Competitions Explained

Levels of Meets:

Level 1 =  Long course (50m) only and cover National, Regional and County Championships. Minimum qualifying times are required to enter. Target for Senior Elite and Inter Elite squads.

Level 2 =  High level Short course (25m) competitions that include National, Regional and County Championships. Minimum qualifying times are required to enter. Target for Senior and Inter squad swimmers.

Level 3 = Long or Short course events. Most of these events require qualifying times to enter. They also provide the opportunity to gain times to qualify for level 1 or 2 meets. Appropriate for Senior, Inter and Junior squads.

Level 4 = Entry level, short course events. Provides opportunities for swimmers to experience their first competitions outside of the club environment (Open Meets). Times achieved here provide results to enter at level 3 meets. Appropriate for Academy squad swimmers.

Unlicenced = Meets such as our Novice Gala and TVJL. Swimmers will achieve times but these won’t be used for entry at future events. The competitions aim to provide the first experience of racing, usually at home clubs.

Note:
- National Qualification may only be obtained at Level 1 or 2 Meets or equivalent.
- Regional Qualification may only be obtained at Level 3 or higher.
- County ASA Qualification may be obtained at Level 4 or higher.

 

Results:

All results from licensed competitions will be posted on our Website, the On Deck app and Swim England Rankings. Here you can track progress and see where swimmers rank in the county, region and nation.

 

County, Regional & National Competitions

Please note this is for guidance only and the meet conditions need to be referred to in case there are changes.

Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire (B&SB) County Championships

  • Swimmers must have achieved the consideration time during the 12 months normally ending on 23rd December YYYY. These times must have been achieved at licensed meets (Level 1 – 4) and be included in the Ranking Database at the date of entering
  • Age as at: 31st December
  • Age groups: 10/11, 12, 13,14,15,16+

Winter Regionals (South East)

  • All submitted times must be shown in the Rankings and have been achieved in a level 1, 2 or 3 licensed meet in the calendar year (i.e. since 1st January).
  • Submitted times may be either short or long course times
  • Ages as at 31st December
  • It is an open event so there is only one set of ”consideration” and “automatic” qualifying times (i.e. no age groups)

Summer Regionals (South East)

  • Age as at 31 December
  • Age groups – 11/12, 13. 14. 15. 16, 17/18+
  • Submitted times may be either short or long course. All times must be shown in rankings published by the ASA and set in competitions licensed at level 1, 2 or 3.
  • All submitted entry times must have been achieved since 1st June.

National SC Championships (December)

  • Short Course entry times must appear in the Swimming Rankings from Licensed 2 Meets since 1st December.
  • Age groups: Open

British and English Nationals (Summer)

  • Age groups – British - Male/Female 13/14, 15, 16, 17/18, 19+
  • Age groups – English - Male athletes aged 13/14, 15, 16, 17, and 18+, and for Female athletes aged 12/13, 14, 15, 16, and 17+
  • Ages at midnight on 31st December
  • Only times achieved in a 50m pool are accepted for entry, no converted times will be accepted
  • In general the Qualifying Window runs from mid March to the end of May. They do vary each year. Following the closure of the Qualifying Window, invitations will be sent to swimmers. Top 24 to British and the following 24 to home country (England, Scotland, Wales). (Lower number of entries into distances events). 

 

Other Competitons: ​Types of Events/Meets

  • County Development Meet - This is a County Development Gala aimed at swimmers who do not regularly achieve county times. The meet is licensed Level 3, and is open to swimmers aged between 10 and 14 on the last day of the year. Coaches will advise swimmers if they should enter. Entry has to be made by the individual on the county website. Watch out for the closing date.
  • Amersham Swimming Club (ASC) Championships – these are held in September and December each year. All swimmers should enter if eligible. For the younger Academy swimmers there are 25m events in December. Coaches will advise swimmers which events to enter. Coaches expect all swimmers in Junior and Performance squads to enter ALL events.
  • Arena League / Junior Arena League – The national arena swimming league is a national competition with over 400 swimming teams participating. The club won promotion to the Premier South Division again last season and there are three galas held from October – December with the best teams going to the national finals in April. The team will be selected by the coaches.
  • ASC Novice galas – We normally host four galas each season and it is a chance for the younger swimmers who are new to competitions to race as a team against other clubs. The team is selected by the coaches and as many of the younger swimmers as possible are given the opportunity to race over the four galas.
  • Licensed Open Meets – Throughout the season the club will attend various open meets. There are different levels of open meet and an explanation of the licensing levels is set out below. The coaches will advise which meets swimmers should enter. Entry will be via the club website and one club entry will be submitted to the host club.
  • ASA National County Team Championships (Intercounties) – The County sends a team of swimmers to Ponds Forge, Sheffield, to represent Berks and South Bucks. There are two Divisions (B&SB are in Division 1). Swimmer selection is made by the County and individuals are invited to take part.
  • Thames Valley Junior League (TVJL) – This is a team event for 9 – 12 year olds and the club has two teams entered in the league. There are 3 galas between February and April each year. Selection for the teams is by the coaches