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Updated: November
13 2005
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Organized Competition
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A swim team is composed of any
number of swimmers. The majority of USS clubs has fewer than 50 athletes;
some clubs have more that 500. Participants compete in different age groups and
meets depending on their achievement level and how old they are on the first
day of the meet. Nationally recognized age groups are 8 and under, 9-10,
11-12, 13-14, 15 and over. Age and/or ability determine team practice groups.
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To assure swimmers are competing
against like talent at swim meets, the Pacific Northwest Swimming Association
(PNSA) categorizes swimmers into classes. The classes we see most often are:
A, AA, AAA, Champs, Seniors, Regionals.
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All swimmers begin at the
"A" level for each event and progress to AA, AAA, Champs, etc... by
meeting the time standard of the event for the higher class. A description of
each level follows.
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The time standards for the classes
can be found in the annually published Aquatic Guide (known as the Blue
Book). The Blue Book also lists the PNSA By-laws, Rules and Procedures,
yearly calendar, records, team directory, and location of PNSA pools.
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Blue Book may be purchased from
PNSA.
- Classes of Meets
- Dual
Meets - Meets arranged by each team as needed. These are
fun, relaxed meets. Their main purpose is to prepare swimmers for the
large events to come. Generally, there is large team participation in
dual meets. Anyone may swim in dual meets.
- A-AA
Meets - These meets are held regularly for beginning
swimmers. They are usually low-key meets for those who have recently
entered the sport.
- Special
Meets - These meets allow the hosting team to use a
non-standard format of events and usually do not have qualifying
standards. This allows the whole team to participate at the same meet.
- AAA
Meets - Are for swimmers who are entering into the more
serious side of swimming. These swimmers have qualified (via Dual meets,
A-AA meets or Special meets) to swim at this higher level.
- Senior
Meets - These meets have no age categories, as do the
previously mentioned meets. Anyone may swim in these as long as they
have achieved the qualifying standards. Standards are usually set above
the AAA time standards for the 13-14 year-old age category.
- Champ
Meets - The next rung of the ladder. These meets are
more competitive that AAA meets and include more talented swimmers.
- All-Star
Meets - This meet pulls together the better swimmers in
each district and allows them to compete on the same team. Oregon,
Inland Empire, and PNSA each send a team to this meet which is currently
held in January. Swimmers are chosen to attend based on their
performance at one of two meets; the winter PNSA Champs meet or the
Husky Invitational meet.
- Age
Group and Senior Regionals - The fastest swimmers from
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington attend these meets. Time
standards are set by the region and are faster than PNSA Champ
standards. We are part of Region XII that is a division of United States
Swimming Association.
- Zones -
The USS has divided the United States beyond the Regional classes into
Zone classes. We are a member of the Western Zone. Zone meets are held
twice a year and are highly competitive. Traveling is an added bonus for
making the standards for this meet. The Summer Zone meet is located in a
different state each year. Winter Zones are held in Walnut Creek, CA.
- Jr.
Nationals - There are two Junior National meets, one
in the East and one in the West. Junior National Standards are set to
attract the second 1000 best swimmers in each half of the country.
- Sr.
Nationals - Senior Nationals is held for the entire
United State. Time standards are set so that it attracts the fastest
1000 swimmers in the U.S. Jr. and Sr. Nationals are the premier meets
for the most talented swimmers in our country.
- Olympic Trials - The most
stringent time standard athletes will come across. Swimmers must qualify
to swim in this meet based on time standards set by US Swimming. This
meet is the selection process for the US Olympic Swim Team. The top two
finishers in each event qualify for the Olympic Swim Team.
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