Appendix D:  Swimming 

1. There will be 3 age groups for swimmers to compete in: 11 & 12 years old, 13 & 14 years old and 15 years & over.  The age-up date is the 31st of December of the previous year. No swimmer should be younger than 10 years old on the age up date (8/2025)

*Swimming has a SAAC exemption regarding student eligibility to include younger swimmers. (6/21)

2. A team can have a maximum of 5 swimmers per gender in each age group.  The largest team size would be 30 including 15 boys and 15 girls.  Swimmers cannot compete in different age groups over the course of a meet.  A 12 year old may compete in the 13 and 14 year old age group but they must stay in this age group competition for the entirety of the meet.  *Only to complete relay teams, a maximum of 2 swimmers can swim up (in one higher age category) and still maintain eligibility in the listed age group (Dec 2022). Swimmers can only participate in one age group of relay events. 

3. All schools must enter their personal best times so swimmers can be allocated in the appropriate heats and lanes.  

4. A swimmer is permitted to swim a maximum of 6 individual events and 5 relays over the course of the 3 days.  Furthermore, a maximum of 3 student-athletes can compete for each school in a single event.  This rule limits the number of heats and encourages swimmers to swim in other “less popular” events.

5. The scoring system for each individual event and relay is as follows.  The top 3 swimmers in each event will be awarded medals and the top 8 swimmers will accumulate points for their own individual and team scores.

6. The swimming competition will follow FINA rules. Illegal starts and turns will result in a swimmer being disqualified in that race. 

7. Relays can be changed up to 1 hour before the relay race.  A team can enter their alternate swimmer in the relay race.  A swimmer that is unable to compete in an individual event can’t be replaced.

8. Individual event winners will receive ribbons (or smaller, cheaper medals) on the podium instead of the large medals (Dec 2022).

9. Trophies will be awarded at the awards ceremony for the following:

• Boys and Girls teams will be awarded medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall finishing on stage, similar to other SAAC events (Dec 2022). 

• Boys and Girls Teams will each be awarded traveling plaques as champions. (Dec 2022)

• The Overall Team winner will be called last to the stage and receive a trophy 

• Spirit of SAAC Awards

• All-Tournament Team

  • 2 boys and 2 girls from each team. (28 Total)

10. Best male and female swimmers in each age group (accumulated points in individual events only) will be acknowledged with a medal.