Competitions

As stated in the Chairman’s Welcome Message, we are a competitive swimming Club. We train to compete. All our young swimmers are expected to compete in accordance with their age range. Competition attendance and participation is an essential indicator of how a swimmer is developing both physically and physiologically. The following are a list of gala’s the Club enters/hosts every year in which swimmers are expected to enter (or make themselves available for).

Club Championships

Generally held in October – compulsory for all squad swimmers to keep their squad status – swim as many events as you can, especially 200m events, which are the most important events for young swimmers (see under Swim Wales Age & Youth Championships below). Times obtained at these championships will enable entry to other licensed meets.

Swim Swansea Short Course meet

Held in October – compulsory for all squad swimmers to keep their squad status – swim as many events as you can, especially 200m events, which are the most important events for young swimmers (see under Swim Wales Age & Youth Championships below). Times obtained at these championships will enable entry to other licensed meets.

Swim Swansea Long Course Meet

Held in May – compulsory for National, National Potential squad swimmers to keep their squad status – swim as many events as you can, especially 200m events, which are the most important events for young swimmers (see under Swim Wales Age & Youth Championships below). Times obtained at these championships will enable entry to other licensed meets.

Inter-Club galas – Welsh League / National Arena Swimming League

Teams are selected by the professional coaches who then usually travel by coach to the gala location. In general, it is a friendly competition against other clubs.

Swim Wales Age and Youth Championships/Welsh Nationals

Held at Easter and again in early August. To be able to enter for these you need either a qualifying time (QT) or consideration time (CT) recorded at a designated meet. In this competition, swimmers will usually need a 200m QT in order to enter 100m events. Compulsory for swimmers in National and National potential Squads

National Age Group and Youth Championships

The ‘top of the tree’ of the swimming calendar swum in late July early August. To qualify for these you need a National Qualifying Time (NQT) recorded at a designated meet.

Open competitions – various

The club competes at open meets throughout the season. Please see the competition calendar for more details. Swimmers are not permitted to compete at any meets not on the calendar.

Your first gala?

If it is your first gala – don’t worry or panic. The coaches will be there to guide you though the day and help you all they can. Any problems? – just ask. It is a good idea to have packed your bag the night before, with everything you might need. Here is a checklist, which should be useful to you (no glass bottles or any other breakable items).

• Two swimming costumes
• Goggles (plus a spare pair)
• 2 towels
• Deck/Pool shoes to wear at all times to prevent heat loss
• Clothes to keep warm on the poolside – hat, extra tee-shirt, tracksuit etc
• Food of sufficient quantity to last the day
• Money in case of emergency
• Drink in a suitable container – at least two litres – for a whole day
• Snack food – with lots of carbohydrates and low in fat.
• Music – I-Pod – Cassette – CD etc (to help relax or psyche you up), reading book
  or other pastime (games consoles are not allowed on poolside)
• Your game/swimming face!

Note: Please ensure that your name is on all items

Arrival at a swimming gala

When you arrive at a swimming pool for a gala, make sure you do so in plenty of time (at least 30 minutes before your warm-up time). Report to the coach that you have arrived. It is important that your coach sees you before the time that you have been told to attend.

Check out

Check out the pool complex layout and familiarise yourself with the important places you will need to go during the day. For example, toilets, reporting area, changing rooms, cafeteria, etc.

Warm ups

Check which warm up is yours and be on time for it. When you warm up make sure you get the most out of it. Don’t stop and talk to your friends as you will have plenty of time to do this throughout the day. Your coach will have shown you what warm up to do. You must keep going and warm up your muscles properly to avoid injury.

Cheering for others

Do not expect others to cheer for you if you do not cheer for them. There is nothing better to improve your performance than seeing others do well. Don’t just sit down and stare into space – enjoy yourself!

Don’t go outside

When you are at a swimming gala and with an appointed coach, they are responsible for you and you must not leave the building without permission. If your parents are there, please ask the coach for permission to leave the building with them. After your last race it is a good thing to cheer others who are swimming from your Club.

Good behaviour

When you are representing the Club or training with the Club at your appointed session or at an invited session you are expected to behave properly. At the end of this book there is a section on discipline, which should be read by all swimmers and parents.

Swimmers are expected to sit with the team and NOT with parents in the spectator area. Parents are not allowed on poolside at ANY time during a competition.