Time Standards

Time standards are used for qualification and scoring purposes.  Swimmers can achieve a qualifying time at just about all of our meets.  Sometimes time standards are used to put swimmers into categories (A/B/C) for scoring.  Our meet in December is an ABC meet and A swimmers are scored against A swimmers, B swimmers against B swimmers, etc.  That way everyone has a chance at earning awards.  It can seem overwhelming at first but with a little practice, you will start to understand the different standards.  If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact your swimmer's coach.

The Waves belong to West Michigan Swim League (WMSL) and USA Swimming.  Each organization has it own set of time standards.

West Michigan Swim League (WMSL)
WMSL is comprised of 15-20 teams from the West Michigan Area.  Some teams include Rockford, Holland, Jenison, Kentwood and Hamilton.  During each season, dual or tri meets are set up with these teams.  During the winter, the meets are typically on Saturdays and last from 2.5-3.5 hours.  Score is kept and all swimmers can participate.  However, during the winter only 14&Unders compete at WSML because of high school swimming.  In the summer, high school swimmers can participate.  There are no entry fees associated with these meets. 

WMSL Qualifying Times

At the end of the season (Winter - February; Summer - July), two championship meets are conducted; An A meet and a B meet.  The A meet is for 12&Unders who have achieved a WMSL A time.  12&Unders who have not met an "A" time are eligible for the B meet.  There are no qualifying times for 13&Overs.  All swimmers must have competed in at least one WMSL meet.  Any swimmer who has an A time, must compete at the A meet even if it is only in one event.  We are allowed to add a bonus swim and will do so for swimmers with only one A time. 

USA Swimming
The Waves are also a member of USA swimming.  All Waves swimmers are registered with USA Swimming and are a part of Michigan Swimming.  We attend and host USA meets throughout the year.  These meets are best summed up as a large invitational.  Some meets will have qualifying times and may be limited to certain ages.  Please make sure to read the meet information before signing-up.  Entry fees are associated with these meets and parents are responsible for any cost (Team pays for relays).

Just like WMSL, USA Swimming also conducts championship meets at the end of the season.  During the Winter, championship meets start in late February and usually conclude by the end of March.  In the summertime, championship meets are usually in late July and early August.  As we move through the calendar, meet qualifying times get progressively faster.  This provides stepping stones for swimmers to move up in levels. 

Below is a list of meets starting with the first level:
 Meet   
 Standards Information about meet
 ABC       
 ABC Most of the meets we attend are this type.  Swimmers are awarded based on seed times.
 Districts Districts First level of championship meet.  Slower than times.  Swimmers who exceed the standard are not eligible for that event at Districts.  Held in late February.
 Jr Olympics     
 Jr Olympics Faster than Districts but slower than State.  Swimmers with State times are not eligible for those events at Jr Olympics. 
 State
 12 and Under State Held in March and July.  Swimmers can qualify with a yard or meter time.  This is the one most kids are striving for. 
  13 and Over State 
 Zones Zones Only held in the summer and is swum in a 50-meter pool.  This is regional type meet and is usually held in a different state.  18&Unders.
 Sectionals Sectionals Held in the spring and summer.  Open to all ages who meet qualifying times.
 Jr Nationals     
 Jr Nationals Held in early December (yards) and in early August (meters).  18&Unders only and is held throughout the country.
 US Open
 US Open High level meet for Senior swimmers.   Held throughout the country.
 Olympic Trials
  The fastest meet in the world outside the Olympics.  50 meter pool. 

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