Open Meets

To enter an Open Meet your child must be registered with the ASA from 9 years or above. The age grouping of the meet depends on the individual club holding the meet. There will also be consideration / qualifying times to allow the correct level of swimmers to enter.

They provide the opportunity for swimmers to gain experience in racing itself, all the strokes, all the distances, racing at different times of the day, various pool lengths and construction

The Head Coach plans various Open Meets into the season's Fixture List to try and suit the swimmers needs for that particular part of the yearly training programme.

Open Meets are usually graded like our squad so that you can decide which meets suit you. To reach an overall grade a swimmer must achieved times in that particular grade on a minimum of three events.  Including at least two different strokes plus a least one event of 100m or greater. To swim in 100m events swimmers must be ages 10 and over.

Please ask your coach for advice on which meets you should enter.

Whatever event you enter please remember you are still representing the Club and must abide by their rules and conditions.

Club Gala's & League Meets - You are selected by the Head coach from your personal best times.

County, District & National Events - You have to be a ASA registered CAT 2 swimmer and achieve the Qualifying Times to apply for these. You can enter all of these meets using our internal entry system, please see Events and Fixtures.

Swim England (ASA) Registration

All our swimmers are registered with the ASA.  This is what gives us our insurance cover.  The level of registration depends on age and competition. A Swimmer will not able to compete in any registered competition unless they are CAT2 registered. This enables the Club to operate and compete at different levels from Interclub Galas, County events, District events, onto National and International levels. The fees are collected in January.

It is a requirement of most galas and leagues in which we swim that the swimmer has an individual registration. 

If you have not been sent the ASA invitation, please contact [email protected]. Please fill out the Registration form and submit as quickly as possible or you cannot compete in the majority of swimming galas or meets.

British Swimming Medical Declaration

All athletes (of any level) are required and responsible for checking their own medications.  This must be done via the WADA approved website: www.globaldro.com

Globaldro.com result searches must be stored and saved by the individual athlete

It is recommended the searches are repeated throughout the year as the prohibited list can change at any time and in turn medication status’ can change

If a result (either in or out of competition) shows a PROHIBITED result then a TUE is required

The Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) process is a means by which an athlete can obtain approval to use a prescribed prohibited substance or method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition.

- For World Class funded athletes they must apply for a TUE that is valid at all times

- For non-funded athletes they must apply for a RECROACTIVE TUE

The RECTROACTIVE TUE application must be submitted no longer than five days post the receipt of an adverse analytical finding (AAF). Typically an athlete will receive a letter by courier to confirm an AAF and inform them of the requirements to apply for a retroactive TUE for the prohibited substance detected in their sample. The NGB or UKAD may also contact the athlete to make them aware that this correspondence is on its way, in relevant circumstances.

Both TUE and RECTROACTIVE TUE applications, should be made with the prescribing physician, stating that the criteria and medical evidence needed by the Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC) can be met before the athlete uses any prohibited substance or method

If an athlete does take medications, it is recommended that the Name, dosage, frequency is recorded on a media that an athlete can access at all time (particularly on poolside) i.e. written and kept in their kit bag or on their phone etc, so should they be called into doping control, they have the medication information on hand to submit on the doping control paperwork.

Refusal of a drug test = Anti-Doping rule violation and ban from the sport.

An athlete can be tested anywhere, any time (not just at an event)

Under 18yrs must have a chaperone (of their choice) to accompany them into doping control.  The chaperone does not have to witness the giving of the sample

The www.informed-sport.com  programme certifies that all nutritional supplements and/or ingredients that bear the Informed-Sport logo have been tested for banned substances by the world class sports anti-doping lab, LGC. Athletes choosing to use supplements can use the search function on the informed-sport website to find products that have been through this rigorous certification process

Download the FREE APP : Clean Sport for all up to date Anti-Doping information, supported by UKAD

The British Swimming Medical Declaration form has been removed from use and circulation as of 1st January 2016. ASA members are no longer required to complete the form and forms no part of doping control at any event. Please see the anti-doping points below for further anti-doping advice. All athletes (of any level) are required and responsible for checking their own medications

If an athlete does take medications, it is recommended that the Name, dosage, frequency is recorded on a media that an athlete can access at all time (particularly on poolside) i.e. written and kept in their kit bag or on their phone etc, so should they be called into doping control, they have the medication information on hand to submit on the doping control paperwork.

Anti Doping

ASA Guide to Anti Doping

Athlete Guide to the Prohibited Drug List