Borough of Harrow Swimming Club (BHSC) | Guide for Swimmers and Parents
Swimming competitions in England are classified into four licensed meet levels, from Level 1 to Level 4. Understanding these levels helps swimmers and parents choose suitable competitions, achieve official times and work towards qualifying for County, Regional and National Championships.
Understanding the four meet levels
| Meet Level | Pool Length | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 50m (Long Course) | High-level competition and championship qualification |
| Level 2 | 25m (Short Course) | High-level competition and championship qualification |
| Level 3 | 25m or 50m | Developing swimmers and achieving County or Regional qualifying times |
| Level 4 | 25m or 50m | Entry-level competitions, club championships and establishing official times |
These classifications follow Swim England’s licensed meet guidance.
How meet levels affect championship qualification
| Championship | Commonly Accepted Meet Levels |
|---|---|
| County Championships | Levels 1, 2, 3; sometimes Level 4 |
| Regional Championships | Usually Levels 1, 2 and 3 |
| National Championships | Generally Levels 1 and 2 only |
Important: Each championship publishes its own qualifying conditions. These may specify permitted meet levels, qualifying periods, age groups, pool lengths and whether converted times are acceptable.
For example, the 2026 Swim England London Winter Championships and National Winter Championships require verified Level 1 or Level 2 times achieved since 1 September 2025, under their respective eligibility conditions. A faster Level 3 personal best does not automatically qualify a swimmer for an event requiring Level 1 or Level 2 performances.
Understanding Short Course and Long Course
Short Course (SC)
25-metre pool, with more turns and opportunities to push off the wall.
Long Course (LC)
50-metre pool, with fewer turns and longer uninterrupted swimming.
Short Course and Long Course times are recorded separately in Swim England Rankings. A swimmer’s 100m freestyle personal best in a 25m pool is not directly interchangeable with their 100m freestyle time in a 50m pool.
Some championships accept official conversions between SC and LC times; others require a time achieved in the specified pool length.
A typical swimmer’s competition pathway
Level 4 — Getting Started
Club Championships · First official times
Level 3 — Developing
Improving PBs · County and Regional QTs
Levels 1 & 2 — Advanced Competition
Higher-level racing · National qualification opportunities
Swimmers do not have to complete every level in sequence. They can enter any meet for which they satisfy the entry conditions.
What BHSC swimmers and parents should know
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Personal Best (PB): A swimmer’s fastest recorded performance in an event, regardless of whether it is eligible for a particular championship.
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Qualifying Time (QT): The time standard required for a championship event, subject to its eligibility rules.
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Verified Time: A recorded performance satisfying the relevant meet-level, date and verification requirements.
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No Time (NT): Indicates that a swimmer has no recorded entry time. Some meets accept NT entries, while others do not.
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Meeting a QT does not always guarantee entry: Championships may impose entry caps, consideration times or ranking-based selection.
Checking your eligibility
BHSC swimmers can use their Swimmer Portal to review personal bests, competition results and championship qualifying times where available.
Remember: Every competition provides an opportunity to gain experience, improve technique and work towards future championships. Choosing the right level of meet is just as important as achieving a fast time.