NON - CONSISTENT TIMES

Yard Times for Meter Meets / Meter Times for Yard Meets:

Simply stated, if a swimmer’s time is “A” ability level in yards, the swimmer must enter “A” ability level in meters, and vice versa. This applies to all ability levels regardless of best meter/yard time when swimming the other “course.”

Example 1: John Smith, 10 years old, has a best 100 yard freestyle time of 1:15.29, a “B” time. When John enters his first long course meet, he must enter the 100 meter freestyle at “B” minimum (1:31.60). At the meet John might:

1. swim a “B” time (say, 1:2459), in which case he enters his next 100 meter freestyle as a “B” using his now best meter time, OR

2. swim an “A” time (say, 1:20.87), in which case he enters his next 100 meter freestyle as an “A” using his now best meter time (or at “A” minimum if his next meet is in yards), OR

3. fail to swim “B” minimum (say, 1:32.10), in which case he enters his next meter meet at “B” minimum once again because he is still “B” in yards, regardless of his “best” meter time (as a “B” in yards, he must keep entering “B” minimum in meters until he betters the standard).

Example 2: Susie Jones, 11 years old, has a very successful summer and swims the 100 meter backstroke at Junior Olympics (AAA) with the best time of 1:21.19. In November, Susie enters the 100 yard backstroke at an ABC meet Her previous 100 yard backstroke time was 1:19.89, a “B” time. She must enter the ABC meet at the “A” yard minimum (1:17.90) since “A” is the highest ability level offered at the meet, (NOTE: she does not enter “AAA” yard minimum even though she is qualified to enter short course Junior Olympics at “AAA” minimum, assuming she makes no improvement in her yard time).

Swimming “up” a distance in ability level:

Generally, a swimmer may swim “up” only one distance (i.e. 100 to 200 free, but not 100 to 500 free) AND this rule only operates “up” NOT “down” (i.e. not 100 to 50 back). Swimmer may swim “up” if and only if event is not offered at his ability level.

Example 1: Jim Jones, 12 years old, has an “A” time in the 200 yard freestyle (say, 2:16.25) but has never swum the 500 yard freestyle in competition. A meet is coming up which offers only an “A” 500 yard freestyle. Jim may enter at “A” minimum (6:29,80). At the meet, Jim might:

1. swim an “A” time (say, 5:59.76). He then continues at the “A” level, OR

2. swim a “B” time (say, 6:3055), Now he may enter a “B” level 500 free — or if no “B” is offered, he may again use his “A” 200 time to quality for “A” 500.

Example 2: Jane Smith, 13 years old, has an “A” time in the 200 meter freestyle (say, 2:28.77) but only a “B” time (say, 1:18.50) in the 100 meter freestyle. She may NOT enter an “A” 100 freestyle by reason of her “A” 200 freestyle.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Swimming up is NOT acceptable in “proof of time” meets. For proof of time, swimmer must achieve standard in proper distance of stroke.

Changing Age Groups:

Swimmers changing age groups must reassess their ability level in both yards and meters.

Example: Bill Jones, 12 years old, has an “A” time in both 50 yard freestyle (28.32) and 50 meter freestyle (33.19). Duting long course season, Bill turns 13. At his next meter meet, he must enter the 13-14 freestyle at “B” minimum (33.00) since his yard time (28.32) is a “B” 13-14 time.