Competitions Explained

Competitions Explained
Click on the icon to download the latest competition planner, last amendment 25/04/2008. As Staines is a competitive swimming club, its members will be invited to represent it throughout the swimming season. Swimmers cannot compete above club level without being registered with the Amateur Swimming Association (A.S.A.) - the A.S.A. registrations officer will register all swimmers who pay their annual fee and wish to compete. You will receive a card with your personal A.S.A. registration number and this is your 'passport' to compete. Fixtures Throughout the year, our club enters many galas and competitions, a fixtures list is displayed on the notice board and can also be found by clicking the 'Fixtures' button on this web site. At the beginning of the season, the Fixtures Secretary and Chief Coach discuss which competitions we will enter. They try to include a number of fixtures for each age group and standard throughout the club, however, it really does depend on what's on offer. Often it will seem that a particular standard or age group are always being asked to represent their club. Leagues Most other teams are selected by the club's team manager and chief coach. There are two leagues which are very important, the Milton Keynes Junior League and the Speedo League, both of these require the best team we can field. Both these leagues run for three rounds with promotion up for grabs at the end of the league, so we can expect swimmers' and parents' full support. Teams are selected by referring to a rankings list which is updated after every competition. Club Championships Other competitions which take priority are the Club Championships and the Club Novice Championships. The Club Championships offer a full programme with the distance events being held at the start of a new session. The Club Novice Championships are designed to include any swimmer who has not won a gold medal in any competition before. Open novice events require that an entrant has not won any medal ABOVE club level. County Events and Above County Age Groups, Graded and other county competitions and District and National level events are also important and it is expected that a swimmer fully supports these fixtures and enters as many events as they qualify for. Swimmers must pay their own entry fee, although team event costs are covered by the club. Other Events Other competitions throughout the year include inter club galas and open meets. Swimmers are expected to meet all entry fees and travelling costs for open meets. Transport is usually provided free for swimmers' travel to inter club galas, whilst there is a small charge for supporters. Competition Entry Procedure The procedure for any club or league gala usually follows the same pattern. You will be invited to represent your club by a gala slip which details the venue, time and date. YOU MUST contact the team manager to confirm availability. These events do not incur any cost. Open meets and championship events involve an entry form which YOU must fully complete and return to the competition secretary by the required date with the entry fee. Life is made much easier if you get your entry to the competitions secretary on time and complete the entry form with personal best times (if you have them) and ASA registration number. If you look at the fixtures list and you find you wish to enter a competition and have not received information about it, please contact the fixtures secretary who will have the necessary forms. If you are not sure about the standard of the competition, talk to your lane coach or Chief Coach. If an entry has been accepted you will receive a card for each race which is your ticket into the event. It details the event number of your race and which competitor number you are. Once you have handed this in at the competition venue, it will be completed with the heat (events are divided into heats) and lane number.

Click on the icon to download the latest competition planner, last amendment 25/04/2008.

As Staines is a competitive swimming club, its members will be invited to represent it throughout the swimming season. Swimmers cannot compete above club level without being registered with the Amateur Swimming Association (A.S.A.) - the A.S.A. registrations officer will register all swimmers who pay their annual fee and wish to compete. You will receive a card with your personal A.S.A. registration number and this is your 'passport' to compete.

Fixtures

Throughout the year, our club enters many galas and competitions, a fixtures list is displayed on the notice board and can also be found by clicking the 'Fixtures' button on this web site.

At the beginning of the season, the Fixtures Secretary and Chief Coach discuss which competitions we will enter. They try to include a number of fixtures for each age group and standard throughout the club, however, it really does depend on what's on offer. Often it will seem that a particular standard or age group are always being asked to represent their club.

Leagues

Most other teams are selected by the club's team manager and chief coach. There are two leagues which are very important, the Milton Keynes Junior League and the Speedo League, both of these require the best team we can field. Both these leagues run for three rounds with promotion up for grabs at the end of the league, so we can expect swimmers' and parents' full support. Teams are selected by referring to a rankings list which is updated after every competition.

Club Championships

Other competitions which take priority are the Club Championships and the Club Novice Championships. The Club Championships offer a full programme with the distance events being held at the start of a new session. The Club Novice Championships are designed to include any swimmer who has not won a gold medal in any competition before. Open novice events require that an entrant has not won any medal ABOVE club level.

County Events and Above

County Age Groups, Graded and other county competitions and District and National level events are also important and it is expected that a swimmer fully supports these fixtures and enters as many events as they qualify for. Swimmers must pay their own entry fee, although team event costs are covered by the club.

Other Events

Other competitions throughout the year include inter club galas and open meets. Swimmers are expected to meet all entry fees and travelling costs for open meets. Transport is usually provided free for swimmers' travel to inter club galas, whilst there is a small charge for supporters.

Competition Entry Procedure

The procedure for any club or league gala usually follows the same pattern. You will be invited to represent your club by a gala slip which details the venue, time and date. YOU MUST contact the team manager to confirm availability. These events do not incur any cost.

Open meets and championship events involve an entry form which YOU must fully complete and return to the competition secretary by the required date with the entry fee. Life is made much easier if you get your entry to the competitions secretary on time and complete the entry form with personal best times (if you have them) and ASA registration number.

If you look at the fixtures list and you find you wish to enter a competition and have not received information about it, please contact the fixtures secretary who will have the necessary forms. If you are not sure about the standard of the competition, talk to your lane coach or Chief Coach.

If an entry has been accepted you will receive a card for each race which is your ticket into the event. It details the event number of your race and which competitor number you are. Once you have handed this in at the competition venue, it will be completed with the heat (events are divided into heats) and lane number.