USA Swimming has released an updated version of its “motivational times” for the upcoming 2021-2024 quad.
The time standards set varying marks for swimmers of every age group, ranging from B to AAAA based on relative speed within the age group. Each age group has B standards, BB standards, A standards, AA standards, AAA standards and AAAA standards to give swimmers benchmarks for goal-setting and to track improvement.
Some local club meets also set qualifying standards based on the USA Swimming times, requiring swimmers to be faster than, or in some cases slower than, an A time or a BB time, for example, for entry.
Per USA Swimming’s website: “Here you will find age group time standards designed to encourage age group swimmers to step their swimming up to the next level. These time standards guide you from just starting out in your age group to reaching your highest potential. Start at Level B and work your way up to Level AAAA times.”
You can see how the motivational times are determined here. Though this document is still from the 2012 quad, it lays out the mathematical process for determining the motivational standards for each age group.
Note that in the youngest age groups, 12 & under, the recent ban of the most advanced technical racing suits could make some of these standards tougher to achieve. At the same time, age group swimming continues to get faster, and deeper
There are time standards for both each traditional age group (10&unders, 11-12s, 13-14s, etc) and for each specific age from 10 to 18. USA Swimming has also released a document showing how much each time standard has changed from the previous quad. You can see all of these documents below:
*Note that times marked with an asterisk have gotten faster than the 2016-2020 quad standards.
2020-2024 Age Group Motivational Times By Specific Age
Age Group Motivational Times By Age Group
Read about the old time standards here
I have been researching this and can’t find what I am looking for. I am 78 and unable to do anything for 2 years because of back issues. I am now back in pool ( 2 weeks) doing breast stroke and walking in water each day for 30 minutes. Before all this happened I swam almost everyday full 30 minutes. Now I feel good when I swim but I find I am exhausted in the afternoon and almost always have to nap. Sure looks like I am doing to much. Any help would be appreciated.
Really wish USA Swimming could include an 8 and under category. My 7 year old is so talented and passionate about swimming. It would be nice to see a comparative for her.
They will not add under 8 because they kids will only start going to official USA Swimming meets when they turn 10
@Annu My kids started going to USA Swimming meets at age 5. Some meets there is 8 & under division which consists of sprints (25s of each stroke and 100 IM). 25s are not recognized by USA Swimming so there is no ‘motivational time’ for them. They pretty much swim for ribbons and fun. Younger kids are welcomed to swim 10&u. My 8 year old has some 10u B/BB times and has a couple years to try for the next level.
Where can I find this as a file to import into my Swim Manager Program on Active?
what about JO cuts?
I remember when these weren’t done by specific age (ala 11-12 and 13-14 had the SAME time standards) which was absolutely absurd.
Most people could only hit a AAAA or T16/T10 right before they aged up. This makes way more sense.
Mathematical process minus COVID crappy pool availability?.. IS THIS ASSUMING normal training and competition?
Why are the single age times the same ones as the ones from 4 years ago?
I always wondered why USA Swimming continues to publish motivational times by specific age when nobody really uses it to my knowledge. I actually think it would be more beneficial to use these especially for the 11-12 and 13-14 age groups. You see such a huge difference in growth/abilities, etc in these age brackets and I think this is the time when USAS starts to lose kids. In my experience, achieving that first “A” time has a magical effect on swimmers from a motivation and retention standpoint.
Loved tracking progress against these when I was coming up through the age group ranks! First A time breakthrough – getting AAA’s for Zone cuts, getting A times in each stroke, etc always something to be working towards.
My father told me if I got a AAAA cut he’d buy me a diamond house. It never came 🙁 but it was great motivation! He never put me under pressure, but a AA would be a double stack burger, AAA would be a triple stack or some other really nice thing, etc.
What is a diamond house?
My assumption would be a house fully made out of diamonds. Quite the step up from a triple stick burger.
It was subliminal messaging thinking it was beyond reach, but he said that on purpose knowing it would only motivate me more. He was a great supporter
Minecraft Dads>>>
Whatever this “diamond house “ was its all fantasy but enough to get the child excited to push harder.