{"id":813,"date":"2016-05-08T04:19:09","date_gmt":"2016-05-08T02:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.e-spectations.com\/swimming\/?p=813"},"modified":"2016-05-08T04:19:09","modified_gmt":"2016-05-08T02:19:09","slug":"swimming-south-africa-ssa-rankings-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-spectations.com\/swimming\/2016\/05\/08\/swimming-south-africa-ssa-rankings-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimming South Africa or SSA rankings 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

SSA rankings 2016 for age-group swimmers<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
\"SSA

SSA Rankings for the 2015-2016 season: Swimmer: Monica Botha<\/p><\/div>\n

Swimming South Africa\u00a0rankings are divided into the\u00a0short course (25-meter pool) and long course (50-meter pool) results, Men and Women categories. \u00a0Age group swimming ranges from 10 & Under, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and Open categories. \u00a0 There is nothing more exciting than working hard for the whole year and then wait in anticipation for the Swimming South Africa rankings<\/a><\/span>\u00a0to be updated.<\/p>\n

How do the SSA rankings work?<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"KingsIn South Africa, all age group swimmers registers\u00a0with a club and Swimming South Africa through their local representative offices. A clear distinction is made between competitive club swimming and school swimming.<\/p>\n

In our province, Kwa-Zulu Natal, we register with KZN Aquatics who administer, manage and promote all aquatic sports as the official swimming governing body. \u00a0KZN Aquatics<\/a><\/span>\u00a0is affiliated to Swimming South Africa and provides swim coaching courses and keeps the database updated with the latest swimming results. \u00a0Age group galas, KZN junior champs, provincial and regional championships are the official swimming events organized and run by KZN Aquatics.<\/p>\n

Each region has its own governing body which is affiliated to Swimming South Africa. \u00a0Regional championships takes place in each region during March of that year. These results indicate\u00a0the swimmers’ ranking in the particular age group in the country. \u00a0These results are released every year at the start of the new season (May).<\/p>\n

What do the SSA rankings mean to swimmers and coaches?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

SSA\u00a0rankings simply indicate\u00a0where a swimmer rank in their age group in the country. \u00a0It serves as a tool to measure performance and most likely indicates a swimmers’ strengths and weaknesses in swimming. \u00a0It most likely would serve as a motivation for older swimmers as they can see how they progress to reach the top 4 or top 10 rankings in the country.<\/p>\n

When swimmers reach the open age group or swim qualifying times to compete at the South African National swimming championships, their rankings will indicate where they place in the country. \u00a0National swimmers compete at Senior Nationals.<\/p>\n

\"Freestyle

Young swimmer Monica Botha<\/p><\/div>\n

Our swimmer is still very young. Monica swims in the Women 10 & Under age group. \u00a0The 2015-2016 season was, however, her second, so we do have the 2014-2015 results to compare her growth as a swimmer.<\/p>\n

In the SSA rankings summary at the top, you will notice a slight difference in events and ranking \/ times. \u00a0During the 2014-2015 season, work was done on the indoor pool at Kings Park Stadium. \u00a0All swimming events were held at the short course pool (25-meter) outside the stadium. \u00a0We, therefore, have a nice baseline of short course swimming times in most events as per results showed (2014\/2015 season).<\/p>\n

During the 2015-2016 season, however, \u00a0the flood lights at the outdoor pools were under repair. \u00a0Most events took place in the long course (50-meter) pool inside the stadium. \u00a0In our second season, Monica established a baseline in the long course (50-meter) pool.<\/p>\n

What do the results mean to a young swimmer?<\/h3>\n
\"Butterfly

Our aim this year is to work on the butterfly and breaststroke technique and speed.<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking at the results and times you would notice quite an improvement, except for the 100-meter butterfly event. \u00a0These results are typical for a young swimmer. \u00a0There are events and distances which she excels in and some strokes and events which we constantly have to work on in order to improve times.<\/p>\n

Her overall ranking and times are however pretty good for such a young swimmer, taking the amount of experience into account. \u00a0As parents and her coaches, we are very pleased and proud of her rankings.<\/p>\n

There are other 9-year-old swimmers that perform better than Monica and it is a bonus for us to see the times the other swimmers swim in her age group. \u00a0To us, it is an indication of the competitive level of swimming in the country and competition is always a good thing. \u00a0One should always set your aim to improve what you do and that comes with time and growth as well as aging as a swimmer.<\/p>\n

It is also important for swimmers not to specialize in a particular stroke or distance at a young age. \u00a0For that reason, SSA\u00a0set qualifying times for the Individual medley and made it a requirement to swim any provincial or regional championships.<\/p>\n

Interpreting the results:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It is clear when we look at Monica’s SSA rankings, that she excelled in Freestyle and backstroke during the 2015-2016 season as she placed in the top 20 in her age group on a National basis.\"regional<\/p>\n

Monica also swam 3 Freestyle level 2 qualifying times and one backstroke (200-meter) qualifying time during the 2015\/2016 season.<\/p>\n

Based on the KZN Aquatics rules, she has to swim the KZN Premier championships in December and would not be allowed to compete at another Level 1 regional championships (February), despite the fact that she still needs a Level 1 qualifying time in the 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter butterfly. The rule states that swimmers with two Level 2 qualifying times have to compete in the December Premier champs irrespective of age.<\/p>\n

Should the swimmer move on to the next level or stay at their current level in swimming?<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n

Swimming South Africa has a clear set of guidelines as far for 10 & Under swimmers:<\/p>\n

Swimmers 10 years and younger are encouraged to swim Level 1 even if they have qualified for a higher level. \u00a0The choice however is left to the individual and their advisors.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are some parents and coaches that register their swimmers for level 2 once they swim two level 2 qualifying times. \u00a0In our case, Monica swam level 2 qualifying times at the age of 8. \u00a0We debated the question for quite some time.<\/p>\n

We based our decision on\u00a0Monica’s emotional growth and how she handles competition. \u00a0She loves to race and loves swimming for her team in relays. \u00a0It is great fun and she looks forward to these events very much. \u00a0We, therefore, enter Monica for another Level 1 season as it is so important that she enjoys swimming and has fun competing.<\/p>\n