Tempi limite, spiegati
What is a swim time standard?
A time standard is a published time for an event, escalão and pool. Most decide who can enter a championship. Here are the five you'll meet.
| Standard | What it does | When |
|---|---|---|
| Zonal TAC | Entry to the Torneios Zonais | dic 2026, feb 2027 |
| National TAC | Entry to the Campeonatos Nacionais | dic 2026, apr 2027, lug 2027 |
| World Aquatics cuts | Entry to the World Championships | giu 2027 |
| European Aquatics | No time. Each federation picks. | giu 2027, 2028 |
| World Aquatics points | Scores a swim. Opens nothing. | Any swim |
Which standard
Pick the one you're looking at
Portugal · FPN
Zonal TAC: the Torneios Zonais
The easier of the FPN's two tiers, and usually a swimmer's first qualification. Held in the north and the south.
- Who it is for
- Infantis and Juvenis only.Born 2011–2014.
- What it opens
- Torneio Zonal de Juvenis (dic 2026, 25 m)Torneios Zonais de Infantis (feb 2027, 25 m)
- How a time counts
- For Torneio Zonal de Juvenis: swum between 1 ottobre 2025 and 22 novembre 2026.For Torneios Zonais de Infantis: swum between 1 gennaio 2026 and 16 febbraio 2027.A 25 m swim is checked against the 25 m table, a 50 m swim against the 50 m table. Times are never converted.
- For example
- Juvenis B, Femminile, 100 m Stile libero in a 25 m pool: 1:06.30.
- What it is not
- Not the national TAC. It doesn't get a swimmer into the Campeonatos Nacionais.
Portugal · FPN
National TAC: the Campeonatos Nacionais
One step up: Portugal's national championships. Juvenis get two columns, spring and a faster summer.
- Who it is for
- Every escalão from Infantis B up. There's no national TAC below that.Born 2014 or earlier.
- What it opens
- Campeonatos Nacionais de Juniores e Seniores de Piscina Curta (dic 2026, 25 m)Campeonatos Nacionais de Juniores, Sub21 e Absolutos — Open de Portugal / Astralpool (apr 2027, 50 m)Campeonato Nacional de Juvenis (apr 2027, 50 m)Campeonatos Nacionais de Juvenis, Juniores e Seniores (lug 2027, 50 m)Campeonatos Nacionais de Infantis (lug 2027, 50 m)
- How a time counts
- A 25 m swim is checked against the 25 m table, a 50 m swim against the 50 m table. Times are never converted.Each championship has its own window. A time can be too old for the next one.
- For example
- Juvenis B, Femminile, 100 m Stile libero in a 50 m pool: 1:07.99 for the spring championship, 1:06.65 for the summer one.
- What it is not
- It opens one championship, inside one window. It doesn't rank the swimmer.
World Aquatics
World Aquatics qualifying times
The fastest qualifying times in the sport. They show the top of the scale.
- Who it is for
- Open. One table for seniors, with no age band.
- What it opens
- World Aquatics Championships - Budapest 2027 (giu 2027, 50 m)
- How a time counts
- The time must be swum between 2 marzo 2026 and 20 giugno 2027.
- For example
- Femminile, 100 m Stile libero in a 50 m pool: 54.25 for the A standard, 56.15 for the B.
- What it is not
- Not an entry ticket. The federation picks who goes.
European Aquatics · LEN
European Aquatics: no qualifying time
There is none. The regulations accept entries regardless of standards, at every level.
- Who it is for
- Seniors, and juniors aged 14 to 18 by 31 December of the competition year.
- What it opens
- European Aquatics Championships 2028 (2028, 50 m)European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships - Bjelovar 2027 (giu 2027, 50 m)
- How a time counts
- Up to four swimmers per event per federation. Two can go past the heats.Lanes are seeded by entry time. There's no lower limit.
- For example
- There's no time to print. We'd rather show an honest blank than invent one.
- What it is not
- Your own federation's selection decides who goes.
World Aquatics
World Aquatics points: a score, not a cut
A score, not a cut: P = 1000 × (B ÷ T)³. A 50 breaststroke and a 400 free sit on one scale.
- Who it is for
- Any swimmer, any age, in a 25 m or 50 m pool. There's no yards table.
- What it opens
- Nothing. No championship admits on points.
- How a time counts
- Base times change every year, so scores shift a little.Long course: the calendar year. Short course: September to August.
- For example
- The base time for Femminile, 100 m Stile libero in a 50 m pool is 51.71. A swim of exactly that scores 1000 points.
- What it is not
- Not a qualifying time, and not comparable with a national points table.
Good to know
- Standards go by age group. Moving up an escalão means a harder table overnight. That isn't going backwards.
- Read the gap as information. "Four tenths off" and "two seconds faster than ever" can both be true. Say the second one first.
Domande
Domande frequenti
What is a time standard in swimming?
A published time that marks a line. Most decide who can enter a championship. In Portugal, that's the TAC.
What is the difference between a zonal and a national TAC?
The zonal TAC opens the Torneios Zonais and is easier. The national TAC opens the Campeonatos Nacionais and is harder.
My swimmer has no standard yet. Is that a problem?
No. The national tables start at Infantis B, so younger swimmers have nothing to miss. What matters is whether their times are moving.
Can a time from a 25 m pool count for a 50 m championship?
Yes, if it meets the 25 m TAC. The FPN publishes a 25 m and a 50 m table for each championship. Times are never converted between them.
La ricerca
Check your own swimmer
Enter one time. See every TAC that applies, zonal and national, with the gap to each.