ISI Age Group Championship Meet. This meet is held at Mercer Park
    Pool in Iowa City. This meet is for all swimmers who have made the qualifying standard for individual events as well as swimmers who
    swim in relays only.  There are entry fees for this meet.

Select Meets Outside Iowa
Throughout the winter and summer seasons, CRAA participates in a few meets outside of Iowa. Typically, Red/Black and Junior swimmers do
not participate in these meets.  Occasionally, a few Junior swimmers may participate in these meets.  Examples of these meets include the
Rochester, Minnesota, meet in February, and the Milwaukee meet in July.

All Star Selection Meets
  • ISI All-Star – This meet is held the Martin Luther King holiday weekend in January, and has the 10 & Under, 11-12, and 13-14 age groups
    competing.  Swimmers from Iowa swim clubs combine together to form one team which competes against other all-star teams from
    surrounding states.   To be selected for this meet, swimmers must apply by the second weekend in December.  The top 5 swimmers in
    each event who have applied will be chosen to represent Iowa in this meet.  All-Star applications may be picked up from a CRAA coach
    or downloaded from the ISI website.

  • Zone Meet – This meet is held during the second weekend of August each year.  Once again, swimmers from across Iowa are combined
    together to compete against other states’ all-star teams. To qualify for individual events for this meet, swimmers need to either win the
    event at the ISI Championship meet or make an “AAA” time during the 12 months preceding the Zone meet. For relays, the Zone
    coaching staff selects the fastest swimmers in the state to make two relays per age group. Swimmers who do not have individual events
    for the Zone meet may apply to participate in relays by registering at the Zone entry table during the ISI Summer Championship meet.
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Entries

Meet Information and Sign-up
A Meet Schedule is available at the beginning of each swim season.  This is a complete listing of all meets in which CRAA will participate in as
a team during that season.  Specific meet information will be available in the file folders approximately 3 weeks prior to sign-up.  Dual/tri meet
information will be available one to two weeks before the meet.  Each meet will be described in detail.  Please complete the individual event
sign-up sheet and return to a coach prior to the CRAA entry deadline. (Coaches will assign all relays.) Each swimmer will receive an individual
entry report of the events in which they are entered shortly after the CRAA entry deadline. If a swimmer does not receive this report, they should
check with a coach.

Please make note of the warm-up time for your swimmer’s age group and plan travel time accordingly. Your swimmer should be suited and
stretched out before warm-ups begin

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Items to Pack When Going to Meets

Suggested items to bring to meets are:
  • Swim Suit
  • Extra goggles
  • Footwear
  • Warm clothing
  • Towels
  • Blankets for relaxing
  • Nutritional snacks and beverages
  • Books, games and activities are recommended for longer meets .

**Please contact a coach if you will be unable to make it to the meet.
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