BAGCATS Explained as simply as we know how...!
BAGCAT’s are a UK approach to measuring and comparing the performances of swimmers across a range of age groups and events. The acronym stands for British Age Group CATegory.
In this measurement system, points are scored for particular times in individual events based on their relative performance to top 10 historic all time performances. BAGCATs are comparative performance tables adjusted for age (younger swimmers find certain events harder).
In some competitions (e.g. Lancashire County Age Group Championships or North West Region Championships) ‘Top Boy’ or ‘Top Girl’ trophies are awarded based on the total BAGCAT points scored by swimmers in a selection of events. The original intent of this was to encourage younger swimmers to compete in a wide range of events and not specialise too early. To make things more complicated events are grouped together and only the swimmers highest point score in each group of events will count. Typically these will be grouped as best sprint (50m), best 100m, best Individual Medley, best distance (200m+) and best non-Freestyle performance (confusingly known as a ‘Form stroke’). The stroke groups change as swimmers get older. Form Stroke - Used within BAGCAT system to describe non-Freestyle strokes (Butterfly, Breaststroke or Backstroke).
BAGCATS applies to boys aged 9-14 and girls aged 9-13, over three annual competitions, the Counties, Regionals and the Nationals. There are qualifying times for these competitions. These are established by the ASA at the appropriate level which must be achieved at a licensed meet and/or a meet where the results are accepted to the ASA Rankings database during the current season. As you would expect, these qualifying times get progressively tougher through the competitions.
1. County BAGCATS are organised by Lancashire ASA and are held in March in a 50m pool.
2. Regional BAGCATS are organised by the North West Region of the ASA and are held in June in a 50m pool.
3. National BAGCATS are held in July at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, a 50m pool.
BAGCATS is a points system, adjusted for age and gender and establishes who the best swimmers really are. It also encourages swimmers to compete in a variety of strokes in accordance with Long Term Athlete Development, and not to specialise too early. A swimmer’s best stroke at 9 may not necessarily be their best stroke one or two years later. BAGCATS are divided into categories, each of which has their own individual way of testing the swimmer. Categories vary slightly depending on the swimmer’s age and whether at County, Regional or National level, but essentially fall into the following groups. These are:
1. Freestyle. All swimmers are expected to be proficient at this stroke and this therefore has its own category. Distances are 200m 400m 800m or 1,500m depending on age.
2. Form Stroke. In butterfly, backstroke or breaststroke. Every swimmer is expected to be particularly proficient at something other than freestyle. Distances are always 200m.
3. Sprints. This applies to all strokes. Distances are 50m for County, 100m for Regional and National competitions. This tests the swimmers sprinting ability.
4. Medley. Swimmers are expected to be able to swim all strokes. Distances are 100m, 200m and 400m for County and 200m and 400m for Regional and National competitions.
5. 100s – An additional sprint category for older County BAGCATS swimmers only.
Within each category only the swimmer’s highest point scoring event will count. So, if a swimmer gets 315 points from a 200m backstroke and then gets 330 points from a 200m breaststroke, then only the 330 points will stand in the Form Stroke category. In order to compete for top positions in the overall BAGCAT competition, it is therefore essential that swimmers gain qualifying times and enter events in all the relevant categories.
Beyond BAGCAT ages, swimmers will compete at Youth (girls 14+ and boys 15+) categories at County, Regional and National Championships. At County and Regional level BAGCATS, Youth and Open Championships are run at the same time. The same rules as for BAGCATS regarding the qualifying entry times for these competitions apply.
In this measurement system, points are scored for particular times in individual events based on their relative performance to top 10 historic all time performances. BAGCATs are comparative performance tables adjusted for age (younger swimmers find certain events harder).
In some competitions (e.g. Lancashire County Age Group Championships or North West Region Championships) ‘Top Boy’ or ‘Top Girl’ trophies are awarded based on the total BAGCAT points scored by swimmers in a selection of events. The original intent of this was to encourage younger swimmers to compete in a wide range of events and not specialise too early. To make things more complicated events are grouped together and only the swimmers highest point score in each group of events will count. Typically these will be grouped as best sprint (50m), best 100m, best Individual Medley, best distance (200m+) and best non-Freestyle performance (confusingly known as a ‘Form stroke’). The stroke groups change as swimmers get older. Form Stroke - Used within BAGCAT system to describe non-Freestyle strokes (Butterfly, Breaststroke or Backstroke).
BAGCATS applies to boys aged 9-14 and girls aged 9-13, over three annual competitions, the Counties, Regionals and the Nationals. There are qualifying times for these competitions. These are established by the ASA at the appropriate level which must be achieved at a licensed meet and/or a meet where the results are accepted to the ASA Rankings database during the current season. As you would expect, these qualifying times get progressively tougher through the competitions.
1. County BAGCATS are organised by Lancashire ASA and are held in March in a 50m pool.
2. Regional BAGCATS are organised by the North West Region of the ASA and are held in June in a 50m pool.
3. National BAGCATS are held in July at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, a 50m pool.
BAGCATS is a points system, adjusted for age and gender and establishes who the best swimmers really are. It also encourages swimmers to compete in a variety of strokes in accordance with Long Term Athlete Development, and not to specialise too early. A swimmer’s best stroke at 9 may not necessarily be their best stroke one or two years later. BAGCATS are divided into categories, each of which has their own individual way of testing the swimmer. Categories vary slightly depending on the swimmer’s age and whether at County, Regional or National level, but essentially fall into the following groups. These are:
1. Freestyle. All swimmers are expected to be proficient at this stroke and this therefore has its own category. Distances are 200m 400m 800m or 1,500m depending on age.
2. Form Stroke. In butterfly, backstroke or breaststroke. Every swimmer is expected to be particularly proficient at something other than freestyle. Distances are always 200m.
3. Sprints. This applies to all strokes. Distances are 50m for County, 100m for Regional and National competitions. This tests the swimmers sprinting ability.
4. Medley. Swimmers are expected to be able to swim all strokes. Distances are 100m, 200m and 400m for County and 200m and 400m for Regional and National competitions.
5. 100s – An additional sprint category for older County BAGCATS swimmers only.
Within each category only the swimmer’s highest point scoring event will count. So, if a swimmer gets 315 points from a 200m backstroke and then gets 330 points from a 200m breaststroke, then only the 330 points will stand in the Form Stroke category. In order to compete for top positions in the overall BAGCAT competition, it is therefore essential that swimmers gain qualifying times and enter events in all the relevant categories.
Beyond BAGCAT ages, swimmers will compete at Youth (girls 14+ and boys 15+) categories at County, Regional and National Championships. At County and Regional level BAGCATS, Youth and Open Championships are run at the same time. The same rules as for BAGCATS regarding the qualifying entry times for these competitions apply.