Championship Meet Rules & Progression

Championship Meet Rules

Often, prelim/final meets such as State or Zone championships or higher-level meets (Sectionals, Futures, Junior Nationals, Olympic Trials, etc.) will operate under a ‘Championship Meet Format’.  This maintains a certain set of rules to ensure the meet functions smoothly, swimmers appear on time for their races, do not delay the meet and maintain a level of fairness.

These rules are as follows:

  • Should a swimmer miss an event during the preliminary session of a prelim/final meet, that swimmer is barred from competing in any further preliminary events that day NOT be eligible to compete in ANY event following that missed race.  This includes any event the swimmer has remaining in that preliminary session, even relay positions.  This also includes any event the swimmer has qualified for the finals session that was previously that day, even relay positions.  In addition, this swimmer must contact the Administrative Official & Meet Referee before being permitted to compete in further preliminary events on remaining days of the meet.
  • Should a swimmer miss an event during the finals session of a prelim/final meet, that swimmer is barred from any further competition in that meet.  This includes any event the swimmer has remaining in the finals session of that particular day, any events in future preliminary sessions of the meet and any future relay positions for the remainder of the meet.
  • For either instance, the Meet Referee may waive the penalty due to illness or injury or for circumstances beyond the swimmer’s control.

 

USA Swimming Championship Meet Progression

The following is the typical progression of championship meets within USA Swimming.  Each meet will have time standards swimmers must achieve to be able to compete at that particular meet.  The time standards get faster and more competitive at each level of competition.        

  • Local CSI Championship meets:
    • Silver State – SC only, 14 & Under swimmers only with qual times.
    • State – SC an LC, separate 14 & Under meet and Senior (15 & Over) meet with qual times.
  • Western Zone Championship meets:
    • Age Group Zones – LC only, 14 & Under swimmers only.  CSI swimmers must meet qual times and criteria for team selection; swimmers ONLY attend with Team Colorado.
    • Senior Zones – SC and LC, qual times open for swimmers of any age; swimmers attend with ROCK.
  • USA Swimming Championship meets:
    • Sectionals – SC and LC, qual times open for any age; swimmers attend with ROCK.
    • Futures – both SC and LC, qual times open for any age; swimmers attend with ROCK.
    • Junior Nationals – SC only, qual times open for any age; swimmers attend with ROCK.
    • Speedo Summer Championships – LC only, a combination of Senior & Junior Nationals, qual times open for any age; swimmers attend with ROCK.
    • Olympic Trials – Senior Nationals equivalent only every 4 years/Olympic year, LC only, qual times open for any age.
  • International Championship meets:
    • US Open/Senior Nationals – SC and LC, qual times open for any age; swimmers attend with ROCK.
    • World Championships – LC in winter only, swimmers are selected as Team USA.
    • Olympics – LC, every 4 years/Olympic year only, swimmers are selected as Team USA (top 2 finishers in each event from Olympic Trials).