USA Swimming's IMX Program.

last update on 7/22/08

Potomac Marlins 2007-2008 SCY IMX Team Rankings
Potomac Marlins 2008 LC IMX Team Rankings


USA Swimming is very pleased to announce an exciting new program … the I.M. Xtreme Challenge. The IMX Challenge is a motivational program whereby swimmers will be scored and ranked nationally on their performance in a combination of five or six events. The purpose of the program is to promote versatility in age group swimming while advocating greater participation and development across a range of events that are integral to long term success in swimming.

Following is a series of key points detailing information about this new program:

Program Description
Swimmers will participate in a designated combination of five or six events and, based on the power points scored for each of those swims, earn a combined score that will be called the IMX Score. These combined scores will be ranked by single ages with rankings and recognition available on the USA Swimming website.

IMX Score
Using Hy-Tek’s Single-Year Age Group Power Points, all USA Swimming registered athletes earn an “IMX Score” based on the cumulative point total of the combination of IMX events for their age level. The overall IMX score, as well as the swimmer’s current best score for each IMX event, appears on the athlete’s My USA Swimming page for each season. As times in these events improve, the swimmer’s IMX score is automatically updated. In order to receive an IMX score, a swimmer must legally swim each IMX event for their age level in a sanctioned meet at least once during the season.

A swimmer’s times will count for the entire season-so if a swimmer ages up during a season the IMX score on the My USA Swimming page will show a score for his/her lower age group and their new age group (example below).

My USA Swimming Page
We strongly encourage swimmers who have not done so to create a web account to be able to access their personal My USA Swimming page! If a swimmer has already swum the event combo for his/her age level, the IMX score and ranking now appears in a special section of the swimmer’s My USA Swimming page. The only place to access an overall IMX Score, as well as the swimmer’s current best score for each IMX event, is on that swimmer’s personal My USA Swimming page. Other features of this special page include a display of personal best times and corresponding power points, a list of meets participated in, a graphical display of times info, seasonal and lifetime best comparisons, in addition other member only features. Click here to create a free web account and acces a swimmer's My USA Swimming page.

Age Groups and Events
The following single age groups and event combinations will be tabulated and scored for both men and women:

9 & Under; 10-year olds:
200 IM, 200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Brst, 100 Fly

11-year olds; 12-year olds:
200 IM, 400/500 Free, 100 Back, 100 Brst, 100 Fly

13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 -year olds:
200 IM, 400 IM, 400/500 Free, 200 Back, 200 Brst, 200 Fly

How to Participate
Participation in this program is easy. Using the data available in the STAR database system, USA Swimming will automatically compute scores and results for all athlete members. Swimmers only need to compete in the IMX combination of events for their age group and they will be part of the program.

Website
The USA Swimming website now features several new pages related to the I.M. Xtreme Challenge:

Program Announcement Information
Find Your IMX Ranking
Current Year Top 100 Rankings – SC
Current Year Top 100 Rankings – LC
New IMX section of each My USA Swimming page

Time Period
The IM Xtreme Challenge will be tabulated annually for both the short course yard and long meter performances. Final short course rankings will be tabulated using results achieved between September 1 and May 31. Final long course rankings will be tabulated using results achieved from September 1 to August 31.

Hy-Tek Single-Year Age Group Power Points
Rankings in the IMX program will be based on power points. Working in collaboration with USA Swimming, Hy-Tek has developed a power point system for each age level that allows for comparison of performances across strokes, distances and events, as well as between age groups. Please see the Power Points page and the IMX & Power Point Calculator for more information.

Recognition
The Find Your IMX Ranking page on the USA Swimming website will maintain an up-to-date ranking of IMX scores that will provide rankings for top 7000 swimmers by both age and gender. Already posted on the USA-S website are the final IMX rankings for the 2004-2005 SC season. Beginning with the ’05 LC season, USA Swimming will declare an IM Xtreme Challenge Champion for each age level and gender at the end of each short course and long course season. In the future, USA Swimming will also maintain and publish an all-time IMX Top 100 list.