A New Challenge Awaits Junior Swimmers

18 January 2021
State Based National Age Challenge logo

Calling all junior swimmers, the State Based National Age Challenge is back!

 

Swimming Australia, in collaboration with its State Swimming Associations, is proud to launch – once again – the next phase of evolution for competitive pathway swimmers across the country.

 

The Challenge, which is designed for girls and boys (11-14 years old), is an exciting and fresh concept that will encourage swimmers and their coaches to prepare for meaningful competition at the conclusion of the long course season, and will be used as a steppingstone in their journey in the sport.

 

The State Based National Age Challenge Returns
The challenge kicks off in March in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

After initially launching the pilot at the start of last year, every event across the country which was associated with the Challenge was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19. Therefore, this year will be the first time results are captured and rankings achieved.  

 

Recognising the change in national age bands throughout the swimming program, the State Based National Age Challenge gives younger swimmers who are not yet eligible to compete at Age Championships the opportunity to compete at state competitions and acquire a national virtual ranking in events – allowing them to see where they’re positioned against competitors from around the country.

 

The ten eligible events include:

  • 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle
  • 50m and 100m backstroke
  • 50m and 100m breaststroke
  • 50m and 100m butterfly
  • 200m individual medley

The Challenge will be piloted in all states across March and April, with the following meets doubling as the State Based National Age Challenge:

 

South Australia – State Age Championships (4-8 March)

 

Northern Territory - NT Open & Age Championships (4-7 March)

 

Tasmania – 2021 CRIPPS Championships (5-8 March)

 

Queensland – 2021 Jess Schipper Challenge (20-21 March)

 

Western Australia –  2021 SunSmart Long Course Junior Championships (26-28 March) *

 

New South Wales – Junior State Age Championships (27-28 March) **

 

Victoria – Victorian Development Competition (10-11 April)

 

Following the conclusion of all seven meets, Swimming Australia will create a national ranking which will be recognised and celebrated on Swimming Australia’s website.

 

Swimming Australia’s Chief Sport Performance, Matthew Kennedy, said he looked forward to seeing the new initiative take shape this year.

 

“After the pilot season was disrupted by COVID-19 last year, we’re really excited to relaunch the State Based National Age Challenge and believe it will benefit young swimmers across Australia,” Kennedy said.

 

“Our goals haven’t changed since 2020. We wanted to create a meaningful and fun competition for those swimmers who haven’t yet qualified for age champs and give them an opportunity to compare their times and performances against swimmers of the same age around the country.

 

“It’s also a solution for us to support the needs of both early and late developing swimmers and to improve the retention of swimmers in the competition pathway.

 

“These changes are fundamental in supporting clubs and coaches, creating the best competition environment for swimmers to flourish, irrespective of which state they compete in and their stage of maturation.

 

“Once again, I’d like to thank our state organisations for their cooperation in getting this up and running again and being able to provide our aspiring swimmers with this opportunity to race at the end of the season.”

 

Backstroke swimmer from Virtual Short Course 2020

 

2021 Pilot Conditions

 

* There are no events scheduled for boys aged 14 and girls aged 13-14 at the 2021 SunSmart Long Course Junior Championships. We apologise for any inconvenience as we pilot the program for the first year.

 

** There are no events scheduled for boys aged 14 and girls aged 13-14 at the NSW Junior State Age Championships. We apologise for any inconvenience as we pilot the program for the first year.
 

Female swimmers who are 13 and 14 years old and registered to compete at the 2021 Australian Age Championships will not be eligible to obtain a national ranking at the conclusion of the State Based National Age Challenge.
 

Male swimmers who are 14 years old and registered to compete at the 2021 Australian Age Championships will not be eligible to obtain a national ranking at the conclusion of the State Based National Age Challenge.
 

Participants don’t need to register, just enter the above competitions via Swim Central, as you usually would.

More Information

  • Feedback & Enquiries
  • As we pilot this new initiative, we appreciate any feedback from our swimming community. If you have any feedback or enquiries relating to the State Based National Age Challenge, please contact clubs@swimming.org.au

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