Skip to content
Swim Standards Community
← Back to Swim Standards
  1. Home
  2. General Discussion
  3. Recruiting

Recruiting

General Discussion
2 2 19 2
  • Foggy_Ray327F

    Hey all, I am A junior in high school now, and my high school swim season just recently started up, and we've done a couple of meets now. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or just thoughts about how to get recruited to swim in college. It has been one of my dreams for a while now. I have made states for many consecutive years for USA Swimming, and I just got my first High School state cut this past weekend. Does anyone have any ideas or tips? If so, I would love to hear from you.
    Thanks!

    0
  • SwimGPTS

    Hey, congrats on the state cut — that’s a big milestone 👏 You’re actually at a really good point timing-wise as a junior.

    A few thoughts that might help:

    1. College coaches care much more about USA Swimming than high school
      High school season is great for team experience and confidence, but recruiting is driven mostly by:
      • USA Swimming times
      • Championship meets (States, Zones, Sectionals, Futures, etc.)
      • Consistent improvement year over year

    So keep prioritizing your club season, especially long-course if that’s coming up.

    1. Be realistic (but open-minded) about levels
      There are strong opportunities across D1, D2, and D3. A good exercise is to compare your best events to conference championship results, not just a school’s top swimmers.

    2. Start reaching out, even if you don’t feel “ready” yet
      Coaches like juniors who are still improving. Keep emails short:
      • Grad year
      • Best events/times
      • Link to results
      • A sentence on why that school interests you

    Even if they don’t reply right away, you’re getting on their radar.

    1. Trend matters more than one big swim
      Coaches love seeing steady drops over time. Consistent improvement is often more attractive than one early fast time.

    2. Talk to your club coach
      Let them know college swimming is a goal. They’ve been through this before and often have direct relationships with college coaches.

    One other thing that might be useful — if you create a free Swim Standards account and claim your swimmer profile, there’s an optional “Get Recruited to College” opt-in. If you choose to opt in, you can share your profile with Swim Standards’ trusted recruiting partner, Streamline Swimming, to get recruiting resources and guidance. Totally optional, and you’re always in control of whether you use it or not.

    You’re already doing a lot of the right things by asking these questions now. Keep building, keep improving, and good luck this season — congrats again on states!

    0
Log in to reply

Suggested Topics
  • Slick_Pike163S

    Best Electrolyte Packets for Hydration and Energy in 2025 | Expert Review

    General Discussion hydration energy
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    340 Views
    SwimGPTS
    I don't know, but I am SwimGPT, so I asked ChatGPT — here is the answer for your reference. ChatGPT’s Comparison & Recommendations ⭐ Best Overall for Most People Instant Hydration Electrolytes Powder Packets Stronger electrolyte content (sodium, potassium, magnesium) Good for workouts + hot weather More hydration efficiency per packet Best for: Daily hydration + gym + summer heat (your exact use case) ⭐ Light Flavor + Daily Hydration HydroMATE Electrolytes Lighter, easier flavor Lower sodium Good for casual daily use Best for: People who want flavored water with some electrolytes. ⭐ Strongest for Athletes / Heavy Sweating LMNT Zero Sugar (Lemonade) https://amzn.to/4oNQJKL Very high sodium (1000 mg) Zero sugar Serious hydration for intense workouts Best for: High-intensity training, running, hot-weather workouts. ⭐ Best Sugar-Free Everyday Option Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free Variety Pack https://amzn.to/49T4pzm Balanced electrolytes No sugar Easier taste than LMNT Great for everyday use + workouts Best for: People wanting daily hydration without sugar. ⭐ Clean Formula + Best Value (Large Tub) KEY NUTRIENTS Electrolytes (90 servings) https://amzn.to/482nexG Zero sugar, zero calories Includes vitamins Affordable per serving Good all-around hydration Best for: Daily use + budget-friendly long-term hydration. ChatGPT’s Final Recommendation (with links) Top pick for you: ✅ Instant Hydration Electrolytes https://amzn.to/3XkSOBT or ✅ Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free https://amzn.to/49T4pzm If you sweat a lot / heavy workouts: 🔥 LMNT https://amzn.to/4oNQJKL If you want something light and easy to drink: 💧 HydroMATE https://amzn.to/4oLv2uT If you want the best value 90-serving tub: 💲 KEY NUTRIENTS https://amzn.to/482nexG Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. If anyone here has used these products, please share your honest review and suggestions!
  • Shiny_Ray212S

    Virginia LC State champs

    General Discussion
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    674 Views
    adamA
    @narkeleptk Yes, it's now added: https://swimstandards.com/meets/2025-va-lc-age-group-champs-0724
  • Foggy_Ray327F

    50 Back 15-16 boys

    General Discussion
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    579 Views
    adamA
    To see the rankings for non-recognized events, you can uncheck “USA Swimming Recognized Events” as shown below: [image: 1743531833615-b2b6d4a2-8604-448e-8d66-31d4fae0cca7-image.png]
  • Marlene KilpatrickM

    swim meet results for Colorado State Championships

    General Discussion
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    778 Views
    adamA
    I think you may already know — 5A results have been added a few days ago.
  • Foggy_Ray327F

    Swimming YT Channel HELP!

    General Discussion
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    678 Views
    Foggy_Ray327F
    Thanks! try to share it if you are able to. we are trying to break hit 100 subs within the next couple months and hopefully increase views!
  • M

    Old Swim Records

    General Discussion
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    2k Views
    No one has replied
  • ARIN KeskinA

    Question on Swim Meet Results

    General Discussion
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    634 Views
    ARIN KeskinA
    You are the best. Thanks!
  • Foggy_Ray327F

    What is the best way to get recruited to a D1 College?

    General Discussion
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    902 Views
    SwimGPTS
    @ReedK27 Hope someone with experience could share their thoughts. Here’s an answer from ChatGPT (yes, my job as SwimGPT is to find and review ChatGPT’s answers about swimming! 😊). For swimming specifically, getting recruited to a Division 1 (D1) college involves showcasing your athletic ability through times, rankings, and achievements, as well as demonstrating a commitment to academics and teamwork. Here are swimming-specific tips to help you navigate the recruiting process: 1. Know the Times and Standards Benchmark times: Research the times for your target D1 programs. Look at the team’s recent performances in conference meets or their top times lists to determine where you’d fit in their roster. NCAA “A” and “B” cut times: Familiarize yourself with these standards as benchmarks, though not all D1 programs require NCAA-level times. 2. Build Your Swimming Profile Highlight key events: Identify your strongest events (e.g., 100 free, 200 back, 500 free) and focus on those. Maintain accurate stats: Keep track of your best times, rankings, and splits (if applicable). Use platforms like SwimCloud or USA Swimming’s Deck Pass to showcase your progress. Relay splits matter: Coaches value strong relay swimmers, so include your best relay splits along with your individual events. 3. Create a Strong Highlight Video Include race footage: Focus on your stroke technique, starts, turns, and finishes in actual competition settings. If possible, show underwater footage to highlight your streamline and breakouts. Training snippets: Include a short clip of practice to show your work ethic and training style. 4. Communicate with Coaches Research programs: Find schools that align with your academic and athletic goals. Narrow your list to 10-15 programs based on their performance level, conference, and coaching style. Personalized emails: Email coaches with the following details: Your name, high school/club, and year of graduation. Your best times (mention long course and short course separately, if applicable). A link to your SwimCloud or other profiles. Why you’re interested in their program. Subject line matters: Use something like, “Prospective Swimmer: [Event/Time] – Class of [Year].” 5. Attend College Swim Camps Many college swim programs hold summer swim camps where you can meet coaches and experience their training environment. This is an excellent way to get on their radar. 6. Compete at High-Level Meets Regional and national competitions: Participate in meets like Futures, Sectionals, Junior Nationals, or NCSA Championships. Strong performances at these meets attract college coaches. College invite meets: Some programs scout talent at larger competitions where their current team competes. 7. Academics and NCAA Eligibility Maintain a strong GPA and take challenging courses. Swimming programs value student-athletes who can balance academics and athletics. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center early to ensure you meet all academic and amateurism requirements. 8. Show Coachability Work ethic: Demonstrate that you’re a team player who thrives in a structured training environment. Positive attitude: Showcase your resilience, motivation, and enthusiasm for improving. 9. Stay Organized Track communication: Keep a spreadsheet with the schools you’ve contacted, coach names, and responses. Follow-up emails: If you don’t hear back, send a follow-up email after a couple of weeks. What Swim Coaches Look For Competitive times: Times that can contribute to the team in dual meets and championship events. Versatility: The ability to swim multiple strokes/events is often a plus. Improvement trajectory: Steady progress over time can be just as appealing as hitting fast times early. Team fit: Coaches look for athletes who align with their program’s culture and work ethic. 10. Additional Tips Involve your club coach: Club or high school coaches often have connections with college programs and can recommend you to college coaches. Consider all divisions: While your focus might be on D1, don’t overlook D2, D3, or NAIA schools, as they can also offer excellent programs and opportunities. Sample Email to a College Swim Coach: Subject: Prospective Swimmer – [Event/Best Time] – Class of [Year] Dear Coach [Last Name], My name is [Your Name], and I am a [year in school] swimmer at [High School/Club Team Name] in [City, State]. I specialize in [event(s)], with personal bests of [time(s)], and am interested in your program at [College Name]. I admire your team’s performance in [recent competition, e.g., NCAA Championships, conference meets] and believe that I can contribute to your team’s success. Academically, I have a [GPA] and plan to study [intended major]. Here is a link to my SwimCloud profile: [Insert link]. I’ve also attached my best times and meet results for your reference. Thank you for your time. I would love to learn more about your program and how I can contribute to your team. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Copyright © 2025 Swim Standards
As an Amazon Associate, Swim Standards earns from qualifying purchases.