What is Summer Swimming?

A summer swim club is a club whose organized aquatic program occurs between May 1 and September 30 each year, unlike the winter club which train and practice practically all year round. Our club swims from mid- May to mid- August and are members of BCCSA. There are two tiers of swimmers:

"S" Swimmer
"S" Summer - swimmer who participates in aquatic activity during the summer season and doesn't accumulate more than two hours a calendar week during the winter season.

"O" Swimmer
"O" Winter - swimmer who participated in organized aquatic activity during the winter season (October 1-April 30) for more than two hours a calendar week.

Swimming Categories


Summer swimmer competes in separate age groups called divisions. Age eligibility is taken as of April 30. There are eight divisions as follow

Div. 1      8 year olds and under

Div. 2      9 – 10 ½ year old

Div. 3      10 ½ - 12 year olds

Div. 4      12 – 13 ½ year olds

Div. 5      13 ½ - 15 year olds

Div. 6      15- 16 year olds 

Div. 7      17- 18 year olds

Div. 8      19 year olds and over

Swimmer are categorized into the following groups:
  • Developmental: these are usually younger swimmers and are new members to the club. They learn the four competitive swim strokes, learn to read the pace clock and learn proper starts and turn
  • ‘’B’’ Swimmer: These are returning swimmer who have slower times than the Fraser South Region B cutoff time
  • ‘’A’’ Swimmer: these swimmers are those individuals who have earned ‘’ A ‘’ times (the same times of faster times than the cutoff times).
Most swim meets attended are combined A/B meets so the distinction between what events may be swum at which meets is not applicable. To move up from a ‘’B’’ stroke to an ‘’A’’ stroke the qualifying time must be reached.

Stroke for Swim Folks


Freestyle: is any stroke or combination of strokes executed by a swimmer. A touch turn may be made with any part of the body.

Backstroke: the start is one the back, gripping block, toes on wall below water surface. Touch can be with hands, arms, shoulders, or even head on back. Must return to normal backstroke position before feet leave on a push-off.

Breaststroke: Emphasizes symmetry. Both side must be a mirror image of the other. After the start and turn the swimmer is allowed one underwater pull and kick, but the head must break the water surface before the backward motion of the hands reaches the hip line on the second arm stroke. Neither dolphin or flutter kick are allowed. The touch must be the same turn and finish ; two hands at the same time, shoulders level.

Butterfly: Butterfly is guided by symmetry. Arms must break and enter the water simultaneously. Either dolphin or frog kick is permitted, but no flutter or scissor kick. Touch is the same as breaststroke.