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Performance points are calculated to provide a basis for comparison of results between swimmers in different events. A common formula is used for each calculation with different base times utilized on the basis of the organization type. Performance scores are only calculated from complete result files.
Point Systems
Each point system is established with a base time of 1000 points. This time varies according to the organization and is based on the appropriate record. The current base times used include the following:
- World Records (utilized for global rankings, United States club swimmers)
- National Age Group Records (utilized for United States swimmers aged 18 & under).
Base times are established for individual and relay events in all relevant courses.
Calculating Individual Points
Points are assigned to each swim utilizing the following formula:
Calculating Performance Scores
A swimmer's Performance Score is calculated using a weighted average of their four best events (regardless of course) in a given season. Here is an example:
| Event | Base Time | Swimmer's Time | Points | Weight | Score |
| 1500 Free | 15:25.48 | 15:29.51 | 987 | 40% | 394.8 |
| 400 Free | 3:56.56 | 3:59.66 | 960 | 40% | 384 |
| 200 Free | 1:52.98 | 1:54.59 | 958 | 15% | 143.7 |
| 800 Free | 8:04.79 | 8:14.59 | 942 | 5% | 47.1 |
| Total: | 969.6 |
Swimmers With Fewer than Four Times
If a swimmer has fewer than four times in a given season we calculate a Proxy score for third and fourth events. These scores are calculated on a curve based on the performances of 567,000 swimmers between 2016-19. Generally speaking, a proxy score for a swimmer's third event will be 13-33% lower than their best event while a proxy score for their fourth event will be 18-50% lower.
Points Calculation Method:
Swimcloud ranks swimmers using their top-scoring performance per event, regardless of course type. This includes:
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Short Course Yards (SCY) – “Y”
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Short Course Meters (SCM) – “S”
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Long Course Meters (LCM) – “L”
Only one time per event is counted toward ranking points— whichever earns the most points using Swimcloud’s scoring system.
How It Works:
If a swimmer has results in 100 Backstroke in all three formats:
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100 Y Back (SCY)
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100 S Back (SCM)
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100 L Back (LCM)
Swimcloud:
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Calculates the points for each time.
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Chooses the highest-scoring time for that event.
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Skips the other two versions — they won't be used in rankings or total points.
Why Is Only One Time Used?
Swimcloud avoids double-counting a swimmer’s ability in the same event. By picking the best performance, we ensure that every swimmer is ranked fairly — even if they compete across multiple course types.