U.S. Paralympics Swimming All America

AA Swimming Application Information

U.S. Paralympics Swimming All America
Award Applications are now submitted on line via a Google Form. On line applications can be completed between November 1 and June 15. See the full rules here. Fall and Winter season Applications:  You will have 30 days after application to submit the necessary payment and proof of times. If these items are not received within 30 days your application will be deleted and you will need to reapply. 

In order for a swimmer to be considered as a NISCA U.S. Paralympics Swimming High School All-American he/she must compete for an interscholastic team and be scholastically eligible as determined by his/her state athletic association or school authority. All swimmers must be in at least the 9th grade level of school to be eligible. Swimmers are limited to 8 consecutive semesters of eligibility. Fifth year seniors, 7th and 8th grade students are not eligible for consideration. See NFHS National Records Committee Policy Handbook Definition #1. Athletes must have a National Sport Class through U.S. Paralympic Swimming.

All times submitted must be achieved in a regularly scheduled interscholastic meet (no time trials) and will include times achieved up to and including State Meet Performances. USA Swimming, World Para Swimming approved, or YMCA meet times will not be considered. The meet must be competed in accordance with National Federation rules.

Submit times to the one-hundredth of a second. A link to meet results should be supplied in the appropriate place on the application or a paper copy of the results should accompany the application. NO MANUAL TIMES, AUTOMATIC TIMING ONLY.

A swimmer may be listed in as many events as their times qualify. Up to four may be submitted at a time via Google Docs application. If a swimmer is qualified in more than four events an additional application may be submitted. Please only submit one application per athlete for a specific event. 

Only  25 yard or 25 meter times will be accepted. 

Altitude adjusted times: DO NOT ADJUST the swimmers times. NISCA will adjust times. Be sure to submit accurate altitude for THE MEET SITE.

All submitted applications that meet or exceed the listed time standard for event and sport class will be awarded All America honors.  

For a complete list of the rules, click HERE.

For questions about the NISCA U.S. Paralympic Swimming All America award program, please contact the boy's or girl's All America Swimming Chair. 

For Archived Lists click the link on the right. Archived lists older than 5 years (from 2020 to present) are available only for registered members who are logged in to the website. 

Note We are no longer mailing out Membership cards. You can print a .PDF copy of your membership cards by clicking HERE. If you can not remember you membership number you can look it up here.

Here is what you should know about this exciting new NISCA program:

1. Applications are for the U.S. Paralympic All-America award are free for NISCA member coaches.  Each application will cost $40 for non-NISCA members.  Please renew your membership now, and encourage others to join to receive the benefits throughout the school year.

2. In order to be eligible for the U.S. Paralympic All-America team, athletes must have a National Sports Class through U.S. Paralympic Swimming, and a copy of the classification must be submitted with the application.  Paralympic swimming competition is open to athletes from all three impairment groups (visual, intellectual and physical).  A system of letters and numbers is used to distinguish the sport classes:  “S” is for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly; “SB” is for breaststroke; and “SM” is for individual medley.Swimmers with physical impairments compete in sport classes 1 - 10.  Swimmers with visual impairments compete in sport classes 11 -13.  Swimmers with activity limitations due to an intellectual impairment compete in S/SB/SM14.  To familiarize yourself with the classifications, please visit https://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Sports/Swimming/Classification

3. After reviewing state meet results for states that currently include paralympic events, we have seen many “unclassified” athletes in those results. Please work with any paralympic athlete in your program to get their classification documented as soon as possible.  For further information on U.S. Paralympics national classification policies contact U.S. Paralympics at 719-866-2030

4. In order to be eligible for the NISCA U.S. Paralympics All-America team, the qualifying time must have been accomplished in an interscholastic competition. This does not have to be a championship meet, but meet results from the interscholastic competition must be submitted to NISCA for verification of the performance. THE TIME MUST HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED IN A HIGH SCHOOL MEET.

5. The time standards for each event are listed for both short course yards and meters. There are  different time standards based on a swimmer’s classification for each event.  

6. The application deadlines will be as follows (late fees will apply):

Fall applications are due by December 31

Winter applications are due by March 31

Spring applications are due by June 15 - this is the absolute last day for submitting applications

Certificates will be mailed to the athletes in July.

Please help spread the word about the U.S. Paralympic All America program.  Share the time standards with high school and club coaches, as well as swimmers, so those swimmers who may be close to the standards can use these times as motivation for the upcoming season!