
Detailed but clear and easy to understandĮasy to use. Here are some of my favourite swimming conversion calculators. If you are just looking to convert your swim times, then using a swim conversion calculator is a great option. In general, if you are a competitive swimmer looking for a conversion, I suggest you speak with your coach or official in order to get the correct conversion method for your area and competitions. If you are interested in the maths behind USA swimming, this site may be a better resource.
#CONVERT LONG COURSE TO SHORT COURSE PDF#
Instead, I have found this PDF that seems simple and readable. I have tried to find a simple formula to convert swim times, but the default factor you use seems to depend on what country you are in, what gender you are and what event. If you are qualifying for an event but your swim time has been converted, your time could be placed below swimmers whose times have not been converted. Most national and international swim organizations do not support or recognise course conversions. There is a lot of debate around course conversions because how you convert a yard time to a long course meter time can be argued. Here is a link to a swim time conversion calculator from Swimming World Magazine which you can use to convert your swim times from SCY to LCM to SCM. The easiest and quickest way to convert between swim times is to use a Swim Time Conversion Calculator. If you want to compare your swim times to others but you have swum in a different length pool, it is necessary to account for the different lengths and convert between LCM, SCM or SCY. This is to ensure that the athletes do not overheat and helps them to perform at their best. Not only will the length be exactly 50m, but the pool water temperature is also required to be between 25 °-28 ° Celsius, which is 77 °-82.4 ° Fahrenheit.

The lengths and temperatures of Olympic standard swimming pools are carefully regulated. What Is An Olympic Standard Swimming Pool?Īn Olympic standard swimming pool is 50m in length. This is why SCM and SCY have been tagged onto swim times as it tells people what length pool you achieved your time. Therefore, if you are trying to record your time in a 25-yard pool, you cannot directly compare it to swimmers who have used a 25-meter pool, as the distances are not equal. When comparing swim times, it is important to distinguish between SCM & SCY, as yards and meters are two different measurements and are not equal. This Is A Victorian Swimming Pool In The UKĪll pools in the UK built since 1965 will be metric, as that is when the UK switched over to the metric system. For example, recently I visited this iconic Victorian pool in Ipswich that was opened in March 1894! The pools I have experienced in the UK which are measured in yards are very old. In the UK, we have some pools that are still in yards as these were built before the UK switched over to the metric system. In most other parts of the world, pools are 25 meters and are referred to as short course meter pools. In the United States, most pools are 25 yards and are referred to as short course yards pools. This table shows the different pool lengths for LCM, SCM & SCY Is A Pool 25 Yards Or 25 Meters?Ī pool can be 25 yards or 25 meters, depending on the region in which it is located. Those swimming in a 25-yard pool will cover less distance than a 25-meter pool, as a 25-yard pool is only 22.8 meters.Īs this pool is shorter again, it needs to be noted when recording swim times.

The reason that SCY matters and needs to be highlighted is because of the difference in measurement units between pools that are built in meters and those built in yards. This is the standard pool length used in most swimming competitions in the United States.

On the other hand, it also means they need to have excellent tumble turns and underwater technique, as they will kick off the wall more often. On one hand, it means that they can post faster times in a short course meter pool. This can be both good and bad for swimmers. The reason for this is that swimmers can kick off the wall every 25m in an SCM pool, giving them a boost. The reason that SCM matters is that it offers a different set of challenges and opportunities for swimmers compared to a longer 50m pool.īecause the pool is shorter, it takes less time to swim the same distance in an SCM pool as it does in an LCM pool. A short course meter pool is 25 meters in length. This is the standard pool length used in most swimming competitions around the world, with the exception of Olympic swimming competitions. When you hear someone say that they swim fast in an LCM pool, this is the pool they are referring to. The reason that LCM matters is because it is the standard against which all other pool lengths are measured.

This is the standard pool length used in Olympic swimming competitions.
