Today USA Swimming released the selection criteria for the 2016-2017 National Junior Team. The document was released with the title of: “USA Swimming : National Junior Team Vision Statement” and then dives into the general criteria, performance criteria, and additional criteria.
This year’s selection criteria heavily differed from last year’s process. This year, the primary selection are the top two athletes in each Olympic event, followed by the 3rd and 4th ranked swimmer in the 100 and 200 meter freestyles. The lowest priority and most common way to qualify is the the third method in which females must be in the top 75 in an individual Olympic event, while males must be in the top 100.
This selection method differs from last year, as last year’s method was to take the top six athletes in each Olympic event and therefore have a finite amount of swimmers on the team. This year, there is a minimum of 26 athletes on the team and a maximum of 40, which are extra criteria needed since there won’t just be six in each event like last year.
This year’s selection criteria also outlines the provisions for a tie, in which event the tie would be broken by the next highest world ranking event for the two swimmers.
Last year’s team was selected on September 14, and was headed by Olympic hopefuls such as Michael Andrew and Maxime Rooney. This year’s team will be announced on September 8th on the USA Swimming website.
The following criteria can be found below:
GENERAL CRITERIA
- All team members must be registered USA Swimming members at the time of the qualifying performance.
- The athlete must be eligible to represent the U.S. in International Competition as of September 1, 2016.
- Athletes must be 18 or under on September 1, 2016.
- The National Junior Team roster will be selected according to the FINA database as of September 8, 2016 at 8am Mountain Time; if a time is not in the FINA times database as of September 8, 2016 then that time will not be considered.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
To be selected to the National Junior Team, athletes must meet the General Selection Criteria. The Team will then be selected based on the following Performance Criteria:
Priority One: The top two athletes in each individual Olympic event.
Priority Two: The third and fourth ranked swimmer in the 100 and 200 meter long course freestyle.
Priority Three: Additional FEMALE athletes who have a world ranking within, and including, the top 75 in an individual Olympic event and additional MALE athletes who have a world ranking within, and including, the top 100 in an individual Olympic event.
- Relay lead-offs, time trials, swim-offs and intermediate splits will NOT be considered.
- Long course times will be considered from January 1st, 2016 through and including August 31st, 2016 from all USA Swimming and FINA approved competitions.
ADDITIONAL CRITERIA
- A minimum of 26 men and 26 women will be selected. If after applying all the selection procedures, the team size is below 26 men or 26 women, additional athletes will be included based on their highest world ranking, as outlined above, in an individual Olympic event until 26 men or 26 women are selected to the team. In meeting the minimum team size requirements, once an event has been filled with four swimmers no additional swimmers will be added in that event.
- Maximum team size will consist of 40 men and 40 women. Should more than 40 men or 40 women meet the selection requirements, those with the highest world rankings will be selected.
- Should there be a tie, either within in individual Olympic event or amongst a world ranking in two separate individual Olympic events, which would result in an increase to the team size beyond 40 men or 40 women, then the athlete’s next highest world ranking in an individual Olympic event will be used to break the tie. Should this not break the tie, the process will be continued until the tie is broken.
- Athletes who have competed in an individual Olympic event at The Olympic Games, Pan Pacific Games, or World Championships are not eligible for the National Junior Team Roster.
- Athletes will be considered regardless of year in high school, college or university as long as all other requirements are met.
- Athletes may not appear on the National Junior Team Roster and National Team Roster within the same season.
These standards are about 10x harder than the previous ones…if you’re not in the top two: good luck making it. last year to make the team for 200 br you had to go 2:14, this year you have to go 2:12. And thats even before major competitions which will rattle the world rankings.
So does this mean for each event it’s only two swimmers except 100 and 200?
Hi Confused swimmer – no, it’s more of a fluid situation than that. There’s a priority. Top 2 in each Olympic event make the team first. Then #3 and 4 in the 100 and 200 freestyles. Then they start filling in those with high world rankings until they hit the 40 swimmer limit. As compared to past years, there’s no defined number per event that qualify.
Hope that makes more sense.
Out of curiosity I looked into the FINA world rankings on a couple of events, and I’m a little puzzled by the information there. What criteria governs what data from meets gets into the FINA DB? Figured that I’d see where my son falls in the world rankings just for fun. I can find no record of his swims, but swims from other swimmers at the same meet (both faster and slower swims) appear. Anyone have any input?
Also… is the Top 100 world ranking qualification specifically 18-under rankings or overall world rankings?