FAQ

This is, like the Speedo League, a National Competition. it is a team event and is for swimmers between 9 and 12. The top teams from the Southern League are selected to compete in the National Final against the top teams from other areas. There are 3 galas to determine the top teams for selection and they are normally held in April, May and June. The Club picks the team for this Gala and a team list will be posted on the notice board.

Southwold competes in a number of swimming meets. Individual meets are where any individual registered swimmers can enter. The meets we enter swimmers in are, Open meets, the Gloucester County Championships, Western District Championships and the Cotswold Series.

The team meets which the Club competes in, and selects a team of swimmers for, are the Speedo League, Southern Junior League and the Cotswold Series galas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 2 What galas does Southwold compete in?

Question 3 What is the Southern Junior League?

An Open Meet is a swimming gala open to swimmers outside the organising club where swimmers represent their club as individuals rather than a team. Most Open Meets award trophies to the top 3 or possibly 6 swimmers in each age group and stroke, although this does vary.

It is necessary for the swimmer to complete an entry form for the gala which has to be sent to the organising club before the closing date on the entry form. There is an entry fee which is normally per race which has to be sent with the entry form. If the entry is rejected the fee will be returned.

For each race entered, the swimmer must submit their personal best time. This is used to "seed" swimmers in the races, which means placing swimmers with similar times together. Normally the slowest swimmers go in the first heat and the fastest in the last heat for each event. Many galas are graded and have cut-off times. If you enter a race with either a too fast or too slow time you are unlikely to be accepted. Also, many Open Meets receive too many applications. In this case the slowest swimmers may be rejected.

Question 4 What is an Open meet?

It is a National competition for swimming clubs. The competition is broken down into areas and Southwold is in the "Western" Speedo League. Because of the number of teams this is then split into 4 divisions; Premier, Division One, Division Two and Division Three. Southwold is in Division Two this year. The competition is tough with the top teams from the Premier Division qualifying for a National finals competition. The age groups swum are 11/U, 13U, 15/U and Open.

Question 1 What is the Speedo League?

If you are accepted, about a week before the Open Meet you will normally receive your entry cards, one for each event. These are usually blue for boys and pink for girls and show your entry time, your competitor number, event, warm-up and start time and the card posting time. The cards are very important and they show that you have been accepted to swim. You must take these cards with you to the Open Meet.

Just to confuse things, some meets do not use entry cards in this case you will get a slip of paper telling you which races you have been accepted for and which ones you have been rejected from.

Question 5 How do I know if I have been accepted to an Open meet?

When you arrive at the Open Meet you must post your cards in the Entry Boxes before the card posting time shown on your cards. You must do this to confirm you are swimming otherwise the organisers will not allocate a lane to you. Once the boxes are closed then no more entries are accepted.

You can then go onto the poolside, find your coach and start your warm up when told to.

Normally, two events before your event, all swimmers for that event will be called to the 'whipping area' (no, you do not get whipped to go faster!). You will be given your entry card back either by your Coach/chaperone or in the whipping area. This time there will be a heat and lane marked on it. This is where you will swim. The officials giving out the cards will tell you where and when to go.

After your race, make sure you speak to your coach who will give you feedback on your performance and maybe make suggestions for your next race.

Check the results which will be posted on the wall around the pool after the event has finished. If you have qualified for a final, your coach will be able to tell you when that is likely to be. If you are lucky enough to win a trophy, your coach will tell you when the presentation will be. Most of the trophies or medals will be yours to keep.

Question 6 What happens at an Open meet if I have an entry card?

Question 8 This is my first Club Championship Gala. What do I do?

Check on the Notice Board the day before the Gala. There will be a detailed programme of events for each of the 5 nights of the Gala. Check which nights you are swimming. Also posted up will be the start time of the Gala. This is when “Warming Up” will take place. You will not be allowed to swim if you miss the warming up period as you could easily hurt yourself swimming in a race without warming up your muscles first. You will need to collect your entry card(s) (blue for boys and pink for girls) from outside the downstairs changing rooms. You need to keep these until you are called for. You pass your card to the timekeeper allotted to your lane before you swim. All will be explained to you at the poolside before racing starts General information can be found in the Documents Download section . Good luck and enjoy yourself!

First thing is don't panic. It is better to be on time without cards than late with cards. When you get to the event see your Coach, apologise profusely and he/she will speak to the event organiser and arrange for some replacement cards to be issued.

Question 7 What if I forget my cards for an Open meet?

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