Time Standards for 2025-2026 Swimmers qualify for Swim Alberta provincial competitions by achieving one time standard for their respective age as of the first day of competition. Time standards are established through a process outlined for each standard set. Frequently Asked Questions How many standards are required to qualify for provincial competitions? One standard is required to qualify for each level of provincial competition, including Festivals, Provincial Trials and Provincial Championships. The female standards are faster than the male standards, the male festival standards used to be faster. Why are the female standards faster than the males? Is this an error or are the genders switched? The standards are correct. Prior to 2025, the Festival standards were set one year older than the females, which provided the males a significant advantage based on growth and development. As outlined in the time standards process, festival times are based on the 5-year average of 40th rank. Generally, more females tend to swim faster than males at a younger age, based on technical skills, growth, and development The competition information states the Festivals will have a 9 & under category, however the youngest time standard is 10 & under. Is this an error, will the 9 & under swimmers have their own category at the Festivals? Swimmers aged 9 & under, can qualify for the festival by achieving the 10 & under time standard. At the competition, 9 & under swimmers will compete in their own category. My swimmer is 12 and has Festival standards, if they achieve a Provincial Trials standard, can they attend both competitions? What if they achieve a Provincial Championships time? Yes, they can attend both competitions if they have the time standard to qualify for Provincial Trials. If they achieve a Provincial Championships time standard, they are de-qualified from the Provincial Trials. Festival Standards The Festival Standards will be used to qualify for the Winter and Summer Festivals. Festival Time Standards Process The Festival standards will be set using the 5-year average of 40th rank for all 50m and 100m events and 40th rank plus 2% for 200m and longer events using Alberta’s overall short course season rankings. Age 10 & under The 10 & under category will be created using age 10 only Ages 11 & 12 Low subscription events will be set using the World Aquatics points of a similar discipline with a decrease of 10 points. (For example: 200 Fly set using 100 Fly World Aquatic points minus 10) All time standards are set to the tenth. Swimmers must equal or better the standard to qualify. For example: 1:50.9 = 1:50.90 (1:50.90 qualifies, 1:50.91 does not qualify) Festival Standards Provincial Trials Standards The Provincial Trials Standards will be used to qualify for the Winter Provincial Trials and the Summer Provincial Trials. Provincial Trials Time Standards Process The Provincial Trials short course and long course standards will be set using the Provincial Championship standard plus 10%. The 16 year old championship standard will be used as the base time for the Provincial Trials 16 & over age category. If an event in the 13 & under category contains a slower time than the Festival 12 year old category, the time will be set as 0.2 seconds faster per 50m. All time standards are set to the tenth. Swimmers must equal or better the standard to qualify. For example: 1:50.9 = 1:50.90 (1:50.90 qualifies, 1:50.91 does not qualify) Provincial Trials Standards Provincial Championship Standards The Provincial Championship Standards will be used to qualify for the Winter Provincial Championships and the Summer Provincial Championships. Provincial Championships Time Standards Process The Provincial Championship time standards will be set using times from Alberta’s Long Course season rankings. Low subscription events will be set using the World Aquatics points of a similar discipline with a decrease of 10 points. (For example: 200 Fly set using 100 Fly World Aquatic points minus 10) Short course championship standards will be calculated at 98% of the long course standard Ages 13 & under, 14, 15, 16 Set by calculating the 5-year average of 12th rank for 50m events and 16th rank for 100m and longer events The 13 & under category will be calculated using age 13 only If a time standard does not get faster for the next age category, the time will be set as 0.2 seconds faster per 50m Open Category Set using the average difference in time between ages 14-15 and 15-16, females at 50% and males at 60% of the average difference in time All time standards are set to the tenth. Swimmers must equal or better the standard to qualify. For example: 1:50.9 = 1:50.90 (1:50.90 qualifies, 1:50.91 does not qualify). Provincial Championship Standards Para Swimming Time Standards One provincial time standard is required for para swimmers to qualify for the Provincial Championships. Para Swimming Time Standards Process Swimming Canada sets the provincial time standards for para swimming which include two sets of standards, the Meet Qualifying Standard (MQS) and the Meet Entry Time (MET). Swimmers are encouraged to work towards and achieve the MET and MQS in multiple events as steppingstones to progress to national events. Provincial Para Time Standards Youth Recognition Time Standards Swimmers who achieve the Youth Recognition time standards are recognized and awarded a t-shirt at either the Festival (12 & Under) or the Provincial Championships, (13 & Over). Youth Recognition Time Standards Process The youth recognition time standards are based on the 10-year average for each age and rank. Top 5 – Based on Alberta rankings, short course only 10 & Under Festival Events Only Top 1 & Top 10 – Based on national rankings, short course and long course. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 All time standards are set to the tenth. Swimmers must equal or better the standard to qualify. For example: 1:50.9 = 1:50.90 (1:50.90 qualifies, 1:50.91 does not qualify) Youth Recognition Award Submission (on Members Portal) Youth Recognition Standards (Top 5) Youth Recognition Standards Female Youth Recognition Standards Male Youth Recognition Hy-Tek File Hy-Tek Files This zip file includes: Youth Recognition Festival Standard Provincial Trials and Provincial Champs HY-TEK Files