Age Groups:
Minimum entry age is 10 years
Male 10yrs, 11yrs, 12yrs, 13/14yrs
Female 10yrs, 11yrs, 12yrs, 13/14yrs
Age-Up Date:
Meet 1 & 2 (Round 1) – 31st December 2025
Meet 3 & 4 (Round 2) – 31st December 2026
Events:
50, 100m all four strokes
200m Backstroke, Freestyle, Breaststroke (refer to the order of events below)
400m Freestyle (refer to the order of events below)
100m, 200m Individual Medley
Mixed 4 x 25m Freestyle & Medley Team Relay – there is no limit on the number of teams however each relay must include at least one male and one female athlete. The age groups for relays will be 10-12yrs and 12-14yrs, with 12-year-old athletes only being eligible for one relay per event. Clubs may collaborate to enter relays.
No consideration standards will be published for athletes to enter most events however a consideration standard will be published for entry into the 200m Breaststroke and 400m Freestyle, and the following guidance is provided to support entry decisions:
- Athletes should be able to complete the race distance with the given stroke/s and have proven this in at least one meet/time trial prior to entry;
- Athletes should be capable of executing the stroke/s legally;
- Athletes should be capable of executing legal turns and good streamlining;
- Athletes must swim in the corresponding 50m event prior to entering the 100m event, and the 100m event prior to entering the 200m event;
- Athletes aged 12-14 years entering the 200m Breaststroke must have swum a 100m Breaststroke faster than the consideration time published below;
- Athletes aged 12-14 years entering the 400m Freestyle must have swum a 200m Freestyle faster than the consideration time published below;
- Athletes should only enter events on the recommendation from their coach
| Male | Event | Female |
| 01:38.00 | 100m Breaststroke | 01:38.00 |
| 02:50.00 | 200m Freestyle | 02:50.00 |
Athletes may only compete in their own Region.
Unless otherwise stated in the meet conditions athletes can enter as many individual events as deemed appropriate by their coach. Athletes may swim up or down distances as outlined in the Order of Events if their coach believes this is the appropriate distance for them, and athletes are limited to 1 distance per stroke per meet. The Meet Organiser reserves the right to limit entries in the 200m Breaststroke and 400m Freestyle. Clubs can enter multiple relay teams.
The Future Challenger Series is open to all competitive members aged 10 to 12 years.
Athletes aged 13/14 years may compete if they have not previously competed at the Aspiring Champions level or above and cannot compete at the Aspiring Champions Series in the same cycle i.e., the short course or long course season. Participation is intended as a transitional opportunity for new swimmers and should be guided by the athlete’s coach based on readiness and performance.
Athletes with a disability must be registered as members of a Swim Ireland affiliated club at the time of entry.
Tech Suit Policy:
Tech Suits will not be permitted at the Future Challenger Series Meets irrespective of age. We ask clubs to ensure coaches, parents and athletes are fully aware of the policy so that we avoid any negative experiences on poolside. Full details of the policy can be found on the Swim Ireland website.
Order of Events:
| Meet 1 and 3 | Meet 2 and 4 |
| 10-14yrs 100m IM, OR 11-14yrs 200m IM | 10-14yrs 100m IM, OR 10-14yrs 200m IM |
| 10-14yrs 50m Backstroke, OR 10-14yrs 100m Backstroke, OR 11-14yrs 200m Backstroke | 10-14yrs 50m Breaststroke, OR 11-14yrs 100m Breaststroke, OR 12yrs 200m Breaststroke |
| 10-14yrs 50m Butterfly, OR 12-14yrs 100m Butterfly | 10-14yrs 50m Freestyle, OR 10-14yrs 100m Freestyle, OR 11-14yrs 200m Freestyle, OR 12yrs 400m Freestyle |
| Mixed 4 x 25m FTR | Mixed 4 x 25m MTR |
| Athletes are limited to 1 distance per stroke per meet | |
Olympic Band Awards:
There will be no medals awarded at Future Challenger events. In their place, swimmers will be awarded wristbands having achieved certain qualification standards. A two-tier reward structure is in place. On achieving a B Time, the athlete will receive a two-toned championship band.
There are five to collect:
Green/White = Backstroke
Blue/White = Breaststroke
Yellow/White = Butterfly
Red/White = Freestyle
Black/White = Individual Medley
Athletes achieving an “A” time will receive a solid-colour Olympic Ring band specific to the event e.g. Green for Backstroke. etc. Once the athlete has achieved the set of solid coloured bands, a Connacht GOLD band will be awarded.
DOWNLOADS
Click here to download the Connacht Future Challenger Time Standards
Click here to download the Future Challenger Series Meet Templates
Click here to download Future Challenger Series 2025-26 details and information
Click here to download information on the Connacht Future Challenger Reward Structure
Swim Ireland Connacht 
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