USA Swimming has published a new set of time standards for the 2024 Futures Championships with a dramatically-toughened set of standards for 19 & over competitors.
The 2024 Futures Championships will be held at five locations around the United States in late July.
Schedule:
- July 25-28, Richmond, Virginia
- July 24-27, Austin, Texas
- July 24-27, Huntsville, Alabama
- July 24-27, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- July 24-27, Sacramento, California
The meet was originally intended as a stepping stone for athletes to move from regional meets like LSC Championships or Sectionals to national meets like Junior Nationals. In practice, it has been used both by rising junior-aged swimmers and collegiate aged swimmers for that purpose: both those chasing Junior Nationals and those chasing National Championship qualifications.
We’ve also seen a few elite swimmers who are easily-qualified for national level meets use them as an opportunity to race at a well-organized meet, especially when the meets are local. In 2022, for example, we saw US National Teamer Sam Stewart race in College Station. Olympic medalist Sydney Pickrem also raced at that meet after withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games that were held the same weekend.
Originally, the meet had a limit that swimmers with one more more US Nationals or US Open standards could not attend Futures meets. Coming out of the pandemic, where USA Swimming was just looking for any opportunity for athletes to race, there were no more time ceilings, and the rule never returned.
That rule provides a different limitation than the time standards update, however. The addition of 19 & over standards that are much faster than the previous general standards is sending a message that the meet is about development and stepping stones, and that they are prioritizing younger swimmers who have a longer developmental timeline over older swimmers whose peak might be sneaking past the standard to qualify for a national meet – but also giving those older swimmers who are genuinely close to nationals qualifications an opportunity to race at a high level.
The new standards also increase the likelihood of junior-aged swimmers qualifying for finals.
Note that relay standards are unchanged, so collegiate athletes affiliated with home clubs can still race with their junior-aged teammates on relays the same as they would before without jeopardizing qualifications.
For reference, the 2023 US Open Standards are here.
On the USA swimming website there are currently 2 different sets of 19+ qualifying times, the one included in this article and one with much mroe leniant, but still faster qualifying times. Which one is accurate?
https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/futures2024championshipstimestandards.pdf
https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/timesdocuments/time-standards/futures2024championshipstimestandardsall.pdf
Not sure. Will look into it.
I am completely confused. If the argument is that 19&O swimmers, who are very accomplished are ruining the meet, why are they cutting out the less accomplished 19&O’s, instead of cutting out the top end (and then finding an opportunity for that top end to compete somewhere). The argument and the solution are in complete contrast with each other.
With the lead picture of a 16yo winning lol
What percentage of college level swimmers actually do 10 per cent effort during summer months. A large number do not train and are out of shape and use the meet as travel trip and give sub par effort.
I liked the old rule better “Originally, the meet had a limit that swimmers with one or more US Nationals or US Open standards could not attend Futures meets.”
Agreed, I understand why they made the changes during COVID but it should just go back to original rules, it’s called Future’s for a reason
Completely agree. This should be an 18 & under meet! Change the rule back please!
For 2024 USA swimming equaled the US Open cuts to Summer Junior Nationals. My guess is that expectations are low for many high level swimmers coming to the US Open after the Olympics. Implementing the old rule would restrict those with Juniors qualifications.
The best part is that now the college kids who do attend will be in best position to ruin the high school swimmers and take up A/B finals spots. Smart thinking.
So in your opinion, making the standards tougher is going to encourage more college swimmers to attend?
Not sure encourage is the right word but it’s nearly guaranteed second swims which would likely be considered.
No, he’s saying that with stiffer standards, the only ones who attend are going to be the ones that are almost guaranteed to take A and B final spots from high school swimmers, rather than when Futures used to not let swimmers with certain cuts enter in the meet.
Which is an argument against letting them swim at all right? I’m with you on that.
But I think we have a ridiculous number of ‘championship’ meets every summer.
Should be
1 Nationals
3 Junior Nationals
? Sectionals
59 LSC Champs
And get rid of the participation award meets
Obviously Trials meets are a separate category.
And while I’m ranting let’s swim prelims/finals of relays. Most exciting part of a great meet (ie. Y Nats!)
kinda agree… 1 nationals, 3 jrs. futures has been a successful series in that it offers great competition, is more affordable for teams/families. sectionals, at least in the southeast, has fallen by the wayside with teams forming other opportunities which have been more competitive and smaller/more “comfortable” with regard to size. prelims/ finals for relays would be a cool addition.
As a 20 y/o swimmer in D3… What a shame USA swimming
You can still go to Sectionals or Senior Nats
Or SrZones or regionals or LSC Champs
JimSwim22. in our area, SR zones limited to 19&U – so nope; there is no regionals – so nope; LSC champs don’t allow 19&O’s in finals – so not a real championship opportunity.
I think there is a real need for people in Dylan’s position, cutting out the lower to mid end of 19&O’s at Futures doesn’t touch the argument in the article which is that the 19&O senior national level swimmers are taking up finals spots.
Yes but the gap between sectionals and senior nats is insane… Sectionals it is I guess
get faster and qualify
19 and over because our youth swimmers are no longer good. No longer do we have elite 16-18 year old winning golds at the highest levels
you’re just a hater bro😭