Arizona Swim Meet Classification:
Age group swimming in Arizona is divided into two categories. These two levels of swimming are commonly referred to as "Q-" and "Q+".

" " Q Minus (Q-): This is an age group classification for swimmers aged 14 and under who have times slower than the Arizona Age Group State Qualifying Time Standards.

" " Q Plus (Q+): This is an age group classification for swimmers aged 14 and under who have times equal to or better than the Arizona Age Group State Qualifying Time Standards.

A TIME STANDARD is the qualifying time established by a particular entity (Arizona Swimming in this case) in order to determine which swimmers are eligible to swim in a particular event or meet.

Swimmers aged 8 & under have no time standards. Swimmers aged 8 and under swim in clearly designated "8&under" meets. These meets are usually (but not always) held at the same location and over the same weekend as the corresponding Q- meets. Eight-and-under meets are ALWAYS Short Course, regardless of the season.

Senior swimming in Arizona is also divided into two categories. These classes of swimming are commonly referred to as "Senior" and "Senior Development".
" " Senior Development: This is the senior classification for swimmers aged 15 and over, who have times slower than the Arizona Senior State Qualifying Time Standards.
" " Senior: This is the senior classification for swimmers aged 15 and over who have times equal to or better than the Arizona Senior State Qualifying Time Standards
As the TWO COURSES differ significantly in length there are TWO SETS Arizona Time standards (Q times), one for Long Course races and one for Short Course races.
All swim meets are classified as one of the following: Q-/Q+/Senior D/Senior/8&u. Swimmers with Q times in a particular event can swim that event at the Q+ meets but must swim all other events at the Q- meets.