Nova Tech (Regional Competitions – All HRM)

The Swim NS Nova Tech Aqua Kids Program (NT) is our Provincial Sport

Organization’s introduction program for competitive swimming. The aim of NT is to focus on technique, support a learning curve for the rules of swimming, and create a progressive introduction to the various events offered throughout our sport. At this level, all of the Swim Meets take place on Saturday afternoons (usually 3-4h in length) in a Regional setting, which means during the majority of the season, you never have to travel outside of HRM. All NT athletes will compete in their Championship Meet in the middle of May, which usually takes place in Truro. This is a 1.5 day Swim Meet and is our NT athlete’s first exposure to a Championship Swim Meet. 

All NT athletes receive Best Time Ribbons from their home club after the completion of each swim meet and receive Graduation Medals at the completion of the season based upon their movement through the NT Program.

There are three progressive levels through NT. In each level, events are added, and expectation to know the competitive swimming rules and complete legal strokes / skills is increased and further enforced. 

Participation

Every new swimmer starts in the Participation Level. In this level, swimmers compete in the 100IM and 25m races of each stroke. To graduate swimmers must complete the 100IM under 2:15. In Participation there are no Disqualifications, meaning swimmers are able to compete and LEARN without the pressure of having all their new skills learned to 100%.

Level 1

Once a swimmer graduates from participation, they will participate in Level 1 Events. In this level, swimmers compete in 100IM, and 50m races of each stroke. To graduate swimmers must complete the 100IM under 2:00. In Level 1 there are no Disqualifications, however swimmers are now warned by officials if they have done something illegal in their strokes or turns. Swimmers continue their development of skills and legal stroke/skills, but now are given the knowledge of which aspects of their race could result in a DQ if not perfected!

Level 2

Once a swimmer graduates from Level 1, they will participate in Level 2 Events. In this level, swimmers compete in 200Free and 50m races of each stroke. To graduate swimmers must complete the 100IM under 1:50 and the 200Free under 3:30. In level 2 Disqualifications are introduced, meaning if a swimmer has not perfected their legal strokes and skills, they will be disqualified by an official in their race. It is very important that swimmers work hard and learn to swim with excellent skills to avoid the possibility of disqualifications. 

For new and very young swimmers, it is common to spend at least 1-2 swim seasons in the NT program. Once a swimmer has achieved the Level 2 Graduation Standards, they move into the “Age Group” stream of competitions.

Common Disqualifications are: Illegal Breaststroke Kick (scissor kick or dolphin kick), False Start, Illegal Turns (Back to Breast in IM, One-Hand Touch for Fly and Breasatstroke), Uneven Butterfly arms. 

Age Group (Provincial Competitions – Across NS)

The Swim NS Age Group (AG) Program is our Provincial Sport Organization’s main competition structure. This stream of competition encompasses ALL athletes who have graduated from the NT program. Within the AG Program, there are two levels of competitions in Nova Scotia and a Third level that encompasses all of Eastern Canada (NFLD, NB, NS, PEI). Each of these competitions have minimum standards associated with them to compete in Provincial and East Coast Championships. 

AA Stream

All swimmers who have graduated from NT will compete in the AA competitions throughout the season. To start each season all Age Group swimmers compete together. In the New Year AA and AAA competition are often separate. All events are available to AA swimmers at their coaches discretion. Swimmers will compete in many development meets each season. 

To be AA Qualified and compete in AA Age Group Meets, swimmers must graduate out of the Swim NS Nova Tech Level 2 Program. 

AAA Stream

Swimmers must achieve their respective age requirements to be AAA qualified and attend that level of Swim NS Meets. This is the highest level of provincial competition offered in Nova Scotia. Swimmers at this level will compete in many dev meets per season. In January, AAA swimmers compete in Long Course meets. There is a Nova Scotia Short Course Provincial Championships in March and a Nova Scotia Long Course Provincial Championships in July. 

You can find the AAA Standards and Qualification criteria here.

East Coast Championships

East Coast Championships is a Regional Championships for the four Eastern Canadian Provinces. This standard is above that of Nova Scotia AAA. There are two Championships each season: David Fry East Coast Championships in March, and Ken Dunn East Coast Championships in July. The host for these meets will be rotating through the four East Coast Provinces

You can find ECC Standards and Qualification criteria here.

National (National Competitions – Across Canada) 

Swimming Canada hosts all National level competitions for our sport. Swimmers must be 13&O (Females) and 14&O (Males) to compete at this level. Swimmers can qualify SCM or LCM and then are eligible to race those events only at each level of competition qualified. 

You can find National Competition Standards and Qualification criteria here.

Canadian Open

Senior Level competition held in April of each year. This meet is Long Course and pits the best swimmers the coutry has to offer against each other. Canadian Open may be hosted across the country.

Canadian Swimming Trials

The annual selection meet for Team Canada aat International competeition. Swimmers at this meet are competing to represent the country at International Championships like: Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am and Pan Pac, Junior Pan Am and Pan Pac, et cetera. This meet will fall roughly 6-8 weeks before the Championship meet being selected for. There are Senior (Open) and Junior Standards for qualification of this meet.

Canadian Swimming Championships

Canadian Swimming Championships is a Short Course National Championships held in August of each year. This meet may be held across the country.