Types of Swim Meets (explains qualifications/requirements for meets)

A/B/C Meets are for all swimmers and all members are encouraged to participate. Event categories are divided into “C” and slower, “B” and “A” and faster. Click here for more information.

B/C Meets provide an intermediate level of competition for swimmers with “B” times, “C” times and “No Times.” 

 

A Meets are for experienced swimmers who have achieved “A” times and faster. Team scores are kept and team awards are given. 

Age Group meets apply to any swimmer under the age of 19, no matter what their skill level. Most age group meets are grouped by gender, age and ability. Some meets are referred to as mini meets and allow only swimmers who are 10 and under. Most meets use the age groups of 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, and Open. Open at an age group meet, usually applies to any swimmer over the age of 15. Most often, meets have qualifying times that a swimmer must have attained in order to swim in that particular meet.

Open swim meets do not require the swimmer to achieve a time standard before competing. All swimmers can compete within his or her age group. These meets, particularly at the beginning of the swim season are may be referred to as “no time” meets.

Senior Meets are open to any swimmer, any age, who can meet the qualifying time or time standard, for the events they want to swim. Instead of competing against swimmers of the same age, they are competing against swimmers with the same qualifying times. The Speedo Championship Series, Junior Championship, National Championship and Olympic Trials are examples of Senior meets.

 

 

 

As a swimmer gets faster they will set their goals to qualify for “Zones”. Virginia is a part of the Eastern Zone of United States Swimming – there are 4 zones in United States Swimming. The Eastern Zone is made up of 13 LSCs from Virginia north to Maine. Each summer a Zone Team is selected to represent Virginia in a competition against all 13 of the LSCs. It is the fastest qualifying age group meet. This is a travel trip for the top Age Group swimmers in Virginia.

The next step for a developing swimmer, after Zones, is Sectionals.A Sectional championship meet is designed for swimmers who have achieved the sectional qualifying time standards. This is a Senior meet – where swimmers of any age compete against other swimmers who have the same qualifying times. The Eastern Zone is divided into 2 Sections. Each holds a Spring short course meet.

 

 

 

Junior National is a qualifying time standard meet. This is the first step to competing on the National level. This is a Senior meet that is a mere step from the National Championships and is extremely fast. There is only one Junior Nationals for the entire United States.

 

U.S. Nationals is a qualifying time standard meet. Any swimmer who achieves the national time standard can compete against the best swimmers in the U.S. Each year United States Swimming holds 2 National Championship Meets, referred to as Nationals. These meets are held twice a year. The USA national teams are selected from this meet.

 

Olympic Trials are held every 4 years and feature the fastest swimmers in the United States. The swimmers finishing 1^st or 2^nd in each event will automatically represent the United States at the Olympic Games.