What Are National Age Group Motivational Time Standards?
Competitive swimmers want to know how they rank amongst their peers nationally. The Age Group Motivational Times give a swimmer the opportunity to evaluate their best times against other swimmers within their specified age group. Time Standards are broken down by age group and by stroke.
How Are National Age Group Time Standards Determined?
Every four years, sometimes referred to as a “quad,” the top 16 times for each stroke is compared to those times established in the prior quad. If the times are the same or similar, no changes are made to the given ranking. If the times are different, adjustments are made to the times standards for the next publication.
Each quad corresponds to the same interval between Olympic years.
Time Standards and Swim Meets
These time standards are used to set eligibility rules for particular swimming meets and events. You may see a meet that is open to swimmers with “B” times or slower or you may see a minimum entry requirement of “A” times.
Be sure to check the meet descriptions before signing up your swimmer.
How To Read Swimming Time Standards
First, the time standards are broken down by quad, the four-year interval.
Second, there are three sets of time standards based on the season and type of pool. The three sets are Long Course Meters, Short Course Meters, and Short Course Yards.
Then, the time sets are broken down into Girl’s/Women’s times and Boy’s/Men’s times.
Next, each stroke for a given course type is listed.
Finally, six letter designations are listed with AAAA being the fastest and B being the slowest. There exists a C time, but that includes all times below a B time.
From fastest to slowest, the letter designations are: AAAA, AAA, AA, A, BB, B, C
It is important to understand that your swimmer will have different ranks for each stroke. Your swimmer may have an A time in the 50 Free yet have a B time in the 100 Back.
What Percentage of Swimmers Fall Into Each Letter Standard?
| Standard | Percentile | Explanation |
| AAAA | 98 | This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 2% of swimmers in their age-group, sex category, and event. |
| AAA | 94 | This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 6% of swimmers in their age-group, sex category, and event. |
| AA | 92 | This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 8% of swimmers in their age-group, sex category, and event. |
| A | 85 | This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 15% of swimmers in their age-group, sex category, and event. |
| BB | 65 | This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 35% of swimmers in their age-group, sex category, and event. |
| B | 45 | This standard means your swimmer is ranked in the top 55% of swimmers in their age-group, sex category, and event. |
| C | N/A | This standard includes all swimmers who are below B times. |
How To Use Swimming Motivational Time Standards
Time Standards are meant to be used to set goals for your swimmer. As they age, their strengths wi;ll change. It is important to note that all swimmers develop at different times.
Too often swimmers who achieve fast times early will plateau as they age.
In contrast, others improve slowly and won’t achieve competitive times until later in their career.
These standards are meant to motivate swimmers and not to deter them by setting unrealistic expectations.