ASA's Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Who should join ASA?
How do I join ASA?
What do you mean you are putting world records up for grabs?
How is an individual swimmer's age determined?
Why single-year age-group records?
Will times achieved in meets other than ASA sanctioned meets be considered for records and top times?
How do I submit my times for consideration for records?
I am affiliated with a USMS team, do I affiliate with that same team in ASA competitions?
Is there a waiting period before I can represent another ASA team if I want to change ASA teams?

Who should join ASA?
Anyone who wishes to compete in ASA or to vie for ASA records should apply for ASA membership. Swimmer membership entitles an ASA member to compete in applicable ASA sanctioned events or to submit times achieved in other recognized events (such as USA Swimming, NCAA, or USMS sanctioned meets) to be considered for records or top times or to do both. Applications for membership are also welcome from anyone interested in supporting competitive swimming for Americans.
How do I join ASA?
Complete an application form and submit it along with applicable fees.
What do you mean you are putting world records up for grabs?
There are no existing single-year age records, no existing world records in yards, and no existing world records for 25s, for the 800 yd. free, and for 4 x 25 relays . ASA members from all around the world will be submitting their times for the purpose of establishing new world records. The fastest verified, submitted time in each event for each gender and each single-year age will be the world record.
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How is an individual swimmer's age determined?
A swimmer's age is his age on the date of the swim as determined by his date of birth.
Why single-year age-group records?
We think single-year age group records will provide additional incentive to swim every year. We want to keep people swimming.
Will times achieved in meets other than ASA sanctioned meets be considered for records and top times?
Yes. Times achieved in USMS, USA Swimming, SNC, NCAA, NAIA, AAU, YMCA, Senior Games, MSC, FINA sanctioned or other approved competitions will be considered for records and top times along with times achieved in ASA sanctioned events. A swimmer must be a member in good standing of ASA, however, at the time of any swim in any competition in order for the time achieved in that swim to be considered for records or top times.
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How do I submit my times for consideration for records?
Times achieved in ASA sanctioned or recognized meets may be submitted to ASA for consideration for records by submitting a completed Record Application Form.

I am affiliated with a USMS team, do I affiliate with that same team in ASA competitions?
That's entirely up to you. You can if that team also holds a current team membership in ASA or you may affiliate with another ASA team member or apply for your own team membership with ASA. ASA allows you to affiliate with any ASA registered team that is willing to have you. Your ASA team affiliation is unaffected by any team affiliation with any other organization.

Is there a waiting period before I can represent another ASA team if I want to change ASA teams?
No, except that you may not change your team affiliation in the middle of a meet. You may change the team you represent at any time between meets.
When you renew your membership each year, you may transfer your team affiliation to any team without any additional fees. Should you decide to change team affiliation prior to your renewal, there is a small processing fee.
If you want to get together with family, old college buddies, friends, or anyone else to swim as a team, break a record, or for whatever reason, you can. If you want to register a team to go for a record one week and register a different group of individuals as a team to go for a record the next week, you can. No one owns you in ASA. You are free to move around as you please. We expect that you will be considerate of your coaches and teammates, but who you represent is up to you.
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