Club swimming in the US has two major seasons. During the
short-course season, swimmers swim in 25-yard pools. This season lasts
from late-September to the end of March. The long-course season takes
place in 50-meter pools and lasts from April to the end of August.
The longer freestyle events vary in lengths in each season. In the short course season, the 500 yard, 1000 yard, and 1650-yard freestyle events are swum, while during the long course season the 400 meter, 800 meter, and 1500-meter freestyle events are swum instead. However, this difference in distance holds true for all meter pools, i.e. short course meter pools also swim the 400 meter, 800 meter, and 1500 meter freestyle events instead of their yard counterparts.
Training in both short course and long course has become more of an American Standard. Internationally, long course meters is the standard, as seen in the Olympics. This standard of two separate seasons in America may be because it is so much easier for new swimmers to learn to compete in a smaller pool during the short course season. Smaller pools allow for shorter distance races, so for example in short course season if a younger swimmer wanted to compete in a stroke they had just learned, a 25 yard 8 years old and under race is available to them, opposed to the long course season when they would need to be able to swim at least 50 meters of that new stroke in order to compete. Many swimmers in high school, on club teams, and on YMCA teams also use short course swimming pools during their meets.
The seasons in Australia are much the same, although the short course season is, again, made for younger swimmers, and so no short course national events occur. During the short course season, swimmers swim in a 25-meter pool, whilst in the long course season, swimmers swim in a 50-meter pool. All longer freestyle events (including the 400m, 800m and 1500m) can be swum in either season for both males and females, although some restrictions occur due to time restraints and gender physiology at national events. The 1500m event is permitted for males only, and males between the ages of 12 and 13, along with all females are the only swimmers eligible to swim in the 800m freestyle event.
The longer freestyle events vary in lengths in each season. In the short course season, the 500 yard, 1000 yard, and 1650-yard freestyle events are swum, while during the long course season the 400 meter, 800 meter, and 1500-meter freestyle events are swum instead. However, this difference in distance holds true for all meter pools, i.e. short course meter pools also swim the 400 meter, 800 meter, and 1500 meter freestyle events instead of their yard counterparts.
Training in both short course and long course has become more of an American Standard. Internationally, long course meters is the standard, as seen in the Olympics. This standard of two separate seasons in America may be because it is so much easier for new swimmers to learn to compete in a smaller pool during the short course season. Smaller pools allow for shorter distance races, so for example in short course season if a younger swimmer wanted to compete in a stroke they had just learned, a 25 yard 8 years old and under race is available to them, opposed to the long course season when they would need to be able to swim at least 50 meters of that new stroke in order to compete. Many swimmers in high school, on club teams, and on YMCA teams also use short course swimming pools during their meets.
The seasons in Australia are much the same, although the short course season is, again, made for younger swimmers, and so no short course national events occur. During the short course season, swimmers swim in a 25-meter pool, whilst in the long course season, swimmers swim in a 50-meter pool. All longer freestyle events (including the 400m, 800m and 1500m) can be swum in either season for both males and females, although some restrictions occur due to time restraints and gender physiology at national events. The 1500m event is permitted for males only, and males between the ages of 12 and 13, along with all females are the only swimmers eligible to swim in the 800m freestyle event.