County Qualification explained🤯

Parent Guide Series

Every Autumn, as the race calendar builds and we head towards Christmas, one question comes up again and again from parents:

“How does County Qualification actually work?”

It’s a fair question — and an important one. For many swimmers, the County Championships are their first step onto a bigger competitive stage. For parents, the process can feel complicated: Auto times, Base times, rankings, entry limits and deadlines.

The pathway to Counties can seem complex, even for experienced parents. That’s why we’ve created this guide — to break it down clearly, step by step, with Quick reference for seasoned parents and In depth explanations if you’re newer to the sport.

— Bluefins Coaching Team

For the official event conditions, including qualifying standards and entry rules, visit Hampshire ASA.

👉 This guide is based on the Hampshire ASA criteria. While the principles are similar, other counties may apply slightly different formulas, field sizes, or qualifying standards.

🏆 What Are the County Championships?

👉 The County Championships (often just called “Counties”) are the first major step on the competitive swimming ladder. It’s where the fastest swimmers in Hampshire come together each January/February to race for county titles, medals, and finals places.

For many Bluefins, Counties are the first time racing feels like a “big stage” event — electronic timing, finals, and the chance to line up against the very best in the county.

💬 Coach’s Comment “Counties are a milestone, not a finish line. For some it’s about winning medals, for others it’s simply about qualifying for the first time.”

🎯 Auto vs. Consideration Times

👉 To know if your child can race at Counties, there are two ways to qualify for every event:

Quick reference:

• 🎟 Auto Time = guaranteed entry (your ticket to race).

• 📝 Consideration Time = possible entry (like a waiting list — spaces go to the fastest).

🔎 In depth:

• Why are there two times? Counties must balance fairness (giving more swimmers a chance) with a fixed timetable. Auto keeps standards high, Consideration widens opportunity.

• How are they set? Auto = about 60% of the field. Consideration = about 110% of the field.

• What does this mean in practice?

  • ✅ Auto = secure.

  • 🤞 Consideration = depends on ranking and how many enter.

💬 Coach’s Comment “Auto should always be the goal. Consideration is progress, but places can move quickly in the final weeks of the window.”

👉 In short: Auto = safe, Consideration = possible.

📈 2026 Qualifing Times Be careful not to confuse SC with LC.

👥 How Many Swimmers Per Event?

👉 Each event has a cap on numbers — Counties cannot accept unlimited entries. It’s a Championship after all, designed to bring together the fastest swimmers in Hampshire to decide the county’s best.

Quick reference (Hampshire 2026 targets):

• 💨 50m → 16 swimmers (Age 10/11), 24 for all older ages.

• 🏊 100m → 14 swimmers (Age 10/11), 22 for all older ages.

• 🦋 100m Fly → 8 swimmers (Age 10/11), 16 for all older ages.

• 🏊 200m → 14 swimmers (Age 10/11), 22 for all older ages.

• 🦋 200m Fly → 8 swimmers (Age 10/11), 14 for all older ages.

• 📏 400m → 8 swimmers (Age 10/11), 12–16 for older ages.

• ⏱ 800m / 1500m → not swum for Age 10/11; 12 per age group from 12+.
  

🔎 In depth (full Hampshire 2026 allocations):

Distance	Age 10/11	Age 12	Age 13	Age 14	Age 15	Age 16	Age 17/Over
50m	16	24	24	24	24	24	24
100m	14	22	22	22	22	22	22
100m Fly	8	16	16	16	16	16	16
200m	14	22	22	22	22	22	22
200m Fly	8	14	14	14	14	14	14
400m	8	12	16	16	16	16	16
800m	–	12	12	12	12	12	12
1500m	–	12	12	12	12	12	12

• ✅ Swimmers with Auto times are always accepted, even if this exceeds the target number.

• 🤞 If there aren’t enough Autos, the fastest swimmers with Consideration times are added until the target number is reached.

• ⚖️ If two swimmers are tied for the last space, the organisers decide whether to accept both or neither.

💬 Coach’s Comment“If your swimmer looks on the edge, don’t panic. Every race between now and mid-December is another chance to climb the rankings.”

📊 Using Rankings

👉 Rankings show your swimmer’s best times and where they stand in Hampshire.

Quick reference:

• 💻 Check Swim England Rankings.

• 📈 Compare their time with the standards and see where they rank.

🔎 In depth:

• ⚡ Always up to date — updated after every licensed meet.

• 🎯 Filter smartly — Hampshire → Age group → Event.

• ✅ Inside Auto = guaranteed.

• 🤞 Inside Consideration = depends on entry numbers and position.

💬 Coach’s Comment “Rankings are helpful, but don’t obsess. Focus on skills and consistent racing — the results will follow.”

👉 💻 Check Swim England Rankings

🏊 Event Formats (The Big Stage)

👉 Counties aren’t just about swimming fast — they’re about the spectacle. Different events run in different ways, and that shapes both the excitement and how many swimmers can race.

Quick reference:

• 💨 50m & 100m → sprints with finals (top 8 race again).

• 🏊 200m–400m → one swim only, placings from heats.

• ⏱ 800m & 1500m → very limited spots, long races.

🔎 In depth:

• 💨 Sprints (50m & 100m): Big entries, big drama — but only 8 survive to the final… high tension, big atmosphere, everything on the line.

• 🏊 Middle distance (200m–400m): Heat Declared Winner (HDW). All or nothing in a single swim.

• ⏱ Distance (800m & 1500m): Few heats, huge commitment. Just getting accepted is a victory.

💬 Coach’s Comment “County finals are electric. For sprints, even making the top 8 is something special. For distance events, qualifying at all is a badge of honour.”

💡 Example

👉 Here’s how it might look:

• 👦 A 12-year-old with a Consideration time in 100m Free.

• 📊 Ranked 19th in Hampshire.

• ✅ If 24 are accepted → they’re likely in.

• ⚠️ If only 16 → they’ll need to climb higher or hit Auto.

🔑 Common Parent Questions

👉 The ones we hear most:

• 📅 What age is used? → Age on 31 December, in year of competition (2026)

• 🏊 Do 25m & 50m pool times count? → Yes, with official conversions.

• 🗓 What if my swimmer qualifies in too many events? → Coaches help choose the best programme.

🤔 What if they’re right on the edge? → Still worth entering; final places depend on caps.

😟 The Anxious Time

👉 For many families, the run-up to Counties can feel like an anxious period. Parents hear about rankings, see other swimmers moving up, and start to compare. The panic creeps in. Yet for many children, it’s still very early days — some have been racing less than a year. It’s simply not realistic to expect such a giant leap straight away.

And that’s the key: these first years should be about building confidence and great technique, not rehearsing for the Olympics. Swimmers develop at different speeds, and rankings only ever show a snapshot in time.

Chasing more and more training or piling on pressure often backfires — it can stress children out and, in the worst cases, push them away from the sport before they’ve even had the chance to show their true potential.

💬 Coach’s Comment“ Trust the process. Listen to your child, not the Rankings table. Skills, confidence, and enjoyment come first — the results follow naturally.”

📝 Do Parents Have to Apply?

👉 Even with an Auto time, swimmers don’t get entered automatically. Parents still need to complete the entry process through the club before the closing date.

• ✅ Auto Time → your entry will be accepted if submitted.

• 🤞 Consideration Time → submit the entry and wait to see if it’s accepted once limits are applied.

Bluefins will guide families through the process — Ali will send out entry forms, explain deadlines, and make sure no swimmer is left unsure.

💬 Coach’s Comment “Don’t assume an Auto time means you’re already in. Make sure your entries are in on time — Ali will help you every step of the way.”

📝 Key Dates for Parents

👉 A few to remember:

• ⏳ Qualifying window closes: Mid December (exact date in HCASA conditions).

• 📅 Bluefins Last Chance Meet: December 13–14th.

• 📝 Entries deadline: Just after the window closes.

• 📢 Accepted entries list: Published before Christmas.

💬 Coach’s Comment“ Aim to secure your times early, so December is for fine-tuning, not chasing.”

💙 Final Word

To every Bluefin who has already qualified — congratulations! 🥳 You’ve earned your place at the Championships.

To those still chasing — keep believing. The next swim could be the one.

And remember: our Bluefins Last Chance Meet on December 13–14th is the perfect chance to post your best time of the year and secure that spot. 🐬

💬 Still unsure where your swimmer stands? Ask a Bluefins coach — we’ll happily walk you through the Rankings and what it means for your child.

👉 Above all, don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. These early years are about building skills, confidence, and enjoyment — not racing the clock to Counties. With patience and the right environment, swimmers often surprise everyone with what they can achieve when their true potential is given time to shine.

💙 Discover Bluefins

At Bluefins, we’re proud to celebrate every swimmer’s pathway — from the youngest in our Skills Academy to our performance squads chasing big goals. ✨ Come and see what makes our club special: exceptional quality coaching, community spirit, pathways of progression, and performance success stories. 🚀 Contact our amazing Ali to discuss pathways and arrange a trial - Find out more at bbfsc.org - Your journey starts here.