If you swam only summer league (closed) meets (PCL, PAL, dual meets, Bardmoor Invit.) there is no 120 day penalty and you can attached to a team right away, providing that you fill out the needed paperwork and are currently a year-round USA Swimming member in good standing. If you are registered year-round and swim a meet that is open to non-summer league teams (Strawberry, 3/5's, etc..) and you represented your summer league team, then you must wait the 120 days. There is another situation that can also affect the 120 day waiting period. If you are only a seasonal (summer member of USA Swimming and you join a year-round club after your membership expires (Sept.1) and you represented your summer league club at an "Open" competition. I have spoken to our LSC (local swim committee) chairperson to get a definitive ruling on that scenario and have been instructed that swimmers who fall into that category CAN attach to our club right away. Confused? don't worry...so are all the coaches, officials and admin types. When in doubt, ask your branch coach for advise.