A requirement to introduce a new point scoring system into swimming has arisen from the need to support the approach to age group competition for the younger competitors. This outlines the background to the process of defining the age and event related point-scoring system and identifies the support materials that are available to the swimming community.

Comparative Performance Tables (Points) have been used since the 1970s to compare swimming times across the standard range of strokes and distances. British Swimming has used LEN (The European Governing Body), and more recently, FINA (The World Governing Body) tables.

Comparative Tables (Points) are based on world performances and reflect the parity between events at the top level of the sport. These tables have been used for scoring major open team competitions, such as the GB Club Team and are accepted by the swimming community as provision of a fair comparison across the range of events.

However, when such tables are applied to age group swimming, especially at the younger ages, the value of the comparisons breaks down. In order to provide points relevant to age group competitors the total requirement is:

A method related to world standards.

A mechanism for comparing performances across the range of events.

A method that reflects the different achievement levels as a consequence of age-related, physical development.

 

British Comparative Performance Tables (British Points)

Both LEN and FINA Tables have shortcomings, from the point of view of the present requirements:

1. LEN points

1.1 LEN points are based on the World long course records only - and as a result are perceived to be biased in those events where the record was set by an exceptionally talented swimmer (for example - Mary T Meagher’s 200m butterfly record set in 1981).

1.2 Because the tables are based on long course records an additional difficulty arises due to the need either to convert times for pool length or to produce a set of tables based on World short course records.

2. FINA Tables

2.1 FINA tables have a much more acceptable basis. They are published in both Long and Short Course versions and are base on a more equitable datum – the average of the eight World All Time Best swims.

2.2 The major problem with the FINA tables is that the underlying mathematical equations are not known and, perhaps most detrimentally, the points to times relationships have changed significantly between annual revisions, without acknowledgement to the user community.

To provide the sport with total ownership of the stability and availability of quality comparative performance tables (points) it was deemed necessary to promote our own British system and, in fact, the underlying mathematics for these "new" British tables was developed under the auspices of an ASA Scientific sub-committee in 1961/62 – long before LEN and FINA.

The British Comparative Performance (British Points) Tables have exactly the same upper end datum as that used for the FINA tables, i.e. 1000 points corresponds to the average time of the all-time top eight performances. The essential difference is that the lower end of the tables extends to the slower times in order to cater for the youngest age groups and development ability levels. This set of tables will be valid during 2002/2003. It is intended that updates will be issued every two years.

British Age Correction Factor Tables

There is now accepted scientific background explaining the nature of the physical and neurological development of the young athlete and the different development rate between the sexes. In the light of these findings it is clear that a mechanism is required to establish a fair comparison across the sexes and the events and the ages.

Previous approaches to this requirement are embodied in the Graded Swimming Tables, which have been in use since 1980. Where the same approach has been used to set qualifying times, for competition entry, the standards have been generally acceptable. However, for some events at the younger age groups the method did not work. The anomalies appeared predominantly in the girls’ butterfly events for 10/11-year age groups, which were too difficult, and for several boys’ events, which were too easy.

The approach, that is now adopted, is based totally on observations of British swimming performance levels. The method establishes a correction factor for each age and sex and event combination. The number of points then awarded for a given swim are determined by multiplying the British Points by the Age Correction factor to produce British Age Group Points.

The datum times used in the determination of the Age Correction factor are on a similar basis to that used for the FINA and GB tables. For each age group the reference times used will be the average of the ten all time top British performances in each event.

The British Age Correction Factors are determined by establishing the ratio between the number of points for the highest scoring event and each of the other events in each single year age group.

Because the scores achieved by our current swimmers will influence the early reaction to the introduction of this approach, the determination of all time best performances has been restricted to the data held in the GB Ranking Database, which covers the period 1995 to present.

In summary British Comparative Performance points (British points) will be determined for each swim, a correction factor based on sex and event and age will be applied to give British Age Group points (BAGpoints).

The age correction factor applies only within each one-year band. There is no attempt to apply corrections across a range of ages. This set of tables is valid during 2002. It is currently intended that updates be issued annually.

The Tools

Because looking up points corresponding to a given time in a set of comparative performance tables is time-consuming and error-prone it is necessary to provide a computer program in addition to printed tables.

In order to support the use of these points systems the following tools will be made available for use by the swimming community:

1. Printed version of British Points Tables for both Long and Short Course pools, including the British Age Correction factor tables for each sex/event/age/category in Long and Short Course pools.

2. A computer program, which given age, sex, event and achieved time, reports the British Points and British Age Group Corrected Points for both Long and Short Course pools.

In addition computer systems used for Meet Organisation and Ranking, will be available, with enhancements to incorporate the necessary reporting procedures including:

Uncorrected British Points

British Age Group corrected points

Total BAG points scores by category, with a selection of categories:

The competitive continuum 4/5 event group.

The Grand Prix groups or similar stroke-based groupings.

BAG points may be reproduced for personal use and/or other non-commercial purposes, but they may not be reproduced in any form (be it written or electronic) for commercial gain, without the prior written permission of the ASA.