gala Information

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about pool swimming competitions

To get involved in Pool Swimming Competitions, you’ll need to be a member of BLSC & ASA, and a Swim England Category 2 member for the highest three levels of competition.

For most swimming competitions, swimmers are split into groups based on their age on 31 December that year. However, there are some competitions for which age groups are based on a swimmer’s age on the day of competition.

Swimming competitions can take place in either a 25m or a 50m pool, with 25m events being considered, short course and the 50m events, long course.

+ Types of Licensed Meets

All licensed meets are subject to Swim England Regulations and the Swim England Technical Rules of Racing. They are graded into four levels.

- Level 1 Meets are long course (50m) only and cover National, Regional and County Championships.

Their purpose is to enable athletes to achieve qualifying times for entry into National, Regional and County Championships.

- Level 2 Meets are short course (25m) only and cover National, Regional and County Championships.

Their purpose is to enable athletes to achieve qualifying times for entry into National, Regional and County Championships in short course.

- Level 3 Meets are long and short course events.

Their purpose is to enable athletes to achieve times for entry into Regional and County Championships and other Meets at Level 1 or Level 2.

- Level 4 Meets are entry level events in pools 25m or greater.

They are for inexperienced athletes and swimmers seeking to compete outside their club environment. If times are good, athletes progress to Level 3 Meets.

+ Key Swimming Competitions

Initially as you are starting your competitive swimming journey, you would be supported and encouraged to compete at the lower level Licensed Meets. Your coaches will guide you as to which meets and events would be most appropriate for you to enter.

As you progress in your swimming journey, you will begin to attend the bigger, higher level events. Key competitions to be aware of and possibly have as a personal goal to reach, include the following: (All these events are inclusive of swimmers who hold a current national or international classification for functional, visually impaired or intellectual disability (S1-S14)).

- Kent County Championships

  • The beginning of each calendar year is marked by the staging of the English County Championships.
  • Age Groups: 10/11 Years, 12 Years, 13 Years, 14 Years, 15 Years, 16+ Years

- South East Regional Championships

  • The English Regional Championships take place during April or May.
  • There is also a one year difference in the age groups and the addition of club relays.
  • Age Groups: 11/12 Years, 13 Years, 14 Years, 15 Years, 16 Years, 17+ Years

- Swim England National Summer Meet

  • The National Summer Meet takes place in the week after the British Summer Championships.
  • The event uses the same qualification window and rankings as the British Summer Championships and is for the top ranked English swimmers including those who did not qualify for the British competition.
  • Age Groups: 12/13 Years, 14 Years, 15 Years, 16/17 Years, 18+ Years

- British Summer Championships

  • The British Summer Championships take place the week before the National Summer Meet.
  • The event uses the same qualification window and rankings as the National Summer Meet and is for the top ranked British swimmers.
  • Age Groups: 12/13 Years, 14 Years, 15 Years, 16/17 Years, 18+ Years

- Kent Junior League

  • KJL is a 2-league system made up from clubs based in Kent for swimmers aged 9-13 years (at end of year).

- National Arena League

  • NASL is a national competition spread over various areas and divisions. There are 3 rounds of galas for each division, which take place in Oct, Nov & Dec each year. Age groups are U12, U14, U16 and Open (age at 31st Dec).

+ Gala Entry and Results

You can keep up to date with upcoming galas on our Events page and these will also be circulated by email. Your coach will advise you by email if this gala is suitable to enter, which events you should swim, and instructions on how to enter through SwimClub Manager. Invoices for gala entries will be sent separately by email.

Swimmers times from all licensed gala results will be published on the ASA rankings.

BLSC Home Gala results will be available on the Results page.

You can also follow us across our social media platforms (facebook, twitter and instagram) for up to date results, celebration of club and swimmer achievements, as well as see some of the fun we all have being part of Black Lion Swimming Club.