Michigan Swimming is part of a larger organization, USA Swimming, that governs amateur
competitive swimming in the United States. USA Swimming sets rules for meets, establishes safety
procedures, sets criteria for achievement levels, administers USA national teams such as the Olympic, Pan
American and Pan Pacific teams, and promotes competitive swimming through research, education, and
marketing.

MS is one of 59 geographically-defined Local Swim Committees (LSCs) which administer and
promote USA Swimming programs at the local level. MS has jurisdiction over USA Swimming programs in
the State of Michigan. The principal activities of MS are developing swim meet schedules, setting standards
for and sanctioning swim meets, implementing USA Swimming rules and safety procedures within the LSC,
developing programs to promote, enhance, and market competitive swimming, and administering the
registration of clubs and individuals. MS encourages participation by all interested swimmers, coaches,
officials, and volunteers. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, disability, or
national origin is prohibited by MS and USA Swimming rules.

An additional fee of $51.00 is needed to be a member. You must be a member of USA Swimming to participate in any USA Swimming sanctioned meets. Carpooling to these 2-3 day Invitationals cuts costs significantly. These meets have a per event fee (approximately $3-$4) which is due upon registration for each meet. A file will be created indicating your current swimmers balance after each swim meet has been entered. You can find this file in the file folders located in the pool's office.

The Hammerheads usually attend one USS meet each month. The coaches try and mix up the types of meets (ABC, AB, and P/F) to better prepare the swimmers for the Championship meets at the end of the season. Some of the locations that the Hammerheads travel to are: Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Detroit. Due to the large number of swimmers at these meets, Michigan Swimming holds a series of meets leading up to the Championship meets.

Much like the MTSL meets, the swimmers attend Invitationals to try and qualify for the State Meet. As the season draws to an end in late February/early March, two meets are held.

District Championship
The first meet is the District Championships. Here, the state is split into 3 districts: Eastern, Central, and Western. Any swimmer who does not have a Q1 or Q2 time may swim there events (no more than 3 per day), and try to qualify for the State meet.

Junior Olympics
The following weekend is the Junior Olympics (J.O.'s). To attend this meet, a swimmer must have attained a Q2 time prior to the meet enty deadline. If a swimmer has a Q1 time, they may not swim that race at J.O.'s. A swimmer may swim as many events as they have qualified for as long as they do not excede 4 events per day. If a swimmer attains a Q1 time at this meet, they are allowed to swim that event at the USS State Meet.

USS State Meet
Due to the large number of swimmers, Michigan Swimming has divided the State Meet into two meets. The first meet is the 12 and Under State meet which is the weekend following J.O.'s. The 12 and Under State meet is for swimmers 12 and Under who have attained Q1 times. The swimmer may swim as many events that they have qualified in as long as it does not excede 4 per day.

The 13 and Over State meet is following weekend and follows the same guidelines as the 12 and Under State meet. Preliminary events start in the morning and Finals are held at night. The goal for the preliminary events is to make the top 16 and siwm again in the finals. Only the top 16 return at night for the finals.


Hammerhead Swim Club-USS History

Michigan Swimming, USS, is a branch of the Hammerhead Swim Club program. Our swimmers compete in both MTSL and USS meets. The Hammerhead Swim Club began swimming USS in the spring of 1996. At the time, we had half a dozen swimmers travel to the weekend invitationals. USS enabled our swimmers to gain some much needed racing experience. In just 2 years, the Hammerheads began placing in the 16 in the State. In 1999 the Hammerheads had two swimmers place in the top 8 in the State. Over the course of the next few years, more and more Hammerheads joined and represented the team at the USS State meet. In recent years, we have maintained a top 16 showing in respective events as well as an individual championship in the 13-14 Boys 50 Free. We currently have 16 swimmers taking part in USA Swimming and are always looking for more. If you have that competitive edge and are looking for some good competition, this is the place.