Quick answer
A good swim time is one at or faster than the USA Swimming B cut for your child's age, gender, event and pool. A is a strong age-group time. In the 50 Free in a 25-yard pool (SCY), B is 35.39 for an 11-year-old girl and 29.89 for a 14-year-old boy; A is 30.49 and 25.59. Find your swimmer's row in the tables below.
Rafa's first 50 Free was somewhere around 45 seconds. "Is that good for her age?" I asked her coach after the meet. He smiled and said, "It's a starting point." Two years later she is in the low 28s. I wish someone had handed me a table on day one and explained how to read it. This page is that table.
The numbers below are the official USA Swimming 2024–2028 motivational standards, by single age from 10 to 18, plus the 10 & under standard that 8- and 9-year-olds swim against. They are not averages of every kid who can swim. They are the marks club coaches and meets actually use.
"Good" depends on the goal
Before the tables, decide what question you are asking. The same time can be great for one goal and early for another.
| If your goal is... | Look at |
|---|---|
| First season, swimming for fun and fitness | Any drop in personal best |
| Racing at club and local meets with confidence | B, then BB |
| Being a solid age-group swimmer | A |
| Being a fast age-group swimmer | AA |
| Reaching the top of the ladder | AAA and AAAA |
Many local meets use letter times for entry rules or for separate B and A heats. The rules are set by each meet, so check the meet announcement before you plan around a letter.
What B, BB, A, AA, AAA and AAAA mean
Think of the letters as a ladder of goals, from the first rung to the top:
- B: the first competitive mark. A swimmer at B has left the beginner stage in that event.
- BB: a solid step up from B.
- A: a strong age-group time.
- AA: fast. A big goal even for committed club swimmers.
- AAA and AAAA: the top of the ladder. Few swimmers in any age group reach them.
How USA Swimming builds them. The standards are reset every four years (a "quad"). In its own words, USA Swimming bases them "on the previous Quad's data, using the fastest 25th place time for event, gender, and age group to calculate" (USA Swimming Times FAQ). The current tables run from 2024 to 2028 and are published as two PDFs: single age and age group.
You will find charts online that say "B means top 55%" or "A means top 15%". Those percentages do not appear in the current USA Swimming documents, so we do not repeat them here. A letter is a time to beat, not a ranking.
50 Free by age (SCY, 25-yard pool)
Most US winter meets are short course yards. Find the age your child will be on the first day of the meet, then read across.
Girls, 50 Free SCY
| Age | B | BB | A | AA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 39.79 | 35.99 | 32.09 | 30.89 |
| 10 | 39.89 | 36.09 | 32.19 | 30.89 |
| 11 | 35.39 | 32.99 | 30.49 | 29.29 |
| 12 | 34.09 | 31.69 | 29.39 | 28.19 |
| 13 | 33.29 | 30.89 | 28.59 | 27.39 |
| 14 | 32.69 | 30.39 | 27.99 | 26.89 |
| 15 | 32.29 | 29.99 | 27.69 | 26.49 |
| 16 | 31.99 | 29.69 | 27.39 | 26.29 |
| 17 | 31.79 | 29.49 | 27.19 | 26.09 |
| 18 | 31.49 | 29.29 | 26.99 | 25.89 |
Boys, 50 Free SCY
| Age | B | BB | A | AA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 38.19 | 34.59 | 31.09 | 29.89 |
| 10 | 38.29 | 34.79 | 31.19 | 29.99 |
| 11 | 35.09 | 32.59 | 30.09 | 28.79 |
| 12 | 32.79 | 30.49 | 28.09 | 26.99 |
| 13 | 31.09 | 28.89 | 26.69 | 25.59 |
| 14 | 29.89 | 27.69 | 25.59 | 24.59 |
| 15 | 28.89 | 26.79 | 24.69 | 23.69 |
| 16 | 28.49 | 26.39 | 24.39 | 23.39 |
| 17 | 28.09 | 26.09 | 24.09 | 23.09 |
| 18 | 27.59 | 25.69 | 23.69 | 22.69 |
Why "8–9 (10 & under)"? USA Swimming does not publish national cuts for ages 8 or 9. They swim in the 10 & under age group, so that standard is their official mark. It is the same time for an 8-year-old as for a 10-year-old, so a B at 8 is a real achievement. Many local swim committees (LSCs) publish their own 8 & under times; ask your club.
More detail on this event, including LCM: average 50 freestyle time by age.
100 Free by age (SCY)
The 100 Free is the event parents look up right after the 50. Same rules: age on the first day of the meet, gender, pool.
Girls, 100 Free SCY
| Age | B | BB | A | AA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 1:30.79 | 1:21.09 | 1:11.49 | 1:08.29 |
| 10 | 1:30.89 | 1:21.19 | 1:11.49 | 1:08.29 |
| 11 | 1:17.69 | 1:12.19 | 1:06.59 | 1:03.79 |
| 12 | 1:14.69 | 1:09.39 | 1:04.09 | 1:01.39 |
| 13 | 1:12.49 | 1:07.29 | 1:02.09 | 59.59 |
| 14 | 1:10.99 | 1:05.89 | 1:00.89 | 58.29 |
| 15 | 1:10.09 | 1:05.09 | 1:00.09 | 57.59 |
| 16 | 1:09.39 | 1:04.39 | 59.49 | 56.99 |
| 17 | 1:08.89 | 1:03.99 | 58.99 | 56.59 |
| 18 | 1:08.39 | 1:03.49 | 58.59 | 56.19 |
Boys, 100 Free SCY
| Age | B | BB | A | AA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 1:27.99 | 1:18.89 | 1:09.79 | 1:06.79 |
| 10 | 1:28.49 | 1:19.29 | 1:10.19 | 1:07.19 |
| 11 | 1:16.09 | 1:10.59 | 1:05.19 | 1:02.49 |
| 12 | 1:11.49 | 1:06.39 | 1:01.29 | 58.79 |
| 13 | 1:07.59 | 1:02.69 | 57.89 | 55.49 |
| 14 | 1:05.09 | 1:00.39 | 55.79 | 53.49 |
| 15 | 1:03.29 | 58.79 | 54.29 | 51.99 |
| 16 | 1:02.39 | 57.89 | 53.49 | 51.29 |
| 17 | 1:01.39 | 56.99 | 52.59 | 50.39 |
| 18 | 1:00.69 | 56.39 | 51.99 | 49.89 |
The full 100 Free guide, with BB and AA in long course too: average 100 freestyle time by age.
50 and 100 Free in long course (LCM, 50-meter pool)
Summer championships are usually long course meters. Fewer walls means slower times, so never compare a yards time with these numbers. For example, a 10-year-old girl's 50 Free B is 39.89 in SCY and 45.39 in LCM.
50 Free LCM
| Age | Girls B | Girls A | Boys B | Boys A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 45.29 | 36.59 | 43.89 | 35.69 |
| 10 | 45.39 | 36.59 | 43.89 | 35.69 |
| 11 | 40.39 | 34.79 | 39.89 | 34.19 |
| 12 | 38.69 | 33.39 | 37.39 | 32.09 |
| 13 | 38.09 | 32.59 | 35.69 | 30.59 |
| 14 | 37.39 | 31.99 | 34.29 | 29.39 |
| 15 | 36.79 | 31.59 | 33.29 | 28.59 |
| 16 | 36.39 | 31.19 | 32.99 | 28.29 |
| 17 | 36.09 | 30.99 | 32.49 | 27.79 |
| 18 | 36.09 | 30.99 | 31.99 | 27.39 |
100 Free LCM
| Age | Girls B | Girls A | Boys B | Boys A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 1:44.09 | 1:21.89 | 1:40.99 | 1:20.19 |
| 10 | 1:44.19 | 1:21.99 | 1:41.09 | 1:20.19 |
| 11 | 1:29.19 | 1:16.49 | 1:27.79 | 1:15.29 |
| 12 | 1:25.69 | 1:13.49 | 1:22.09 | 1:10.39 |
| 13 | 1:22.79 | 1:10.99 | 1:18.19 | 1:07.09 |
| 14 | 1:21.19 | 1:09.59 | 1:15.09 | 1:04.39 |
| 15 | 1:19.49 | 1:08.19 | 1:12.69 | 1:02.29 |
| 16 | 1:18.49 | 1:07.29 | 1:11.89 | 1:01.59 |
| 17 | 1:18.29 | 1:07.09 | 1:10.69 | 1:00.59 |
| 18 | 1:18.09 | 1:06.99 | 1:10.19 | 1:00.19 |
Every stroke at a glance (SCY)
Each cell shows B / A. A swimmer who is at B in freestyle and far from B in breaststroke is completely normal at these ages.
Girls, B / A by stroke (SCY)
| Age | 50 Free | 50 Back | 50 Breast | 50 Fly | 200 IM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 39.79 / 32.09 | 48.59 / 37.99 | 54.59 / 42.79 | 48.39 / 36.99 | 3:42.09 / 2:55.49 |
| 10 | 39.89 / 32.19 | 48.59 / 37.99 | 54.59 / 42.79 | 48.39 / 36.99 | 3:42.99 / 2:56.19 |
| 11 | 35.39 / 30.49 | 40.59 / 34.79 | 45.49 / 38.99 | 38.89 / 33.39 | 3:12.79 / 2:45.19 |
| 12 | 34.09 / 29.39 | 38.79 / 33.29 | 43.99 / 37.69 | 36.99 / 31.69 | 3:03.99 / 2:37.69 |
| 13 | 33.29 / 28.59 | 37.19 / 31.89 | 43.19 / 36.99 | 36.69 / 31.49 | 2:56.69 / 2:31.39 |
| 14 | 32.69 / 27.99 | 36.59 / 31.39 | 42.09 / 36.09 | 35.99 / 30.89 | 2:52.49 / 2:27.89 |
| 15 | 32.29 / 27.69 | 35.89 / 30.79 | 41.89 / 35.89 | 35.29 / 30.29 | 2:48.89 / 2:24.79 |
| 16 | 31.99 / 27.39 | 35.29 / 30.29 | 41.29 / 35.39 | 35.09 / 30.09 | 2:47.29 / 2:23.39 |
| 17 | 31.79 / 27.19 | 35.19 / 30.19 | 40.99 / 35.19 | 34.79 / 29.89 | 2:46.19 / 2:22.39 |
| 18 | 31.49 / 26.99 | 34.89 / 29.89 | 40.79 / 34.99 | 34.89 / 29.89 | 2:46.09 / 2:22.39 |
Boys, B / A by stroke (SCY)
| Age | 50 Free | 50 Back | 50 Breast | 50 Fly | 200 IM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–9 (10 & under) | 38.19 / 31.09 | 48.29 / 37.59 | 53.39 / 42.09 | 46.49 / 35.99 | 3:38.59 / 2:53.49 |
| 10 | 38.29 / 31.19 | 48.49 / 37.79 | 53.49 / 42.09 | 46.49 / 36.09 | 3:38.59 / 2:53.49 |
| 11 | 35.09 / 30.09 | 41.19 / 34.89 | 46.89 / 39.49 | 40.09 / 33.69 | 3:12.69 / 2:43.69 |
| 12 | 32.79 / 28.09 | 38.49 / 32.69 | 43.49 / 36.69 | 37.09 / 31.19 | 2:59.29 / 2:32.29 |
| 13 | 31.09 / 26.69 | 35.39 / 30.39 | 40.49 / 34.69 | 34.69 / 29.69 | 2:44.69 / 2:21.19 |
| 14 | 29.89 / 25.59 | 33.69 / 28.89 | 38.59 / 33.09 | 33.19 / 28.39 | 2:37.99 / 2:15.39 |
| 15 | 28.89 / 24.69 | 32.69 / 27.99 | 37.49 / 32.09 | 32.39 / 27.79 | 2:34.19 / 2:12.19 |
| 16 | 28.49 / 24.39 | 31.79 / 27.29 | 36.69 / 31.49 | 31.79 / 27.19 | 2:31.29 / 2:09.69 |
| 17 | 28.09 / 24.09 | 31.19 / 26.79 | 35.99 / 30.89 | 31.19 / 26.69 | 2:29.59 / 2:08.19 |
| 18 | 27.59 / 23.69 | 30.89 / 26.49 | 35.59 / 30.59 | 30.89 / 26.49 | 2:27.89 / 2:06.79 |
All 50s, 100s and the 200 IM, in both pools: average swim times by age for every stroke.
How to read the tables
- Use the right age. In USA Swimming, the age on the first day of the meet counts for the whole meet. After a birthday your child moves to a new row, and the cuts get faster.
- Match gender and pool. SCY (25 yards), SCM (25 meters) and LCM (50 meters) have different cuts. Yards times are the fastest on paper, long course the slowest.
- Use the best time, not the last one. Standards are measured against personal bests from official meets.
- Expect different letters in different events. A in backstroke and B in butterfly is normal.
Example. Your 12-year-old daughter swims 1:08.50 in the 100 Free SCY. Her B is 1:14.69, BB is 1:09.39 and A is 1:04.09. She is past BB and 4.41 seconds from A. That is a clear, reachable goal for the season.
What to do with the result
- If your swimmer is past a letter: celebrate it. It is an official mark, and it stays theirs for that age.
- If they are below B: it only means the first goal is still ahead. Newer swimmers often drop big chunks of time in their first seasons.
- Pick one or two events where the next letter is closest. Chasing six goals at once is stressful for kids.
- Watch the birthday. A time that was A at 10 can land between BB and A at 11, because the row changed, not because your child got slower.
- Look at the trend across a season, not one Saturday. Talk to the coach about which event to target.
Doing the math by hand for every event gets old fast. In Gophin, you search your swimmer, the best times load from official meet results, and Compare → Standards shows each event next to the standard you choose, with how far ahead or behind they are.
Sign in free and open Compare → Standards
What about a 25-meter or 25-yard swim?
Parents often search for an "average 25m swim time by age". USA Swimming has no national standard for 25s. The motivational tables start at the 50. 25-yard or 25-meter races are mostly for young swimmers at local meets, and each meet or LSC sets its own times, if it sets any. If your child is racing 25s, the next official target is the 50 in the 10 & under rows above.
Why comparing with teammates misleads
- Training history varies. A child who has trained year-round for four years and one who started last fall are not in the same place.
- Growth changes everything. Early developers can look dominant at 12. Late bloomers often catch up and pass them in their teens.
- Events suit different kids. A natural distance swimmer can look slow in a 50 and be excellent in a 500.
The comparison that matters most is your swimmer against their own past times.
In Canada?
Canada does not use the B to AAAA ladder. The pathway is usually club and regional meets, then provincial championship cuts, then Eastern or Western Canadians, then Nationals and Trials. For the real cuts, see our Swimming Canada standards guide.
Sources
- USA Swimming, 2024–2028 Single Age Motivational Standards (ages 10–18), version of 10/10/2025. Also stored in Gophin's standards database.
- USA Swimming, 2024–2028 Motivational Standards, age group (10 & under rows), version of 10/10/2025.
- USA Swimming, Times FAQ: how motivational standards are calculated.
Gophin is free. Sign in, find your swimmer, and see the gap to the next letter in every event.
