Long Course vs. Short Course Season

Spring is in the air, and the ACE practice groups haved geared up for the start of the long course season meets. 

The only tangible difference between short course meets and the long course meets is the competition pool length.

Short course season runs for the majority of the year, from the beginning of September to the end of March. Events are traditionally swum in a 25-yard pool. These meets are designated as SCY (short course yards).

Long course season officially starts the beginning of April and concludes in late July/ early August. Meets during the long course months are typically held in Olympic size 50-meter pools, although some 25-yard meets are offered as well. Long course meets are designated as LCM (long course meters).  

Interesting fact... The USA is the only country to train and swim competely in 25 yard pools.

Which one is better?

There is no answer to which format is better.

One noticeable difference parents and swimmers will see between long courses and short course is the difference in the swimmers' times. The long course times are typically slower than the swimmer's short course times because a 50-meter swim is approximately 5 yards longer than a 50-yard swim. 

Another obvious difference between a short and long course pool is the number of turns. Long pool = fewer turns.

Some swimmers perform better in one course pool versus another based on their individual strengths and weaknesses.

The ACE coaches strongly encourage our swimmers to compete in both long and short course meets. Younger swimmers are encouraged to compete in at least one (1) LCM meet over the spring/ summer months. Older swimmers are should plan to compete in at least two (2) LCM meets.

While the longer pool may seem intimidating at first, it is something that is very quickly overcome after the athlete attends his or her first long course meet. 

During the long course season, there will be a few travel meets offered in addtion to local meets as there are only a few 50 meter pools in our vicinity. Travel meets are a great opportunity to compete against new swimmers and to also build closer relationships with your own teammates.

Swimmers can achieve Summer 2024 Midwestern Swimming Championship qualifying times in either 50 meter or 25 yards pools. However, times achieved in 50 meter pools are given higher priority when the meet is seeded.

Does training in a 25-yard pool have an adverse impact on swimmers during the long course season?

The simple answer is NO! 

Training in a 25 yard pool is not a disadvantage for our swimmers as the ACE coaches design their practices to best train the swimmers for the meter length swims.  The swimmers may have noticed the set intervals have changed in order to prepare them for the longer length pool.  Training in a shorter distance pool also allows the coaches to keep up the intensity while limiting boredom in the pool. 

In fact, many swim coaches would argue that training in a short course swimming pool (25 yard, which we have at Common Ground and at OHB) provides each swimmer and their coach with more opportunities to practice a greater variety of skills in preparation for racing.

If you have any questions about the long course season training or meets, please be sure to email your swimmer's coach or ACE Head Coach, Kim Berndt at [email protected].