DIVISIONAL, LEAGUE, ZONE AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Based on comments and questions some of our coaches are hearing from new swimmers & parents, we wanted to clarify how swimmers earn the right to participate in the Divisional, League and Zone Championships.
DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
All swimmers earn the right and are expected to participate in the Divisional Championship Meet simply by being a participating member of League team. You will compete against the other teams in your division.
Based on their performances at the Divisional Championship Meet, some swimmers will advance to the League Championship, and potentially, to the Zone and National Championships. Your participation in the Divisional meet is a prerequisite to participation in the League Championship Meet.
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
In the 8 & Under, 9/10, and 11/12 age group, the top three swimmers in each event at the Divisional Championship Meet will qualify automatically for League Championships. Since there are three Divisions in our league, there will be nine automatic qualifiers (3 from each Divisional Championship Meet).
Then the results from each of the Divisional Championship Meets are combined and the top 15 swimmers, not including the automatic qualifiers, are awarded “at-large berths” for the League Championship Meet. Therefore, the total number of qualifiers for each event at the League Championships will be 24 (9 Automatic and 15 at-large). This results in three heats for each event at League Championships.
In the 13/14 and 15/20 age group only the top 2 swimmers in each event from Divisional will qualify automatically. The next 10 top swimmers, from all of the divisions, will qualify at-large for the League Championships. The total number of League qualifiers will be 16 swimmers (6 Automatic and 10 at-large) for each age group. This results in two heats for each age group and event at League Championships.
ZONE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
There is no limit to how many swimmers can make it to the Zone Championship Meet. Swimming at the League Meet is NOT a prerequisite to swim at the Zone Championship Meet. The Zone meet includes swimmers from five states (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia).
Each year the YMCA Swimming and Diving governing body establishes the Zone Time Standards for each gender, age group and event. You can view this year’s Zone Time Standards by clicking here. You can achieve a Zone Time at any YMCA sanctioned Meet.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
Like the Zone Championship, there is no limit to how many swimmers can make it to the National Meet. Swimming at the Zone or League Meet is NOT a prerequisite to swim at the Zone Championship Meet.
The same governing body establishes the National Time Standards for each event. However, unlike Zones, there is no age boundary. For example, the time standard in a 100 freestyle is the same regardless of whether the swimmer is 12, 15 or 18. The only differentiation is gender. You can view this year’s National Time Standards by clicking here. You can achieve a National Time at any YMCA sanctioned Meet.