Women's Time Standards

Men's Time Standards

For a historical look at time standards in Division III Swimming & Diving, d3swimming.com has provided an easy to read format displaying all time standards since the 2001-02 qualifying period.

Historical Time Standards

How to Use These Time Standards

The qualifying times that you must achieve in order to participate in the Division III National Championships can be access via the below above. The "A" time standards are automatic cuts. In other words, if you swim an A cut during the college season, you are going to nationals. The B cuts are consideration times. If you achieve a consideration time your time will be compared to the rest of the swimmers in the nation achieving B cuts to determine who should be invited in accordance with meet size limitations. For more details, below are the qualifying rules from the 2003 NCAA Division III Championship Handbook. Divers, please consult the Diving Qualification section below (also from the 2003 Handbook). [The handbook in its entirety should be accessible from the NCAA website.] Please note that the information provided herein is from 2003 and should be considered reference only and the current-season print NCAA Handbook should be consulted.

Selection of Participants

Step 1: The total cap of participants is divided into three subcaps: women's divers up to-22; women's individual event qualifiers-146; women's relay-only qualifiers-64; men's divers up to-22; men's individual event qualifiers-140; and men's relay-only qualifiers-63.

Step 2: All individual swimmers and all relays that have achieved "A" time standards will be entered in the meet, along with the selected divers.

Step 3: One entry will be added to each individual swimming event in event numerical order. This process will be repeated as long as each individual event in the entire order of events can receive an additional entry and the number of competitors added will not exceed the individual subcap (women-146, men-140). Events are filled across until each event has an equal number of qualifiers.

Step 4: At some point, the addition of one entry per event to the entire order of individual events will cause the individual subcap to be exceeded. At this point, the remaining spaces will be filled by comparing student-athlete's individual event times to the Division III championship record by percentage. The competitor whose percentage is closest to the record will be taken first until the subcap is reached. An alternate list of qualifiers will be created from the percentages. In the rare instances of a tie for the last entry to the championships, both individuals tied for last place will be allowed to participate in the championships.

Step 5: One entry will be added to each relay event in event numerical order. This process will be repeated as long as each relay event in the entire order of events can receive an additional entry and the number of competitors added will not exceed the relay subcap (women-64, men-63). Relays are filled across until each relay event has an equal number of qualified teams.

Step 6: At some point the addition of one relay team per event to the entire order of relay events will cause the relay subcap to be exceeded. At this point, the remaining spaces will be filled by comparing the relay team's times to the Division III championship record by percentage. The relay team whose percentage is closest to the record will be taken first until the subcap is reached. If a relay entry next in order to be added will cause the subcap to be exceeded due to the number of relay-only competitors on that relay, the remaining relay-only spaces will be added to the individual qualifier cap.

Step 7: Relay-only swimmers will be added to only those individual events for which they have met the "B" time standard.

Step 8: After the selection process is completed and the qualifiers are selected into the championship, the optional entries will be added for the individual qualifiers.

Step 9: No team may have more than 18 competitors.

Diving Qualification

A maximum of 22 divers will be selected for the women's championships and a maximum 22 divers will be selected for the men's championships.

Entry Procedures

1. For those divers who meet the qualification standards only during the dual-meet season, send:
   • Videotape (one voluntary/five optional or six optionals-verifying qualification) both boards.
   • Two qualifying dual-meet score sheets with referees signature and home phone numbers.
   • One- and three-meter compilation forms.
   • Conference championship score sheets.
2. For those divers who meet the qualification standards ONLY during conference/end-of-year competition send:
   • Videotape (all optionals both boards) from conference meet
   • Two best dual meet score sheets (same board)
   • Conference championship score sheets both boards verifying qualification with referee's signature and home phone numbers
3. If divers achieve the qualification standard in both dual meet and end-of-year competition, the diving coach can choose the best option for the diver.
4. Videotape:
   1. Use a standard VHS tape.
   2. Visually identify diver's name and institution at the beginning of tape.
   3. Show side view of divers (judge's view).

Note: Failure to provide the correct information in the correct format could jeopardize the diver's selection to the championship and/or result in a fine administered by the sport committee.

The address for sending entries can be found in the current-season NCAA Handbook.

If a diver(s) is the only championship participant from an institution, that individual MUST be identified on the official swimming entry form. The official swimming entry form must be sent to [representative] as per the instructions on the form.