The true team format is meant to determine the top overall team, rather than individuals, in a track and field or swim and dive competition.
Therefore, in a nine team meet with three competitors per event, the event champion would earn 27 points whereas the last place finisher would earn 1 point.
The Minnesota State High School Coaches Association began using a true team format to determine the top high school track and field team in 1987.
In 2005, they created a true team state meet for swimming and diving.
Minnesota True Team State Track and Field format