Quick Dip: How Do I Qualify for Counties?

A short read for the car journey

Category: Goals  | Read time: Under 2 minutes

Counties is short for the Hampshire County Swimming Championships. It is one of the first major championships many club swimmers aim to reach.

To qualify, you need to swim an official time at a licensed competition. Your time must meet the qualifying standard published for your age group and event.

Counties publishes an automatic qualifying time and a consideration time for each individual event. Achieving a consideration time allows your club to send in an entry but it does not guarantee that the entry will be accepted.

An automatic qualifying time normally means your entry will be accepted as long as it follows all the championship entry rules. If you achieve a consideration time, your entry may be accepted depending on the number of available places.

Your age group is based on your age on the final day of the year, not necessarily your age when you swim the qualifying time.

The times and entry rules can change each year, so your coaches and parents will always check the latest information.

You do not need to chase every event. Your coach can help you identify which strokes and distances currently give you the strongest opportunity. Keep working on all four strokes because your best events may change as you develop.

Ask your coach: What is my best stroke or event to qualify for Counties?

Created by Basingstoke Bluefins Coaching Team