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United States Swimming is the governing body for all types of
competitions involving American swimmers. All teams for all
international meets, including the Olympic Games, are selected by
United States Swimming. As such qualifying time standards are often
more rigorous than YMCA qualifying times and provide an excellent
pathway for athlete, coach and program goal setting.
MEETS
USA swimming meets are sanctioned the United States Swimming
organization. Competition is divided by age and gender.
- 8 &
under.
- 9-10.
- 11-12.
- 12 & under.
- 13-14.
- 15 & over.
- Open.
Swimmers are
expected to compete in both the USA meets for which they
are eligible and the meets targeted by the SSYS coaching
staff.
REGULAR SEASON
Meets are often classified as A, B, C or some combination of
letters. These classifications refer to the cutoff times for the
fastest and slowest swimmers that are allowed to swim at that meet.
These A, B or C (all times) time standards are determined based on
the fastest performances in the US during the last few years,
called National Age-Group Motivational Times (Top 16 based).
In
USA A/B meets anyone with an A or B time can compete, but C
swimmers cannot. In B/C meets, anyone (even without a time) can
compete, but A or faster swimmers cannot. Other meets called All
Ages meets have no cut-off times and are sometimes swum in single
year age groups e.g. 9 & under, 10, 11, 12, etc.
USA
meets provide swimmers with an unique opportunity to compete in an
environment similar to a championships style meet both in format,
quality of opposition and intensity of racing. These meets are
viewed as critical by the SSYS.
CHAMPIONSHIP LEVELS
i)
Regional Championships.
ii) 12 & U / 13 - 19 Age Group Championships (New England
LSC).
iii) Zone Championships.
iv) Senior Championships (New England LSC).
v ) Sectional Championships (National Level 1).
vi) Junior Nationals (National Level 2).
vii) US Open Championships or Senior Nationals (National Level
3).
viii) Olympic Trials (National Level 4).
To
be eligible for an USA Championship meet, a swimmer must be a
member of USA Swimming and have achieved the event’s
qualifying time standard within one year prior to the meet start
date.
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