Enter Your Swim Time and Event
Type stopwatch digits only—such as 21671 for 2:16.71—then choose stroke, distance and the applicable men's or women's NCAA table.
SCY · SCM · LCM
Swim Time Converter: Convert SCY, SCM and LCM Swimming Times
A precise, no-sign-in converter built around the published NCAA factor tables—not a distance-only estimate.
05 strokes.01 second output00 invented factors
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Set a time. Pick the event. Read the factor.
Swim Time Conversion Calculator
This swim time converter updates as you type and keeps the published factor visible beside the result.
NCAA publishes metric-to-SCY factors. Reverse results here use the reciprocal as a convenience. Direct SCM ↔ LCM conversion is intentionally not offered.
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Three steps. No account. No reload.
How to Use the Swim Time Converter
Select the Original and Target Course
Choose SCY, SCM or LCM. Distance-paired freestyle events such as 400 m ↔ 500 yd are mapped automatically.
Get Your Converted Swim Time
The time, published factor and route appear together. Results drop digits below one hundredth without rounding.
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Pool length changes turns—and the time.
SCY, SCM and LCM Explained
SCY — Short Course Yards
A 25-yard course. Since one yard is exactly 0.9144 meters, each length is exactly 22.86 meters.
SCM — Short Course Meters
A 25-meter course. It shares the short-course turn pattern with SCY but uses a longer pool length.
LCM — Long Course Meters
A 50-meter course with fewer turns over the same metric race distance than a 25-meter pool.
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The table behind the answer.
Official NCAA Swim Time Conversion Formula
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How the NCAA Conversion Formula Works
- Transform the achieved metric time into seconds.
- Multiply by the event's published factor, carrying the calculation to five decimal places.
- Drop—without rounding—every unit smaller than one hundredth of a second.
- Transform the result back into minutes and seconds.
The NCAA appendix publishes 25 m/50 m to 25 yd conversions. This site's SCY-to-meter direction divides by the same factor; it is a reciprocal convenience, not a separately published NCAA table.
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NCAA Conversion Factors
SCM → SCY
400 m → 500 yd: 1.143 · 800 m → 1,000 yd: 1.143 · 1,500 m → 1,650 yd: 1.003 · all other events: 0.896.
View complete individual-event LCM factor tables +
| Event | Factor |
|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 0.860 |
| 100 m freestyle | 0.863 |
| 200 m freestyle | 0.865 |
| 400 m freestyle → 500 yd | 1.105 |
| 800 m freestyle → 1,000 yd | 1.105 |
| 1,500 m freestyle → 1,650 yd | 0.965 |
| 100 m backstroke | 0.835 |
| 200 m backstroke | 0.849 |
| 100 m breaststroke | 0.856 |
| 200 m breaststroke | 0.858 |
| 100 m butterfly | 0.868 |
| 200 m butterfly | 0.866 |
| 200 m individual medley | 0.857 |
| 400 m individual medley | 0.865 |
| Event | Factor |
|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 0.871 |
| 100 m freestyle | 0.874 |
| 200 m freestyle | 0.874 |
| 400 m freestyle → 500 yd | 1.112 |
| 800 m freestyle → 1,000 yd | 1.120 |
| 1,500 m freestyle → 1,650 yd | 0.975 |
| 100 m backstroke | 0.853 |
| 200 m backstroke | 0.857 |
| 100 m breaststroke | 0.870 |
| 200 m breaststroke | 0.878 |
| 100 m butterfly | 0.877 |
| 200 m butterfly | 0.881 |
| 200 m individual medley | 0.867 |
| 400 m individual medley | 0.876 |
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NCAA Swim Time Conversion Example
The NCAA appendix demonstrates a men's 200 m breaststroke time from a 50 m course with factor 0.858.
2:16.71 = 136.71 seconds
136.71 × 0.858 = 117.29718 seconds
drop digits below .01 → 117.29 seconds
converted time → 1:57.29Verified August 27, 2026 · NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules Book, Appendix C ↗
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Short answers before your next heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert a swim time from meters to yards?
Enter the time, choose SCM or LCM as the source and SCY as the target. The calculator applies the matching published NCAA factor.
How do I convert a swim time from yards to meters?
Choose SCY as the source and SCM or LCM as the target. The calculator divides by the corresponding published meter-to-yard factor.
What is the difference between SCY, SCM and LCM?
SCY is a 25-yard course, SCM is a 25-meter course and LCM is a 50-meter course.
Is 25 yards the same distance as 25 meters?
No. NIST's exact relationship makes 25 yards exactly 22.86 meters—not 25 meters.
Do NCAA conversion factors differ by stroke and gender?
Long-course factors vary by event and gender. The NCAA short-course table uses the same factors for men and women.
Are results from this swim time converter official?
No. They are estimates based on published factors. Meet hosts, conferences and championship organizers decide what conversions they accept.
How do I convert SCY to LCM?
Choose SCY as the source, LCM as the target, then select the event and NCAA table. The calculator divides by the matching published LCM-to-SCY factor.
How do I convert long course meters to short course yards?
Choose LCM as the source and SCY as the target. The calculator multiplies by the event- and gender-specific factor in NCAA Appendix C.
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