The Hammerhead Swim Club is a member of the Michigan Team Swim League, which is comprised of age-group swimming clubs from around the state. There are currently 22 teams participating in the league and are divided into the Northern and Southern Districts. Other teams in the Northern Disctict include Mt. Pleasant, Oscoda, West Branch, Alpena, Alma, Saginaw, Midland, Bay City, Caro, Chesaning, Rudyard, Sault Ste. Marie, and Gaylord.

The MTSL administers several types of meets during the competitive season which are listed below. The competitive season begins in October and runs through the Championship weekend, which is always on the first weekend of March. Over the course of the 5 month season, each team will attend a series of Invitationals and Dual or Tir meets.

Dual Meets
A Dual Meet is a competition between 2 teams, hosted by one of them, where a team can enter up to 3 swimmers per event for points. All remaining swimmers in each event will swim exhibition. Any swimmer may attend these meets and can swim a combination of 3 individual events and 1 relay or 2 individual events and 2 relays. Points are awarded for the first 5 places and awards are usually given to 1st through 6th place. All remaining places will be awarded participation ribbons.

All meets require a considerable amount of preparation for the coahses and meet directors. Swimmers should try to attend all MTSL meets. It is necessary for the swimmer to let the coaches know by the Monday preceding the meet if they will be attending. Swimmers must qualify by meeting time standards to participate in the State Championship Meet.

Meets last around 4 hours, some more-some less. All away meets are around 1-2 hours one way. Carpooling is encouraged.

Tri Meets
Tri Meets are competitions between 3 teams. Each team is allowed to enter 2 swimmers per event for points. All remaining swimmers in each event will swim exhibition. The swimmer is limited to swimming 3 individual events and 1 relay or 2 individual events and 2 relays. Points will be awarded to the first 5 places and awards are given to the top 6.

If your child is swimming Exhibition and qualifies for the MTSL State Meet, their time will count.


Invitationals
Invitationals are meets where 4 or more teams participate. Again, the swimmer is limited to 3 indivdual events and 1 relay or 2 individual events and 2 relays. There is no limit to the number of swimmers swimming for points. Awards are usually given to 1st through 12th place. Due to the large number of teams that attend the meet may be broken into 2 sessions. Depending on the host team, 10 and Unders usually swim in the morning followed by 11 and Over in the afternoon. Plan on spending a good portion of the day at the pool. Dress lightly!

Championship Meets
The MTSL hosts 2 meets on the first weekend of March. Your swimmer has the opportunity to attend either the Novice or Championship Meets. A swimmer who has not attained an MTSL qualifying time will swim in the Novice meet which is held on a Saturday. If your child has attained an MTSL qualifying time, they will swim in the Championship Meet on Sunday. The coaches will be deciding who swims what at the Championship Meet. In the past, the coaches have brought non-qualifying swimmers to the Championship meet to fill in for relays. The fastest swimmers in the league attend the Championship meet. Both the Novice and Championship meets have split sessions with the 10 and Under swimming in the morning and the 11 and Older swimming in the afternoon.