Mountain Pool Amateur Swimming Club GUIDELINES FOR COMPETITIONS Overview Each swimming season there are 60-70 competitions in South Australia in which our swimmers can compete. There are also interstate and national competitions open to those swimmers that have achieved the necessary qualifying times. Information on South Australian competitions Swimming SA Handbook Of Events: each family should purchase a copy of this handbook for the coming season. It provides an important and easy reference to all SA competitions for the season which extends from 1 October to 30 September the following year. Handbooks are generally available in July/August and can be purchased through our club (while stocks last). Swimming SA Web site: Swimming SA maintains a rolling list of upcoming events on their web site at www.sa.swimming.org.au. This list contains links to the on-line entry portal for each event, however detail can be limited and it is recommended that the Handbook be the main source of reference. Information on interstate and national competitions Each state has its own swimming association with its own web site, similar to Swimming SA. For national competitions, information can be found on the Swimming Australia web site at www.swimming.org.au. SA Competitions Relevant To Mountain Pool ASC This table outlines the types of competition relevant to most swimmers at our club. Those more experienced in our club will already be familiar with other competitions at national level. e that SC refers to Short Course and indicates competitions in a 25m pool, while LC refers to Long Course and indicates competitions in a 50m pool. Competition Description Qualifying Times EDSA Inter-club competitions A series of 4 to 6 competitions per year between the 4 clubs of Eastern Districts Swimming Association (EDSA) namely Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn, Onkaparinga and Mountain Pool Open only to members of the 4 EDSA clubs A fun, low-key introduction to competition for swimmers of all ages and abilities a good opportunity for new swimmers to record their first official times No medals awarded Open Carnivals Events hosted by individual clubs who each decide the date and time of their event, and the programme of races Open to all competitors including those from interstate (occasional Each EDSA club hosts a carnival every season, with Mountain Pool carnival typically scheduled for late Jan or early Feb exceptions) Medals are awarded (as per the handbook) Introduction To Competitions - 2016-05-29 1
Competition Description Qualifying Times Country Championships A high-standard competition held over 4 days by one of the swimming clubs in country SA with a 50m pool Host club is determined on a rotational basis, with each suitable club handbook) typically hosting this every 6 or 7 years Open only to swimmers from non-metropolitan clubs The club will generally travel as a team, and will coordinate accommodation and some meals This is the pinnacle competition for a large percentage of country swimmers the main competition in our club calendar Junior Open to all junior swimmers aged 11 and under Excellence (JX) A high standard of competition for junior swimmers A series of 6 competitions, usually held at the Marion Aquatic Centre, in both SC and LC formats Division 2 Open to all swimmers aged 12 and over A high standard competition for swimmers yet to achieve Division 1 times (however A series of 6 competitions, usually held at the Marion Aquatic Centre, in both SC and LC formats break times apply) Break times apply once you have achieved a break time you must then swim in Division 1 for that event Division 1 Open to swimmers that have achieved relevant qualifying times You may only enter races for which you have achieved the qualifying times times are set according to gender and age The highest standard of regular competition in SA A series of 6 competitions held at the Marion Aquatic Centre, in both SC and LC formats State SC and LC Open to swimmers that have achieved relevant qualifying times Championships You may only enter races for which you have achieved the qualifying times times are set according to gender and age Held at the Marion Aquatic Centre - once in Long Course (LC) and once in Short Course (SC) format LC Championships is generally held in January, SC in July The highest standard of competition in SA Mountain Pool A short half-day event for Mountain Pool members only Club Used to determine the club age champions and overall champions, as Championships well as winners of other perpetual trophies Swimmers must swim all the minimum prescribed races to be eligible for club trophies Trophies are determined at the event but held in confidence, and are presented at the club annual presentation night Times recorded at the event cannot be used as official times handbook) handbook) Choosing Competitions To Enter Ultimately it is up to each individual swimmer to choose the events they wish to attend, and the races they wish to swim at those events. However please keep in mind the following guidelines... New swimmers should always consult with coaches to make sure you have turns and starts correct New swimmers should also check with the nominations officer or senior club members to see if there are other swimmers attending it is always useful to have an experienced swimmer show you the ropes It is important to not over-commit to races at an event - space out your races to allow for rest and recovery, and consider that you may be asked to swim in relay events Introduction To Competitions - 2016-05-29 2
Younger swimmers should not focus too early on a favourite stroke it is important to continue to develop and improve across all strokes Process To Enter Competitions The process to enter competitions is increasingly on-line, however there are still some events where manual entry is required through our club Nominations Officer. The entry method for each event is stated in the Swimming SA Handbook. On-line Entry This is method is known as On-line Meet Entry (OME) and refers to entering events via the on-line portal managed by Swimming Australia. The link to the OME portal for the event you are interested in will generally be available from the Swimming SA site as well as the web site of the hosting club. To enter you will be prompted for your Swimming SA user id and password, and you will also need your credit-card to pay the entry fees. The processes to select events to swim and to make payment are straightforward. Manual Entry This method relies on the Nominations Officer for each club collecting all entries for their club swimmers, and submitting a consolidated file of club entries to the hosting club. The procedure at our club is to... 1) Make payment of entry fees via Electronic Funds Transfer of Entry Fees to the club bank account 2) Email entry details and EFT receipt to our Nominations Officer (drcoldwell@internode.on.net) 3) The Nominations Officer will respond to acknowledge receipt of your entries before the closing date Entering Relay Teams Club Coaches and club Nominations Officer will design suitable relay teams, and confirm with all swimmers that they are happy to swim those relays. The Nominations Officer will then submit relay team entries to the hosting club, and the club will bear the cost of the associated relay entry fees. The Costs Involved Competition entry costs vary considerably and are set by the hosting club or organisation. Events held at the SA Aquatic Centre tend to be the most expensive. Costs at club carnivals are generally set at around $3-$5 per race Costs at JX, Div 2 and Div 1 events are generally around $10 per race Costs at State Championship events are generally around $17 per race What To Take The below is a good checklist of items to take to a swim meet... Money for pool entry (usually for spectators only), program, raffle and food Healthy snacks (fruit, pasta, dry biscuits, muesli bars, etc) Drinks - water bottles and sports drinks 2-3 towels and plastic bag for wet items at the end of the meet 2 pairs of goggles and 2 swim caps (one always breaks!) Club Uniform, with bathers already on underneath so you are ready for warm-up Spare pair of bathers Hats and sunburn cream for outdoor meets Change of clothes for after the meet Pens and highlighters for marking events in program Deck chairs and picnic rugs (not needed at SA Aquatic Centre) Introduction To Competitions - 2016-05-29 3
What To Do At Competitions Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to advertised warm-up start time, in order to have time to find your teammates and get set for the day. Swimmers On arrival check in with the Team Manager, and then see the Coach for warm up instructions Refer to the program for information on warm ups, marshalling, time-keeping, order of events, etc Highlight in the program the races you are swimming many swimmers also write their events on their arms with marker pens During the meet keep an eye on the marshalling board so you know when to marshal for your next race Experienced swimmers should assist younger ones by escorting them to their first marshalling, etc At completion of the meet ensure that you have packed up all your personal gear, then help with cleaning up the site, packing up shade, etc. Parents Offer to help with time-keeping - all parents will be asked to help meet the time-keeping requirements for the club it s easy, it s fun and it s also the best seat in the house! Offer to help with other officiating roles at many events participating clubs are assigned a certain number of officials roles that their club must fill - you don't have to be qualified, and we encourage all parents to be involved to support the running of meets Parents of junior swimmers should help them keep track of their events so they arrive to marshalling on time and don t miss their race Questions? Steve Fielke Club President stevefielke@hotmail.com Dave Coldwell Nominations Officer drcoldwell@internode.on.net Introduction To Competitions - 2016-05-29 4
GLOSSARY OF TERMS All Ages/Allcomer Events - are open to competitive swimmers of any age/gender Approved Event - has been approved by Swimming SA and is conducted under the rules of Swimming SA BBB - is an event in which competitors may nominate and swim only one of the following strokes backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly Break Time - a break time is a time that must not be exceeded for a specific event. A competitor must not enter an event if they have knowingly achieved a time faster than the break time Dash for Cash- invitation only race; usually one scratch race only with the fastest qualifiers from a designated event, invited by the host club to participate for cash or other incentives Disqualification (DQ) - when a swimmer has breached the FINA rules of an event Did Achieve Standard (DNAS) - when a swimmer does not achieve the qualifying time for an event FINA - International federation governing aquatic sports Final/Timed Final - contest held to determine a winner Final - events swum with the 8 fastest swimmers to determine medal winners Timed Final - events swum without heats to determine medal winners Handicap Event - a race where disadvantages or advantages of time are placed upon competitors to equalise their chances of winning Heat: events swum to determine finalists Individual Medley (IM) - swimmer complete 25m/50m/100m of each stroke in the following order - Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke then Freestyle Lead Off Time - time given to the competitor who swims the first leg in a relay event. This time is a legal time and can be used to enter an event so long as the swimmer and/or team are not disqualified. Long Course (LC) - the meet is conducted in a 50m pool. Marshalling Area: area where competitors check in just before racing and are organised in their event ready to start Marshall: Official who checks off competitors names prior to marshalling for their events Meet Manager - software used to setup and conduct competitions Medley Relay - where four swimmers swim in the order of Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle Multi-Class (MC) - an event designated for competitors with a physical or intellectual disability who have been classified by Swimming Australia Non Qualifying event - times achieved at these events can be used to enter Club Carnivals and Swimming SA events excluding State Championships. These times cannot be used for Swimming Australia events unless SAT timing is used Open Event - open to any age, may be subject to entry qualifying times Personal Best (PB)- best time recorded for swimmer Qualifying Time (QT) the minimum time required to enter an event, which must have been swum / achieved prior to the event Short Course (SC) - the meet is conducted in a 25m pool. Skins- usually multiple scratch races with the fastest qualifiers from a designated event invited to compete in the knock out elimination competition. The skins format will be published in the carnival program. Standard time - the published time must be swum at the event you are swimming or, has been swum prior to the event as determined by the event organiser Team Manager software - software used to record all your club records, athlete results, training sessions YPS - the Australian Youth Performance Squad Program Introduction To Competitions - 2016-05-29 5