Time Standards
| 2021-2024-national-age-group-time_standards.pdf |
How to qualify for JO based on time?
In addition, swimmers ages 9-18 who meet or beat the USA Swimming long course “A” minimum time standard for all 200M, 400M and 1500M events and "BB” time standards for events under 200M are eligible to compete in the events where they meet the minimum time standards.
**Qualification for the 400M and 1500M is time only. The 400's & 1500 have been limited to the Top 8 or Top 16 in previous years.
The time standard must have been met during a bona fide competition during the period. AGE DIVISIONS: Girls & Boys: 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18
BB Time =
Qualified for JO in events 200 or less in length.
A Time =
Qualified for JO in events 200 or more in length.
In addition, swimmers ages 9-18 who meet or beat the USA Swimming long course “A” minimum time standard for all 200M, 400M and 1500M events and "BB” time standards for events under 200M are eligible to compete in the events where they meet the minimum time standards.
**Qualification for the 400M and 1500M is time only. The 400's & 1500 have been limited to the Top 8 or Top 16 in previous years.
The time standard must have been met during a bona fide competition during the period. AGE DIVISIONS: Girls & Boys: 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18
BB Time =
Qualified for JO in events 200 or less in length.
A Time =
Qualified for JO in events 200 or more in length.
There are three lengths of pools in the time standards.
- LC or Long Course - 50 Meter Pools (Olympic size pools)
- SCM or Short Course Meters - 25 Meter Pools (Pocahontas)
- SCY or Short Course Yards - 25 Yard Pools (Almost all college swimming competes in SCY)
Why are there "Time Standards"?
Every 4 years, USA Swimming (USAS) establishes time standards for swimmers of every age group that range from B to AAAA to give swimmers benchmarks for goal-setting and to track improvement.
That is, these time standards are intended to motivate swimmers in each age group to work their way up from a B standard to a BB standard and then to an A standard, an AA standard, an AAA standard and finally to an AAAA standard.
To determine these time standards, USAS started by identifying the fastest 16th place time on the Top 16 list in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 in each event.
Time Standards are often used to limited the size of a meet or set a baseline for those competing at a meet.
Every 4 years, USA Swimming (USAS) establishes time standards for swimmers of every age group that range from B to AAAA to give swimmers benchmarks for goal-setting and to track improvement.
That is, these time standards are intended to motivate swimmers in each age group to work their way up from a B standard to a BB standard and then to an A standard, an AA standard, an AAA standard and finally to an AAAA standard.
To determine these time standards, USAS started by identifying the fastest 16th place time on the Top 16 list in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 in each event.
Time Standards are often used to limited the size of a meet or set a baseline for those competing at a meet.
Notes:
It is very normal for your swimmer to have different time standards for different strokes. They may even have different standards for the same stroke but different distances. As your swimmer matures their best stroke and distances may change.
A swimmer should not specialize until they have completed physical maturation. Swimming all the strokes and all the distances will only improve your swimmers physical and mental development throughout their career.
It is very normal for your swimmer to have different time standards for different strokes. They may even have different standards for the same stroke but different distances. As your swimmer matures their best stroke and distances may change.
A swimmer should not specialize until they have completed physical maturation. Swimming all the strokes and all the distances will only improve your swimmers physical and mental development throughout their career.
