BAGCATs
British Age Group Categories - BAGCATS - is a method for comparing performance of a swimmer of a particular age group with the best in the world.
Performance tables have been around since the 1970’s. These group swimming performances into categories.
AAA means that the swimmer is performing at about National Championships standard
AA means that the swimmer is performing at about District standard
A means that the swimmer is performing at about County standard
B means that the swimmer is performing at about good club standard
C means that the swimmer is performing at any other level
Two sets of tables are available: Long Course (LC) tables (for 50m pools) and Short Course (SC) tables (for 25m pools such as at Yate Leisure Centre). These are needed as short course times are always quicker than long course times. Conversion tables are available to convert short course times into long course times if you have never swum before in a 50m pool. The nearest 50m pools to are at K2 in Crawley and at Crystal Palace.
Some strokes, such as the butterfly, are much harder for very young swimmers than others such as the front crawl. As swimmers get older they tend to see their front crawl times improve at a faster rate than their butterfly times and so are tempted to ignore the fly. To give them a more balanced view of their stroke improvements and to ensure that all their strokes improve, BAGCATS are conversion factors that enable a swimmer in any particular age group to compare their times and improvement against the best in the world on a fair basis, irrespective of the stroke. BAGCATS are designed to encourage swimmers to train and compete in all strokes.
The world’s best times are used to give a benchmark of 1000 points per stroke. BAGCATS are used to show how each swimmer is improving and to give them a guide as to where they are against the world’s best.
The nearer you are to the magic 1000 mark, the closer you are to progressing to being the world’s best !
Further details can be found on the ASA website by clicking on the following link: