The NCAA Championship changes have sparked a heated debate, and the responses to SwimSwam's survey reveal a clear divide in opinions. Here's a breakdown of the key issues and the passionate reactions they've elicited.
The Return of 'B' Finals
The overwhelming consensus is that 'B' finals should be brought back. A staggering 91.9% of respondents strongly agree with this, while only 2.9% disagree. This sentiment mirrors the CSCAA survey, where 91% of coaches supported the same idea. The idea of moving 'B' finals to the beginning of the evening session received a positive response from 45.9% of respondents, indicating a workable solution. The majority (50.2%) also believe they would still support this move even if 'B' finals were moved to the start of the session.
However, the previous format, with 'B' finals intact, seems to have been a favorite. Many respondents in the 'additional feedback' section expressed confusion and dissatisfaction with the changes made this season. One respondent bluntly stated, 'The old meet format should never have been changed.'
Relay Format
The relay format at the 2026 NCAA Championships has been a point of contention. Over 73% of respondents are not satisfied with the current setup, where only the fastest-seeded heat swims during the evening session. A massive 76.2% agree or strongly agree that all relays should be conducted in the same session, indicating a clear preference for consistency.
The debate over the relay format also extends to the qualifying process. Some respondents suggest that the current format is unfair, as it gives an advantage to the fastest-seeded teams. The idea of returning to the prelims/finals format for relays has divided opinions, with 47% disagreeing and 37% in favor.
Qualifying Process and Last Chance Meets
The qualifying process for the NCAA Championships has sparked intense discussions. A majority of respondents (72.2%) support providing multiple pathways to qualifying, including automatic qualifiers via conference titles. However, the time standards for these qualifiers have been a point of contention. Some believe they should be faster to ensure a competitive field at the Championships.
The concept of Last Chance Meets has also stirred debate. While 34.5% of respondents support removing them, 44.3% disagree and want to keep them. One respondent argued that conference championship meets should be the last chance for qualification, while another questioned the ethics and monitoring of these meets, citing recent issues in Division III.
Other Notable Responses
- Combined Championship Format: 51.3% of respondents support men and women competing at the same location on the same dates, indicating a desire for gender equality in the championship format.
- Separating Swimming and Diving Championships: 55.5% of respondents agree with completely separating the championships, likely moving diving to an earlier slot in the week. This idea gained support from many, who cited the ACC Championship format as a positive example.
- Diving Time Allocation: Two-thirds of respondents disagreed with the time spent on diving finals, suggesting that 45 minutes of diving might be too long for viewers' attention.
- Season Dates: A significant 59.3% of respondents disagree with changing the season dates, indicating a preference for the current schedule.
- Scoring Expansion: 50% of respondents agree with expanding scoring to the top 24 in each event, while 28.7% disagree.
- Reduced Roster Sizes: A surprising 77% of respondents strongly disagree with reduced roster sizes, indicating a strong preference for maintaining current roster sizes.
- Adding Stroke 50s: 53.4% of respondents favor adding stroke 50s to the event lineup, while 35% are against it.
These survey results highlight the passion and diversity of opinions within the swimming community. The NCAA Championship changes have sparked a much-needed conversation, and it will be fascinating to see how these ideas shape the future of the sport.
