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): 2024 SCY Standards/Event Order  /  2024 LCM Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules  /  2023 SCY Standards  /  2023 LCM Standards

Southwest Age Group Regional (SWAGR) Championship (SC):  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules

Northwest Age Group (NWAG) Regionals (SC):  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 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):  2025 Standards ("AA")  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards ("AA")  /  2024 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):  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules

Western Zone Senior Championship (LC):  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules

Spring Senior Sectionals Championship:  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules

Summer Senior Sectional Championship:  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules

Futures Championships (LC):    2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 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):  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules  /  2023 Standards 

Summer Championship (LC):  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards*  /  2024 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):  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules  /  2023 Standards 

Summer Championships (LC):  2025 Standards  /  2025 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards*  /  2024 Entry Rules

U.S. Olympic Trials (LC):  2028 Standards  /  2028 Entry Rules  /  2024 Standards  /  2024 Entry Rules

*2024 Summer Championships were Jr/Sr Nationals combined: separate 18&under and 19&over standards