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Swim Meet Guide

CAP  CENTRAL AQUATICS OF PENNSYLVANIA


CAP League and Swim Meet Guide

What families need to know about CASL, CPAL and USA Swimming

CAP swimmers can compete through two local leagues and through USA Swimming. CASL and CPAL dual meets are included with CAP membership and swimmers are automatically committed. USA Swimming provides optional year-round opportunities that require a separate membership and an active meet commitment from families.


CASL Summer Season League

CASL is CAP's summer league and runs from May through July. The season is built around local dual meets against other teams in the Central Pennsylvania area.

  • Included with CAP: Every CAP swimmer is automatically part of CASL. There are no additional fees for CASL dual meets or championship meets. Extra fees may apply to invitational meets.
  • Automatic commitment: Swimmers are automatically committed to each CASL dual meet because participation is the expectation. If your swimmer cannot attend, that is okay, but you must decline by the posted deadline.  In order to attend any invitational, you must commit your swimmer due to the added meet fees.
  • Divisionals eligibility: A swimmer must participate in at least half of CAP's CASL dual meets to swim at Divisionals.
  • Championship pathway: Divisionals is where swimmers can qualify for All Stars and Mid Caps.
  • Local competition: CASL meets are held in the Central Pennsylvania area and CAP competes against other local Central Pennsylvania teams.


CPAL Winter Season League

CPAL is CAP's winter league and runs from November through March. Like CASL, the season is built around local dual meets against teams in the Central Pennsylvania area.

  • Included with CAP: Every CAP swimmer is automatically part of CPAL. There are no additional fees for CPAL dual meets or championship meets. Extra fees may apply to invitational meets.
  • Automatic commitment: Swimmers are automatically committed to each CPAL dual meet because participation is the expectation. If your swimmer cannot attend, that is okay, but you must decline by the posted deadline. In order to attend any invitational, you must commit your swimmer due to the added meet fees.
  • Divisionals eligibility: A swimmer must participate in at least half of CAP's CPAL dual meets to swim at Divisionals.
  • Championship pathway: Divisionals is where swimmers can qualify for All Stars.
  • Local competition: CPAL meets are held in the Central Pennsylvania area and CAP competes against other local Central Pennsylvania teams.


USA Swimming Year-Round Opportunities

USA Swimming gives CAP swimmers additional opportunities to compete throughout the year. These meets expand the racing experience beyond the local league schedule.

  • Separate membership: Swimmers must become USA Swimming members and pay the applicable membership fee before attending USA Swimming meets.
  • Active commitment: Swimmers are not automatically committed to USA Swimming meets. Families must commit their swimmer by the posted deadline.
  • More opportunities: The schedule may include additional local meets as well as travel meets.
  • More event experience: USA Swimming meets can expose swimmers to different events, distances and levels of competition.
  • Travel and connection: Travel meets give swimmers the chance to visit new pools and meet swimmers and make friends from other parts of Pennsylvania or other states.
  • More room to grow: Additional racing opportunities help swimmers build confidence, learn from new experiences and continue progressing.


What Applies to Every Meet

  • Coaches select events: CAP coaches choose each swimmer's events based on age, readiness, development goals, previous experience, team needs and meet rules.
  • Deadlines matter: Families must commit or decline by the posted deadline. Late changes may not be possible after entries are submitted.
  • Racing is part of development: Meets teach swimmers how to prepare, compete, recover, support teammates and respond when a race does not go as planned.
  • Trying new things is expected: Swimmers may be entered in unfamiliar strokes or distances as they develop into well-rounded athletes.
  • The experience matters: Meets create great memories, strengthen friendships and give swimmers the chance to celebrate progress with their teammates.



What Families Need to Do

1. Read each meet announcement and note the deadline.

2. For CASL and CPAL, decline only if your swimmer cannot attend.

3. For USA Swimming meets, commit your swimmer if they want to participate.

4. Tell the coaches about schedule conflicts before entries are finalized.

5. Arrive at the stated swimmer arrival time so your swimmer is ready for warm-up.

6. Encourage your swimmer to race, learn, cheer and enjoy the experience.