IMX CHALLENGE 
www.usaswimming.org

IMX is a motivational program that allows all USA registered swimmers across the nation to compare themselves to the thousands of other athletes in their age group.  All you have to do is swim a combination of events, at least one time per season, and USA Swimming will automatically give you your ranking!

Have you swum all of your required events?  Then come on in and find out where you rank in your age group. Please note that we do not rank swimmers who have only achieved an IMR score.  Rankings are only for IM Xtreme.

A Note About IMX & IMR Scores

An IMX or IM Ready score is only established after a swimmer has swum all of the events required for their age group in a sanctioned meet since the start of the current season; both short and long course seasons start September 1 and end August 31 for IMX/IMR purposes. 
 
Additionally, a swimmer must complete all of the events in the same course (SCY or LCM) to have a score in that particular course.

 IM READY (IMR)

The first step in the IMX Challenge is IM Ready (IMR).  To get “IM Ready,” swimmers compete in a series of five events at shorter distances.  See the events listed below:

9 & Under; 10 year olds: 100 free, 50 back, 50 breast, 50 fly, 100IM (SC) or 200IM (LC)
11 year olds; 12 year olds: 200 free, 50 back, 50 breast, 50 fly, 100IM (SC) or 200IM (LC)
13, 14, 15, 16 17 & 18 year olds: 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly, 200IM

Once you’ve swum each event at least once at an official meet, you can log-in to your USA Swimming Account, and find out where you rank against all the other swimmers on your club team.

IM XTREME (IMX)

Ready to move forward?  The next step is IM Xtreme (IMX).  The IMX ranking includes a series of five or six events at longer distances.  Once you’ve completed the IMX program, you can find out where your IMX score ranks nationally, within your zone, within your LSC rank and on your club.

9 & Under; 10 year olds: 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly, 200IM
11 year olds; 12 year olds: 400 free (LC) or 500 free (SC), 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly, 200IM
13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18 year olds: 400 free (LC) or 500 free (SC), 200 back, 200 breast, 200 fly, 200IM,
                                                              400IM

Rankings in this program are based on power points, a system developed by USA Swimming and Hy-Tek.

Participation in the IMR and IMX is easy.  USA Swimming automatically scores and calculates results for all athlete members!  Swimmers only need to sign up for a My USA Swimming Account, then compete in each required event, at a sanctioned meet, at least once in a season.

Hy-TEK POWER POINTS - WHAT IT IS

Every swim listed in the USA Swimming times database includes a Hy-Tek Power Point value. This point system allows for comparison of the quality of performances across strokes, distances and events, as well as between age groups. 

HOW IT WORKS

So how exactly does the Hy-Tek power point system work? The power point scale ranges from 1 to 1100 points. The higher the points, the stronger you are in that event. We use these points to rank you and your club in our IM Ready, IMX and Virtual Club Championships programs.

WHY USE IT AS A SWIMMER

Ever wonder how your long course times compare to your short course times? Wonder no more. Comparing your season swims is just one way Hy-Tek Power Points can be of use to you. Here are other ways to use it:

• So you’re pretty decent in your events across the board, but you want to know which events are stronger for you on a national scale. Use Hy-Tek power points! For example, you can compare your score in the 100 back vs. the 200 back or across several freestyle distances such as the 100, 200, and 400.
• Look at the strength of one stroke vs. another stroke. For example, compare your freestyle to your breaststroke. Determine the quality of you short course vs. long course swims.
• This comparison is a great way to measure progress from the end of the short course season through the long course season.

POWER POINT INFORMATION

You can calculate your power point score instantly by using the IMR, IMX & Power Point calculator. Simply select your event and age, enter your time into the calculator and then click on the Calculate button.

 A swimmer also has the option of looking at and printing the chart of all point values from 2 to 1,100 with corresponding times for the selected event. These tables make it possible to look at specific events and research the point value assigned to various times for that event. Note: All 8-under athletes use the 9 yr old scores.