Nova Tech (Regional Competitions – All HRM)

The Swim NS Nova Tech Aqua Kids Program (NT) is our Provincial Sport 

Organization’s introduction program for competitive swimming. The aim of NT is to focus on technique, support a learning curve for the rules of swimming, and create a progressive introduction to the various events offered throughout our sport. At this level, all of the Swim Meets take place on Saturday afternoons (usually 3-4h in length) in a Regional setting, which means during the majority of the season, you never have to travel outside of HRM. All NT athletes will compete in their Championship Meet in the middle of May, which usually takes place in Truro. This is a 1.5 day Swim Meet and is our NT athlete’s first exposure to a Championship Swim Meet. 

All NT athletes receive Best Time Ribbons from their home club after the completion of each swim meet and receive Graduation Medals at the completion of the season based upon their movement through the NT Program.

There are three progressive levels through NT. In each level, events are added, and expectation to know the competitive swimming rules and complete legal strokes / skills is increased and further enforced. 

Participation

Every new swimmer starts in the Participation Level. In this level, swimmers compete in the 100IM, 25m races of each stroke, and the 50m kick. To graduate swimmers must complete the 100IM under 2:15 as well asthe 50m kick in under 1:20. In Participation there are no Disqualifications, meaning swimmers are able to compete and LEARN without the pressure of having all their new skills learned to 100%.

Level 1

Once a swimmer graduates from participation, they will participate in Level 1 Events. In this level, swimmers compete in 200IM, 50m races of each stroke, and the 50m kick. To graduate swimmers must complete the 200IM under 4:15 as well asthe 50m kick under 1:10. In Level 1 there are no Disqualifications, however swimmers are now warned by officials if they have done something illegal in their strokes or turns. Swimmers continue their development of skills and legal stroke/skills, but now are given the knowledge of which aspects of their race could result in a DQ if not perfected!

Level 2

Once a swimmer graduates from Level 1, they will participate in Level 2 Events. In this level, swimmers compete in 200IM, 200Free, 50m races of each stroke and the 50m kick. To graduate swimmers must complete the 200IM under 3:55, the 200Free under 3:40 and the 50m kick under 1:00. In level 2 Disqualifications are introduced, meaning if a swimmer has not perfected their legal strokes and skills, they will be disqualified by an official in their race. It is very important that swimmers work hard and learn to swim with excellent skills to avoid the possibility of disqualifications. 

For new and very young swimmers, it is common to spend at least 1-2 swim seasons in the NT program. Once a swimmer has achieved the Level 2 Graduation Standards, they move into the “Age Group” stream of competitions.

Age Group (Provincial Competitions – Across NS)

The Swim NS Age Group (AG) Program is our Provincial Sport Organization’s main competition structure. This stream of competition encompasses ALL athletes who have graduated from the NT program. Within the AG Program, there are two levels of competitions. Each of these competitions have minimum standards associated with them to compete in Provincial Championships. 

AA Stream

All swimmers who have graduated from NT will compete in the AA competitions throughout the season. Sometimes there are combined AA and AAA meets, or they are separated into stand alone competitions. Swimmers are NOT required to be fully “AA” Qualified to compete in regular season AA Competitions. However, to compete in events 400m and above at AA Junior Provincial Championships in February and June, swimmers MUST have the AA standard in those events. Swimmers will compete in many development meets each season. 

To be AA Qualified and compete in AA Age Group Meets, swimmers must graduate out of the Swim NS Nova Tech Level 2 Program. 

AAA Stream

Swimmers must achieve their respective age requirements to be AAA qualified and attend that level of Swim NS Meets. This is the highest level of provincial competition offered in Nova Scotia. Swimmers at this level will compete in many dev meets per season, as well as the David Fry Provincial Championships in March and the Ken Dunn Provincial Championships in July. Swimmers typically compete again other swimmers in the Atlantic Region who travel to NS to attend these Championships. 

14&U Swimmers 

Option 1: 200IM or 400IM AND any 200m or longer event.

Option 2: Any Combination of THREE 200m or longer events. 

15&O Swimmers

Must achieve any 3 “AAA” Time Standards to compete. 

National (National Competitions – Across Canada) 

Swimming Canada hosts all Junior National and Senior National level competitions for our sport. This is the next step of competition above Provincial Level Meets. Swimmers must be 13&O (Females) and 14&O (Males) to compete at this level. Swimmers can only qualify for SNC National Standard in the Long Course pool, and then are eligible to race those events only at each level of competition qualified. 

Eastern Canadian Championships

Easterns is the introduction to National Level Competition. Swimmers from across the country are split into two competitions on the same weekend, one in Eastern Canada and the second in Western Canada. Swimmers qualify in single age categories, but compete in 15&U / 16&O (Females) and 16&U / 17&O (Males) age categories at the meet. This meet takes place in mid-April every season.

Canadian Junior Championships

Canadian Junior’s is the first time that all Junior aged swimmers from across the country compete together. This meet takes place in various locations around the country, usually alternating from west to east. Swimmers qualify in single age categories, and then race against only their respective age at the competition. This meet takes place at the end of July every season. 
 

Canadian Swimming Championships(Canadian Trials & Summer Nationals)

Canadian Swimming Championships take place two times per season, once in the spring (usually as a Trials Meet) and once in August. These meets are the highest level of competition in our country. Swimmers must qualify for the August Canadian Swimming Championships by achieving the CSC Standard, regardless of your age. For the Trials meet in April, swimmers may qualify by either achieving the “Youth Standards” (Swimmers born 2002 – 2006), or the open Trials Standards. The purpose for the Trials Meets is to qualify for the Canadian Senior and Junior National Teams each Summer.