Swim Policy

ASA MEMBERSHIP FOR COMPETITION

In order to take part in any Club activities you must be a member of the ASA. To swim in Galas, the Staffordshire League and the West Mercian League you need only be Category 1 (currently £4.75). To swim in the Nuneaton & District Junior League, the West Midland League and to enter Open Meets, Staffordshire, Midland or National Championships you need to be Category 2 (currently £18.00) so you may need to upgrade.

GALAS

From the age of 8 (age 9 on 31^st December) you may be selected to swim for a Club team and be required to attend Galas. These usually take place on a Saturday evening. A fixture list is attached. If the Gala is not to take place at a local swimming pool a coach may be provided at a small cost to swimmers and their parents, spaces permitting. It is more usual, however, for the team to meet at the venue. At a Gala you will be under the direction of the Coaches and Team Managers. You should stay with the team throughout the Gala - supporting your team-mates when you are not actually swimming yourself. Sometimes Galas are part of a League (but you won’t notice any difference!)

OPEN MEETS

From the age of 10 (on the last day of the competition) you may be entered for Open Meets. These are competitions in which, although you are representing the Club, you swim as an individual. Open Meets have entry times which vary from one meet to another, some meets also have fastest time limits. Open meets usually take place on a Saturday or a Sunday and you are expected to make your own way there.

If you are eligible to enter an open meet targeted by the Club Terry Brindley or Sue Mason will give you an application form.The completed form is returned with the appropriate fee. If you need help with submitting times Terry Brindley will help you, but your parents should be keeping a record of your current personal best times for this purpose. At the Open Meet you will be accompanied by at least one of the Coaches. If you want to enter an open meet not targeted by the Club you may do so, but will have to obtain and return the entry form yourself and you will not have a coach with you.

When you are accepted to compete in an Open Meet you will usually receive and entry card (usually blue for boys & pink for girls). You take this with you to the meet and post it in the box which is usually by the entrance to the changing room, not later than ½ hour before the start. Before your event you will go to the card collection table on poolside and collect your entry card. On it will be printed your heat and lane number. When it is your turn to race you may have to report to a Clerk of the Course, or you may go directly to your lane, you then give your card to the timekeeper. The coaches will tell you what to do and when! Some Open Meets are “Licensed” so the times you achieve there allow you entry to higher level competitions.

STAFFORDSHIRE, MIDLAND and ASA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Your aims and ambitions should not end when you are selected to swim for the Club at a Gala. Although this is a great achievement there are further goals for you to achieve. You can progress to Staffordshire Championships from the age of 9, Midland Championships from the age of 10 and ASA National Championships from the age of 11 (all ages at the last day of the Championship) All of these Championships have specific entry conditions and entry times which vary from year to year. The entry details for 2007 can be found on our website.

WHAT DO I WEAR?

Whenever you are competing you should wear your own choice of swimwear (preferably blue or black) and a Walsall swimcap. On poolside wear a Walsall teabag shirt or tracksuit.Other clothing items can be purchased from the Club please ask Pauline Stanley or Yvonne Green for costs and ordering details, they will be available on a Monday evening at Gala Baths from 7pm.