LCM to SCY Swim Time Converter

Convert Long Course Meters (50m pool) swim times to Short Course Yards (25y pool). The conversion college recruiters use to translate international LCM bests into NCAA-comparable SCY equivalents. Compare four models, see the math.

Accepts 50, 50.32, 1:48.50, or 15:23.45.

Long-standing factors used by Colorado Timing

Advanced

Enter a valid time to see conversions.

What it does

LCM → SCY preset

Loads with Source = LCM and Target = SCY pre-selected. Optimized for the most common recruiting question.

Recruiting-context model recommendation

For NCAA recruiting, the right model is NCAA Administrative — the same one NCAA uses for championship qualifying. The tool flags this in the model selector.

Compare all four models

See Classical, USA Swimming, NCAA, and Performance side-by-side. Different models can produce SCY equivalents 0.3–0.5 seconds apart for the same LCM time — meaningful when you're ranking recruits.

Time-standards inline

Add gender and pick "Open" age group plus federation = NCAA to see the swimmer's position relative to NCAA D1 A and B cuts in the SCY equivalent.

How to use LCM to SCY Swim Time Converter

  1. 1
    Enter the LCM time

    Type the time as 1:48.50 or 50.32. Recent times appear as quick-pick chips below.

  2. 2
    Pick the event

    Stroke + distance. Distances scope to LCM events: 50/100/200/400/800/1500 free, 50/100/200 form strokes, IM 200/400.

  3. 3
    Switch to NCAA model for recruiting

    NCAA Administrative is the model US college programs use when comparing international recruits to their roster.

  4. 4
    Open Compare-models

    See the spread across models. A 0.3-second SCY-equivalent gap can be the difference between a roster spot and a no.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert LCM to SCY?

Multiply the LCM time by the stroke- and distance-specific factor (the inverse of the SCY → LCM factor). For 100 free, LCM → SCY ≈ 0.901 (so 55.50 LCM ≈ 50.00 SCY). The tool applies the correct factor and shows you the math.

Why are NCAA cuts always quoted in SCY?

NCAA Division I championship swimming is contested in 25-yard pools. Programs and conferences quote times in SCY because that's the competition format. International recruits with LCM bests need the conversion to compare apples-to-apples.

Should I use Classical or NCAA model for recruiting?

NCAA Administrative for recruiting decisions — it's the model NCAA uses for qualifying. Classical is a reasonable proxy for general comparison; the difference is small but real.

How accurate is the conversion for distance events?

Within 1–2% for typical times. Distance events (LCM 800, 1500) compound more wall-advantage differences and individual swimmers vary more. Use Compare-models to see the model spread.

Do LCM 50/100 events have a direct SCY equivalent?

Yes — LCM 50 free → SCY 50 free, LCM 100 free → SCY 100 free, LCM 200 → SCY 200. The factor is purely course-shift; same race distance in both pools.

What about LCM 800 and 1500 free?

LCM 800 → SCY 1000; LCM 1500 → SCY 1650. The tool applies a course-shift + distance-shift factor automatically.

Will my roster data be uploaded?

No. Everything happens in your browser. Roster mode is export-only — permalinks for rosters are disabled to protect athlete data.

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