National Qualification Cuts — FAQ

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1. What's the difference between a PB Qualification Check and an earned qualification badge?

They answer two different questions:

PB Qualification Check — available on the swimmer's Fastest/PB table:

What qualification cuts does this PB satisfy now, based on the swimmer's current age?

Earned Qualification Badge — shown on rankings, meet results, and other result tables:

What qualification cut did this swim earn when it happened?

The PB check uses the swimmer's current age. An earned badge uses the swimmer's age at the time of the swim.

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2. Why can a swimmer's PB show a different qualification than the badge on the original swim?

Because a swimmer's age may have changed.

For example, a swimmer sets a PB at age 14 and later turns 15.

• The badge on the original swim shows what the swim qualified for at age 14.
• The PB Qualification Check shows what that PB qualifies for now at age 15.

This keeps historical results accurate while making the PB useful for current qualification planning.

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3. Which qualification cuts are checked for different ages?

14 & Under

The PB check uses the swimmer's applicable NCSA Age Group cut:

• 11 & Under
• Age 12
• Age 13
• Age 14

For 13–14 swimmers who have achieved the Sectionals cut, additional national qualification cuts can also be shown.

15–18

Age-group cuts no longer apply. Eligible cuts include Sectionals, Futures 18 & Under, NCSA, Junior Nationals, and other applicable national cuts.

19 & Over

Open qualification standards are used, including Futures 19 & Over where applicable. Age-group and Futures 18 & Under cuts are excluded.

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4. What does the teal qualification badge mean?

A teal badge means that the specific swim actually achieved that qualification cut when it occurred.

Only the highest applicable cut achieved is shown.

Examples include:

• NCSA AG — NCSA Age Group
• Sec Max — Sectionals Maximum
• Fut 18u — Futures 18 & Under
• Fut 19 — Futures 19 & Over

Tap or click the badge to see the full qualification name, year, and age group when applicable.

If the swim didn't earn an applicable qualification cut, no badge is shown.

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5. How do B, BB, A, AA, AAA, and AAAA standards work?

Motivational standards are based on the swimmer's age when the swim occurred.

For example, if a swimmer earned AA in the 100 Fly at age 12, that swim continues to show AA after the swimmer turns 13.

This is different from the PB Qualification Check, which uses the swimmer's current age when determining applicable national qualification cuts.

Motivational standards are shown through age 18.

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6. Why do some events show — or no qualification check?

Not every event has an applicable motivational or national qualification standard.

Examples include:

• 25 Free, Back, Breast, and Fly — no applicable standards.
• 100 IM for ages 13+ — no applicable motivational standard.
• SCM — national qualification comparisons are not shown when no applicable SCM cut is provided.
• Some NCSA 50 events qualify through the corresponding 100 event, so the 50 time itself is not directly compared.

In these cases, Swim Standards shows — or leaves the qualification area blank rather than displaying a misleading comparison.