By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam
In a nationwide email to Division I swimming and diving coaches, the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) notified programs of a proposal they plan to submit to the NCAA in early June, that would significantly reshape the NCAA Championships as we currently know them.
In the email, CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany said, “We don’t expect everyone to embrace every aspect of any proposed change. However, I’m hopeful we can all agree that change is critical—and that meaningful progress will require some level of concession from all of us.”
She added, “We are in the early stages of seeking conference-level support, and your advocacy is crucial. I encourage you to speak with your sport administrator in support of this proposal—not just as a coach, but as a leader committed to shaping the future of our sport.”
The proposal includes several major updates aimed at modernizing the meet format. See a breakdown of the key highlights below in an easy-to-read format.
Addition of 50s of Stroke: Following their inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the 50-yard backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly would be added to the NCAA Championship program. This proposed changes would require a one-year “implementation runway,” meaning the earliest they could appear on the NCAA Championship schedule is 2027. Separate ‘B’ Finals Session: The consolation finals (‘B’ heats) would be moved to a dedicated session earlier in the day, much like how diving events are currently split. This would provide more rest for athletes who double or swim relays in the evening finals session. However, it could force a swimmer to compete in three sessions, depending on their other events for the day. Diving Finals Modification: Finals diving would be divided into two blocks, with three rounds conducted twice during the evening session. This introduces two diving breaks, strategically spacing out events and offering swimmers additional rest opportunities. New Team Diving Event: The CSCAA is proposing the addition of a team diving event on Day 1 of the competition. While details are still being finalized, the format may be adapted depending on consensus—whether the event should include platform diving or be limited to springboard for broader accessibility. Like the stroke 50s, an “implementation runway” would be required. Adjusting Award Ceremony Timing: All award presentations would be moved to the end of each finals session, rather than at the conclusion of each event. Moving the 1650 Freestyle & Shifting Relay Heats: Currently held on the final day of the meet, the proposal calls for shifting the 1650 freestyle to the first day of competition. Under the proposed format, the top 8 seeds would swim in the evening finals session, seeds 9–16 in the afternoon, and all remaining swimmers (17 and up) in the morning. Relays are also included in this proposed 2026 shift, meaning the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relay could potentially be contested across all three sessions on the first day. While the proposal does not specify whether this format would apply to other relays next season, more detailed information is provided regarding the 2027 plan, which we’ll discuss later in the article.Revised Qualification Model:
The CSCAA is advocating for a single qualification standard, eliminating the current ‘A’ and ‘B’ cut system. Automatic qualification (AQ) would also be granted to athletes who win their individual events at their conference championship meet, provided they meet the new time standard. This new model would create a more transparent and inclusive qualification process, broadening institutional and conference representation without compromising competitive integrity. Impact analysis suggests no change to scoring athletes, but an overall increase in the number of represented programs and conferences.Below are the two proposed NCAA Championship event orders drafted by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), contingent on the inclusion of the stroke 50s (50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, and 50 butterfly) starting in 2027. For comparison’s sake, the current event order is also included.
Interestingly, relays are included in the prelims session under the proposed format, but it’s currently unclear how they will be conducted. One possibility is that they’ll follow a format similar to the 1650 freestyle—where the top 8 are swum in the A final, seeds 9–16 in the consolation session, and the remaining teams in the morning. Alternatively, this could mark the full reintroduction of prelim relays for the first time since 2021.
Either scenario presents logistical challenges. For example, swimmers who qualify for individual ‘A’ finals and are also on relays seeded in the 9–16 range could be required to swim in three separate sessions in a single day, which would make recovery especially difficult.
SwimSwam will reach out to the CSCAA for clarification on the proposed relay format.
DAY 1 Session Current Schedule Option 1 Option 2 Prelims N/A 200 Medley Relay 800 Freestyle Relay 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly 1650 Freestyle (Seeds 17 & Up) Same as Option 1 Consolation Finals N/A 200 Medley Relay 1650 Freestyle (Seeds 9–16) 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly 800 Freestyle Relay Same as Option 1 Championship Finals 200 Medley Relay 800 Freestyle Relay 200 Medley Relay 1650 Freestyle (Seeds 1–8) 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly 800 Freestyle Relay Same as Option 1 DAY 2 Session Current Schedule Option 1 Option 2 Prelims 500 Freestyle 200 Individual Medley 50 Freestyle 1-Meter Diving 400 Individual Medley 200 Freestyle 200 Butterfly 400 Medley Relay 1-Meter Diving 100 Butterfly 400 Individual Medley 200 Freestyle 100 Backstroke 200 Freestyle Relay 1-Meter Diving Consolation Finals 1-Meter Diving (All Rounds of ‘B’ Final) 400 Individual Medley 200 Freestyle 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 200 Butterfly 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Medley Relay 100 Butterfly 400 Individual Medley 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 200 Freestyle 100 Backstroke 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 200 Freestyle Relay Championship Finals 500 Freestyle 200 Individual Medley 50 Freestyle 1-Meter Diving (All Rounds of ‘A’ Final) 200 Freestyle Relay 400 Individual Medley 200 Freestyle 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 200 Butterfly 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Medley Relay 100 Butterfly 400 Individual Medley 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 200 Freestyle 100 Backstroke 1-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 200 Freestyle Relay DAY 3 Session Current Schedule Option 1 Option 2 Prelims 100 Butterfly 400 Individual Medley 200 Freestyle 100 Breaststroke 100 Backstroke 3-Meter Diving 500 Freestyle 200 Breaststroke 100 Freestyle 200 Backstroke 200 Freestyle Relay 3-Meter Diving 500 Freestyle 50 Freestyle 200 Backstroke 200 Breaststroke 400 Medley Relay 3-Meter Diving Consolation Finals 3-Meter Diving (All Rounds of ‘B’ Final) 500 Freestyle 200 Breaststroke 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 100 Freestyle 200 Backstroke 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 200 Freestyle Relay 500 Freestyle 50 Freestyle 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 200 Backstroke 200 Breaststroke 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Medley Relay Championship Finals 100 Butterfly 400 Individual Medley 200 Freestyle 100 Breaststroke 100 Backstroke 3-Meter Diving (All Rounds of ‘A’ Final) 400 Medley Relay 500 Freestyle 200 Breaststroke 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 100 Freestyle 200 Backstroke 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 200 Freestyle Relay 500 Freestyle 50 Freestyle 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 1-3) 200 Backstroke 200 Breaststroke 3-Meter Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Medley Relay DAY 4 Session Current Schedule Option 1 Option 2 Prelims 200 Backstroke 100 Freestyle 200 Breaststroke 200 Butterfly Platform Diving 100 Butterfly 200 Individual Medley 100 Breaststroke 100 Backstroke 50 Freestyle 400 Freestyle Relay Platform Diving 100 Freestyle 200 Individual Medley 100 Breaststroke 200 Butterfly 400 Freestyle Relay Platform Diving Consolation Finals Platform Diving (All Rounds of ‘B’ Final) Slower Heats of 1650 Freestyle 100 Butterfly 200 Individual Medley Platform Diving (Rounds 1-3) 100 Breaststroke 100 Backstroke 50 Freestyle Platform Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Freestyle Relay 100 Freestyle 200 Individual Medley Platform Diving (Rounds 1-3) 100 Breaststroke 200 Butterfly Platform Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Freestyle Relay Championship Finals 200 Backstroke 100 Freestyle 200 Breaststroke 200 Butterfly Platform Diving (All Rounds of ‘A’ Final) 400 Freestyle Relay 100 Butterfly 200 Individual Medley Platform Diving (Rounds 1-3) 100 Breaststroke 100 Backstroke 50 Freestyle Platform Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Freestyle Relay 100 Freestyle 200 Individual Medley Platform Diving (Rounds 1-3) 100 Breaststroke 200 Butterfly Platform Diving (Rounds 4-6) 400 Freestyle RelayRead the full story on SwimSwam: CSCAA To Propose Addition of Stroke 50s And New Qualification Model for NCAA Championships
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