When a young swimmer competes in a counties event, their time is converted into points that take into account a swimmer's age and sex. A swimmer can take part in as many events as they like, but only their best (highest) points score in each swimming category will count towards their final BAGCAT total.

Older, more mature swimmers do not have their points corrected for age ... these are highlighted on the results as "Not Age corrected".

This is a short summary:

• The overall BAGCAT score for a swimmer is the sum of the BEST point score in each of the 5 categories (50m events, 100m, FORM, Distance and IM (100IM for 9-11year olds and 200-400IM for older swimmers).

• It is therefore advisable to enter every category in the Age Groups if you can achieve the qualifying times. (Although boys 12 and below and girls 11 and below don’t swim the 100m individual events)

• SPRINTS - short 50m events.

• 100s - best 100m event (see age note above)

• FORM stroke is one of the three 200m non-freestyle strokes (ie. 200M Breaststroke, Butterfly or Backstroke).

• MEDLEY - the best 100/200/400 IM

• FREE are the longer events, such as 200/400/800 or 1500m depending on the swimmers age and sex.

• The points are derived from the swimmers time, stroke, age and correction factors. As each stroke correction factor is different, it may not be obvious which is the swimmers best stroke!

• There are more thorough, technical, articles on the British Swimming website .. search for BAGCAT on the ASA pages.