New Year – New Motivational Time Standards

Sherry Mueller

New Year – New Motivational Time Standards

In order to be successful in the new year, stay focused, develop a positive attitude and be passionate with your dreams.  (Bamigboye Olurotimi)

Southern California Swimming (SCS) uses the USA Swimming Motivational Time Standards for Age Group meets.  Every 4 years USA Swimming updates the time standards.  Our swimmers have been ‘ranked’ using the 2021-2024 USA Motivational Time Standards.  Beginning January 1, 2025 we will be using the NEW 2024-2028 USA Motivational Time Standards.

About USA Motivational Time Standards

USA Swimming (the Olympic Organization) has an Age Group Motivational Time Standards program that ranks EVERY swimmer nationally according to their fastest times by age, stroke and distance.

The objective of the Motivational Time Standards is to:

  • inspire swimmers to set goals and get faster, and
  • to rank all swimmers nationally.

Motivational Age Groups

USA Swimming has created 2 different sets of Motivational Time Standards,  (1) Age Group and (2) Single Age.  The Single Age time standard does not define standards for swimmers 9 & Under so we use the Motivational Age Group standards to rank our swimmers.

The Motivational Age Groups are.

  • 10 & Under
  • 11-12
  • 13-14
  • 15-16
  • 17-18

Rankings

The rankings are as follows;  (Note, the SCS relationship comments are for reference only and do not necessarily apply to every level or time standard).

  • ‘C’
  • ‘B’
  • ‘BB’
  • ‘A’ 
  • ‘AA’ (close to WAG, JAG, and Age Group Championship times)
  • ‘AAA’ (close to Far Western, Sectional, and Futures championship times)
  • ‘AAAA’ (close to Junior National times)

The table below shows how the levels relate to a national ranking.

AAAA

98%

This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 2% of swimmers their age-group, their same sex, in that stroke and distance.

AAA

94%

This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 6% of swimmers their age-group, their same sex, in that stroke and distance.

AA

92%

This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 8% of swimmers their age-group, their same sex, in that stroke and distance.

A

85%

This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 15% of swimmers their age-group, their same sex, in that stroke and distance.

BB

65%

This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 35% of swimmers their age-group, their same sex, in that stroke and distance.

B

45%

This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 55% of swimmers their age-group, their same sex, in that stroke and distance.

C

  

This standard is for all swimmers with times below the "B" standard. Everything from 0.00 up to the "B" standard is a "C" time.

WRAP UP

I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all. (Simone Biles)

We challenge our swimmers to take a chance and pick up new times for new events.  

The Performance – Best Times report with ‘color-coded’ times has been updated to reflect the new time standards.  Very few standards changed.  Some time standards for the 12 and under went up, i.e. from ‘C’ to ‘B’, or ‘B’ to ‘BB’, or ‘BB’ to ‘A’.  A few time standards for the 13 and over went down, i.e. from ‘AAAA’ to ‘AAA’, ‘A’ to ‘BB’, or ‘BB’ to ‘B’, or ‘B’ to ‘C’.

Bottom Line - Time standards are great for goal setting and should be used to motivate your swimmer, but while improvement is desired it should not be required. Be patient and let your athlete improve at their own pace. P.S. Never compare your swimmers success to another swimmer. All swimmers are individuals with unique abilities and each will develop at their own rate.

The new motivational time standards can be found on our web page under ‘Events’ / ‘Time Standards’.  Laminated copies of both the SCY and LCM time standards will be handed out to our swimmers who are dedicated to setting goals and attending swim meets.

GO THUNDERBOLTS

GMA Sherry