YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming and Diving Fo: Why Dec 1st?

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   I'm curious why Dec 1st was chosen as the age cut-off date.  In NJ, YMCA State Championships are in March so for example, you could have a kid who is 13 years, 3 months old swimming in the 11-12 age group.  I would think that the cutoff date should be either the beginning of the winter swim season (September) or the end of the winter swim season (March), not somewhere in the middle.  Or else, just follow the USA swimming guidelines and have the of the swimmer based on the date of the swim meet.

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njswim New Member Joined: Mar/13/2009 Posts: 1	Topic: Why Dec 1st? Posted: Mar/13/2009 at 1:49pm
	I'm curious why Dec 1st was chosen as the age cut-off date. In NJ, YMCA State Championships are in March so for example, you could have a kid who is 13 years, 3 months old swimming in the 11-12 age group. I would think that the cutoff date should be either the beginning of the winter swim season (September) or the end of the winter swim season (March), not somewhere in the middle. Or else, just follow the USA swimming guidelines and have the of the swimmer based on the date of the swim meet.

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Ed Miller Moderator Group Moderator - Officials Joined: Apr/29/2006 Location: United States Posts: 159	Posted: Jun/05/2009 at 10:40am
	Many YMCA swim leagues have picked a specific date for aging up, rather than the first day of the meet, in order to bring stability to the dual meet teams, which would have to change weekly under an age on the first day of the meet convention. The December 1st date was determined by the NJ YMCA Swim League coaches and approved at their Fall meeting, as it is every year. You would have to ask your coach why the coaches selected December 1st, as opposed to any other date. Ed Miller YMCA National Officials' Committee Chair
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Mid-Atlantic Region
YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming and Diving Fo :Group Representatives :Mid-Atlantic Region