Time Standards
In order to participate in certain meets, swimmers must meet a specific time standard.
These standards get faster as swimmers progress and move up in skill and performance level.
State/LSC Level
The first qualifying meet swimmers are eligible for is the State/LSC Championship at the end of each short course (SC) and long course (LC) season.
You can find additional information on qualifying for the MT State Championship meets here: Entry Rules.
2024-2028 National Age Group Motivational Times: Standards / 2021-2024 Standards
2024-2028 MT State Championship Meets: 8&U / 13-21 50s / 2021-2024 Standards
Regional Level
The next level is often referred to as regional meets, which include teams from ~5-8 different LSCs, and swimmers qualify within their own age group.
AZ Holiday Swim Festival (SC): 2025 Standards/Event Order / 2025 Entry Rules / 2024 SCY Standards/Event Order / 2024 LCM Standards / 2024 Entry Rules
Southwest Age Group Regional (SWAGR) Championship (SC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
Northwest Age Group (NWAG) Regionals (SC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
Age Group Zone Level
The next level is the zone level, which for MT encompasses all of the LSCs in the Western Zone. Swimmers usually compete for their LSC instead of club team and again qualify within their age group.
Age Group Western Zone Championship (LC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards ("AA") / 2025 Entry Rules
Senior Zone/Sectional Level
All meets at this level and up are considered "senior" meets, meaning swimmers must meet a certain time, regardless of age. Senior Zones, Sectionals, and Futures make up this next tier.
Senior Zones (SC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
Western Zone Senior Championship (LC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
Spring Senior Sectionals Championship: 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
Summer Senior Sectional Championship: 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
Futures Championships (LC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
Junior National Level
The first level of national meets is the Junior National level for swimmers 18&under, with standards for winter and summer.
Winter Junior National Championship (SC): 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules / 2024 Standards / 2024 Entry Rules
Summer Championship (LC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
National Level
Finally, the US Open, National Championship, and Olympic Trials make up the top tier of swimming in the US.
US Open (SC): 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules / 2024 Standards / 2024 Entry Rules
Summer Championships (LC): 2026 Standards / 2026 Entry Rules / 2025 Standards / 2025 Entry Rules
U.S. Olympic Trials (LC): 2028 Standards / 2028 Entry Rules / 2024 Standards / 2024 Entry Rules
