Understanding Time Standards and Motivation in Swimming
In competitive swimming, time standards are benchmarks used to guide a swimmer's progress and development. They are not just numbers on a chart—they represent a journey. For swimmers, coaches, and parents, these standards can help shape meaningful goals and measure improvement over time. Whether it’s reaching a new personal best or qualifying for a higher level of competition, time standards provide structure and inspiration along the way.
It’s important to remember that every swimmer’s path is different. Progress may happen quickly for some and more gradually for others. That’s perfectly okay. What matters most is consistency, effort, and a love for the sport. Swimmers should be encouraged to celebrate their own growth, stay focused on their goals, and take pride in each step forward—no matter how big or small.
Both Illinois Swimming and USA Swimming publish time standards (cuts) by age-group, stroke and distance for female and male swimmers. These time standards allow swimmers to set goals and serve as a comparison against other swimmers nationally within the same age-group.
Here are Delta printables for 25-26: Age Group Standards (includes SCY Reg/Champ/Zone) Winter Senior Standards
1) USA Swimming National Motivational Times
These time standards are the starting point for a swimmer's journey through the USA Swimming time progression system. Motivational Times are organized by age group and range from B to AAAA levels, with each step representing increasing levels of achievement. These standards help swimmers set goals and track improvement over time. They are used nationally and provide a foundation for local, regional, and national competition qualification. Most swimmers begin working toward these standards before moving on to Illinois, Zone, Sectional, or National-level time standards.
Check out our page all about the National Motivational Times. (Updated for 2024-28)
2) Illinois Swimming Regional Championships
The first meet swimmers should aim to qualify for is the Illinois Swimming Regional Championships (REG). This meet is held at the end of each Short Course and Long Course season. Qualifying times for this meet are based on the swimmers age. There are different standards for 9 & Unders, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 & older. As a swimmer ages up, the qualifying times become faster. Athletes may qualify with either Long Course (50M) or Short Course (25Y) times that meet the standard and were performed within the championship meet qualifying time period.
Illinois Swimming Time Standards (Updated for 2025-26)
3) Illinois 10 & Under, 11-14 Age Group and Senior State Championships
The next meets swimmers should aim to qualify for are the Illinois Swimming State Championships. This meet is held at the end of each Short Course and Long Course season. These meets are split into 10 & Under (CHMP), Age Group Champs (CHMP) for 11-14, and Senior Champs (CHMP) for 15 & Overs. Qualifying times for this meet are based on the swimmers age. There are different standards for 9 & Unders, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 & older. As a swimmer ages up, the qualifying times become faster. Athletes may qualify with either Long Course (50M) or Short Course (25Y) times that meet the standard and were performed within the championship meet qualifying time period.
Illinois Swimming Time Standards (Updated for 2025-26)
4) Central Zone 14 & Under Championships
The Central Zone Championships are regional championship meets for qualified swimmers ages 14 and under. Illinois Swimming is part of the Central Zone, along with 14 other Local Swimming Committees (LSCs). Swimmers who achieve a USA Swimming National AAA time standard between the first day of the Zone Meet of the previous year and the entry deadline date for the current Central Zone Meet are eligible to apply to be part of Team Illinois and compete at the Zone meet each August. This meet brings together top swimmers from across the Central Zone and is typically hosted by one of the member LSCs. Zone meets serve as an exciting next step in a swimmer’s progression beyond local competition, offering a team travel experience and the chance to represent Illinois on a larger stage.
Visit the Team Illinois website for more information on this year's Zone meet specifics. This is a LCM Meet held in August each year.
5) Speedo Sectionals
Speedo Sectionals provide the next level of competition for qualifying swimmers and is the base of the USA Swimming pyramid. This meet has no age brackets, meaning anyone who meets the qualifying time standard can compete. Sectional meets take place in each region across the US during the spring and summer. Athletes who qualify in one event can enter in a set number of bonus events for that meet. Some Sectional meets require actual Bonus qualifying times and other Sectional meets do not. This varies by which Speedo Sectionals you attend. Summer Sectionals requires slightly faster times to qualify than spring sectionals.
Spring Sectionals Qualifying Times (Updated for 2026)
Summer Sectionals Qualifying Times (Updated for 2026)
6) Futures Championships
Has faster qualifying times than Sectionals and is also held during the summer. These meets allow swimmers to compete on a larger, faster scale than Sectionals. Only five Futures meets are held throughout the US. How do you know which Futures meet to attend? It all depends on what LSC you belong to. Bonus events at this level do not have time standards. Swimmers older than 18 are allowed to compete at this meet.
Futures Championship Qualifying Times (Updated for 2026)
7) Speedo Winter Junior Championships (Short Course)
This meet serves as a stepping stone to the top national and international-level meets for 18-and-under athletes. The Winter Junior Championship meets take place every December at two sites, East and West. Qualifying times for this meet are faster than for Futures Championships. All athletes must be 18 years or under on the first day of competition. Swimmers may enter a set number of bonus events, as long as they are permitted by the meet’s guidelines. However, all bonus events must meet a separate time standard.
Speedo Winter Junior Championships Qualifying Times (Updated for 2025)
8) Speedo Junior National Championship (Long Course)
This meet serves as a stepping stone to the top national and international-level meets for 18-and-under athletes. The Junior National Championship meet is held in the summer at a single location. Qualifying times for this meet are faster than the time standards for the Winter Junior Championships. All athletes must be 18 years or under on the first day of competition. Swimmers may enter a set number of bonus events, as long as they are permitted by the meet’s guidelines. However, all bonus events must meet a separate time standard.
Speedo Junior National Championship Qualifying Times (Updated for 2026)
9) US Open Championships (AKA Senior Nationals)
This is an international-level meet organized by USA Swimming during the Summer and Winter months. Only swimmers who achieve qualification times are able to participate. Swimmers are able to participate in a set number of bonus events that meet the bonus time standard. Members of Olympic, National, and National Junior Teams may compete in the event as well. This top national-level competition serves as a qualifying meet for international-level competitions.
US Open Qualifying Times (Updated for 2025)
10) Philips 66 US National Championship
US Nationals is the top annual championship meet in the country. Swimmers of all ages are able to participate in this meet as long as they meet the time standards. Qualification times for this meet are faster than US Open Cuts. Members of Olympic, National, and National Junior Teams compete in this event. International swimmers may compete in this meet as well.
National Championship Qualifying Times (Updated for 2026)
11) US Olympic Trials
Olympic Trials are held every four years to select Team USA swimmers for the summer Olympic Games. This elite senior selection meet has qualification times faster than US Nationals. Olympic trials are rumored to be just as difficult as the Olympics themselves in the US. Why? The United States has a lot of good swimmers. To put this into reference, there are about ~400,000 registered USA Swimming swimmers and the goal of Olympic Trials is to host about ~1,250 swimmers at meet. This means only about 0.3% of registered USA swimming athletes will earn the right to compete at the Olympic Trials.
US Olympic Trials Qualifying Times - These will be updated when the 2028 qualifying times are released
12) US Olympic Team
Of the roughly 400,000 registered USA Swimming swimmers, around 1,250 will qualify for Olympic Trials. Of those that qualify, only 52 swimmers (26 Men and 26 women) will earn the right to represent the USA on the Olympic Swim Team. This means just 4% of swimmers who compete at trials go on to make the Olympic Team.
At Olympic Trials, around 100 - 150 swimmers will compete in each event in prelims. In events 200 meters and shorter, the swimmers who place in the top 16 in each event at prelims will advance to Semi-Finals. At Semi-Finals, they will compete again, with the top 8 finishers advancing to Finals. In events 400 meters and longer, there are no semi-finals, so the top 8 finishers in prelims advance directly to the finals.
At Finals, swimmers will compete one last time and the top two finishers in each event will make the US Olympic team. In the 100 Meter and 200 Meter Freestyle, the top 6 finishers have traditionally been offered a spot on the Olympic team so that we can put together our best 4x100 and 4x200 Freestyle Relays. In 2021, the Women's 1500 Meter Freestyle and Men's 800 Meter Freestyle were added to the Olympic event list. This potentially adds two new qualifiers to both the men's and women's team while keeping the roster cap at 26 for both. Due to this addition, instead of the top 6 making the team in the 100 and 200 meter free - we now see more of a guarantee that the top 4 will make the team in these events, although the top 6 are still likely to qualify.
Do Swimmers have to Climb the Pyramid in that Order?
No, they do not. Lydia Jacoby wasn’t part of a Junior National Team and the Olympics were her FIRST international meet. Oh, and by the way – she did win GOLD there too.
Some Olympians progress through all the levels of competition in USA Swimming; others don’t, and that’s totally fine. Is it good to know about the levels of the pyramid? Of course. The levels of competition create structure and it’s up to the coaches to really see and work with the swimmer in front of them. I would say knowing the levels of competition is essential for swimmers, parents and coaches to be able to continually help athletes figure out what’s next.
