Swim Cooper Test

from Patrick Julicher

The Swim Cooper Test is based on a fitness test for runners: THE COOPER TEST.

How does the 12 minute Swim-Cooper-Test work:

  1. Try to swim as much as possible within 12 minutes.
  2. Decide what your fitness category is in the fitness level tables.
  3. Swim the same stroke every time: BREASTSTROKE.
  4. Previous to the test:

·         Don't use any alcohol 12 hours previous to the test.

·         Don't use any coffee or nicotine 3 hours previous to the test.

·         Don't use any major meals 2 hours previous to the test.

  1. Stop the test:

·         If you get a painfull feeling in your chest,

·         if you get dizzy,

·         if you start getting light in the head.

·         if you have trouble breathing.

·         if you get a stinging pain in the side.

To check the fitness level of each individual swimmer, compare their scores with the ones in the Fitness Level Tables:

TABLE 1: AGES 7 - 29.

FITNESS LEVEL SWIM-COOPER-TEST

AGEGROUP M/F

7-9 years

10-12 years

13-19 years

20-29 years

FITNESS
CATEGORY

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

VERY POOR

M

< 200

< 8

< 380

< 15

< 460

< 18

< 380

< 15



F

< 180

< 7

< 280

< 11

< 380

< 15

< 280

< 11

POOR

M

200-240

8-10

380-460

15-18

460-560

18-22

380-460

15-18



F

180-220

7-9

280-380

11-15

380-460

15-18

280-380

11-15

MEDIUM

M

240-320

10-13

460-550

18-22

560-660

22-26

460-560

18-22



F

220-300

9-12

380-460

15-18

460-560

18-22

380-460

15-18

GOOD

M

320-460

13-18

550-620

22-25

660-760

26-30

560-660

22-26



F

300-420

12-17

460-560

18-22

560-660

22-26

460-560

18-22

VERY GOOD

M

> 460

> 18

> 620

> 25

> 760

> 30

> 660

> 26



F

> 420

> 17

> 560

> 22

> 660

> 26

> 560

> 22


TABLE 2: AGES 30 - 60+.

FITNESS LEVEL SWIM-COOPER-TEST

AGEGROUP M/F

30-39 years

40-49 years

50-59 years

60+ years

FITNESS
CATEGORY

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

METERS

NO. LANES
(25 M.)

VERY POOR

M

< 320

< 13

< 280

< 11

< 220

< 9

< 220

< 9



F

< 220

< 9

< 180

< 7

< 160

< 6

< 160

< 6

POOR

M

320-400

13-16

280-380

11-15

220-320

9-13

220-280

9-11



F

220-320

9-13

180-280

7-11

160-220

6-9

160-180

6-7

MEDIUM

M

400-500

16-20

380-460

15-18

320-400

13-16

280-380

11-15



F

320-400

13-16

280-380

11-15

220-320

9-13

180-280

7-11

GOOD

M

500-600

20-24

460-560

18-22

400-500

16-20

380-460

15-18



F

400-500

16-20

380-460

15-18

320-400

13-16

280-380

11-15

VERY GOOD

M

> 600

> 24

> 560

> 22

> 500

> 20

> 460

> 18



F

> 500

> 20

> 460

> 18

> 400

> 16

> 380

> 15