Glossary

These are yearly events carried out across the Country, in every County. They are held to ascertain the county’s top swimmers in each event.

The top three Swimmers successful in the County Age Groups qualify for the Inter-Association event held at the end of May/beginning of June.

At this event the swimmers are representing Cumbria (not Barrow ASC). The swimmers receive their County Badge and can be selected to represent Cumbria at other meets across the country.

B

This is a set of points based on the times that a swimmer achieves in Age Group swimming. The current thinking is that swimmers in the ten-thirteen/fourteen age groups should be encouraged:

• To compete in a range of events
• To include both short sprints and distance events
• Not to compete in 100 mtr events too soon

Dependent upon the age of the swimmer, awards can be made to those swimmers over an agreed range of events

e.g. 11 year old –

The range of events differs between each age group (10 – 13 boys and girls – 14 yrs – boys only). It is assumed that girls 14 and 0ver, boys 15yrs and over will start to specialise in individual events and awards will therefore be given accordingly.

C

See Club Champs page.

The Barrow ASC Management Committee holds a meeting on the second Wednesday of each month. Parent/s of swimmers are those who usually hold a place on the committee. The Committee consists of a President, Chairman, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Coach, Fixtures Secretary as well as general committee members. Any parent may become a committee member and it is important that parents take the time and interest to do so to help keep the Club running efficiently and successfully. As an off-shoot from the Committee, a Swimming Sub-Committee is also held once a month to discuss specific issues on the swimming, swimmers, coaching etc. Matters arising from this meeting then go back to the Management Committee for final discussion/decision.

This is the first opportunity for a young swimmer to compete outside of their club galas. These galas are held all over the county, Barrow, Kendal, Workington, Copeland (Whitehaven) and Carlisle. There are three heats culminating in a Grand Final.

The events are based on various relays, e.g. 4 x 25 metres (1 length) and individual 50 metre (2 length) swims across all strokes. The children swim in their own age group, but can ‘swim up’ in relays. Swimmers can also ‘swim up’ in individual events (See Rules attached).

Travel by bus is provided, a small fee is charged (see team selection list on notice board).

This series of galas follows a similar format to the "Diddy League" but is for older swimmers. (See Rules attached). Travel by bus provided.

D

The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) ratifies these events. These are galas where National Qualifying Times (NQT’s) can be recorded and submitted for entry into the ASA National Finals held every August in a 50 metre pool somewhere in England.

As a member of the ASA the club expects the highest levels of discipline possible. The club has a code of conduct, which is available to view, but here are a few mute points:

• Respect fellow team members, coaches, helpers and officials,
• Respect opposition team members, coaches, helpers and officials,
• Give encouragement to all, and behave in a sportsman-like manner,
• Behave sensibly on the poolside and in the changing rooms,
• Be punctual, on the poolside, ready to swim, with hats, goggles, drinks bottle, (NOT fizzy pop), etc.
• Attend club championships,
• Represent the club when chosen and behave accordingly,

Remember to behave to one another, as you would expect others to behave to you, and do not let yourself, your parents or Barrow ASC down. We are here to enjoy this wonderful sport.

E

ENTRY CARDS - See PINK/BLUE ENTRY CARDS

F

FEES See SQUAD FEES/ POOLHIRE

G

These are swimming events where either the team or individual entering the event is representing the club. These events are held all over the country, by large and small clubs alike. Popular galas are advertised in the "Swimming Times". Open events (see later) regularly attended by Barrow ASC swimmers are displayed on the notice board. Any swimmer can attend these galas, although the Club provides no transport.

The three major team events that the club compete in are the "Cumbria Diddy League" (ages 9 to 11), "Cumbria Sprint League" (12 to Open Age) and the "North West Speedo League" (9 to Open Age).

H

If the number of entries for an event number more than the number of lanes, then the event will be split into heats. Once the full number of swimmers is known (by the posting of pink/blue cards), the heats are arranged by the following methods:

• Up to 100mtr event, slowest swimmers first with the last three heats "spearheaded". This means the top three swimmers take Lane 3 in each of the final three heats (see lane allocation)
• 200mtr events and above: The six/eight fastest swimmers being in the final heat. Swimmers are allocated their heat dependant upon their submitted time.

Swimming meets are broken up into events. These events, dependant upon the number of entries, are split into heats.

The number of swimmers are then sorted by entry times ensuring that the final heat has the fastest swimmers (see heats). Once all the heats have been swum, the fastest swimmer is the winner as there are no finals in Heat Declared Winner events (HDW). These are usually 200mtr and above events. However, finals are swum for ALL events, whatever the distance at National Level.

I

This gala is held every year at one of the Association’s pools. It is made up of the following teams, Liverpool and district, North Midlands, Manchester and District, Bolton and District, Central Lancashire, North Lancashire, and Cumbria.

It is swum over two weekends at the beginning of June. All the teams are made up of their top three swimmers from their respective Age Groups, (11 to 15 yrs). The standard can be high, leading to large numbers of National Qualifying Times (NQT’s) and Personal Best’s (PB’s) being achieved.

L

In a six lane pool, lane allocation is as follows: 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 6 where the fastest swimmer (on submitted times) is allotted lane 3. This is also used for lane allocation in FINALS where the fastest swimmer of all heats is given lane 3.

In an eight-lane pool (e.g. Everton Park), lane allocation is as follows: 4, 5, 3, 6, 2, 7, 1, 8

In a ten-lane pool (e.g. Ponds Forge, Sheffield), lane allocation is slightly different:

For heats all ten lanes are used in the following order: 5, 6, 4, 7, 3, 8, 2, 9, 1, and 10

With the outside two lanes (1 and 10) not used for finals - the order is, however, still the same i.e. 5, 6, 4, 7, 3, 8, 2, 9

Galas/meets will be advertised as being Long Course or Short Course meets. Long Course means that events will be swum in a 50mtr pool – Short Course being those galas where events are swum in a 25mtr pool.

M

There are two types of Medley’s –

Individual – this is where an individual swimmer competes using all four strokes in the order Butterfly/Backstroke/Breaststroke/Freestyle and can be over one, two or four lengths of each stroke (i.e. 100mtrs IM, 200mtrs IM or 400mtrs IM).

Team Medley – this is where four swimmers do an individual stroke each and the order of swims is Backstroke/breaststroke/butterfly/freestyle and is usually over one or two lengths each stroke (i.e. 4 x 25mtr medley relay or 4 x 50mtrs medley relay).

N

For swimmers to compete in events outside their own club galas, it is a mandatory requirement that all swimmers are registered nationally with the ASA.

There is different fees payable for the registration, these are dependent on the level of participation.

These are times set by the ASA for each age group in all strokes/events. These times are very hard to attain with only a desired maximum of 32 swimmers from across the country achieving these times (32 being four heats of 8 swimmers at the National Finals). If more than 32 achieve the National Qualifying Time, the time is adjusted downwards for the following year (i.e. making it more difficult to achieve). If less than 32 swimmers achieve the time, the time is either kept the same or adjusted upwards.

The National Finals are held in July/August each year at various pools e.g. Coventry, Leeds, Crystal Palace and Ponds Forge, Sheffield. The times required must be achieved in a long course pool.

Any NQT’s achieved short course can be submitted but if the required number of swimmers achieve the time in a long course pool, the swimmer may not be able to swim in the national finals. (This selection criteria will probably be changed in the near future).

This series of galas are swum at venues across the Northwest, with teams from Bolton, Horwich, Lancaster, Speke (Liverpool), etc. It entails a lot of travelling, and includes team composition from all ages, 9-11 years to Open Age.

Whereas the Cumbria Galas are organised by the Cumbria ASA (Amateur Swimming Association), the Speedo League is organised by the Northern Counties ASA.

For 12 and over, these galas have 4 x 50 metre relays (front crawl and medley) and 100 metre Individual events.

For the age group 9-11yr (these relay teams are made up of the fastest 4 from the ages 9 – 11yrs), these galas have 4 x 25 metre relays (front crawl and medley) and 50 metre Individual events.

Teams for Speedo League events are based on different Age Group settings to that of the Cumbria Sprint League (See Rules attached). Travel by bus provided, small fee is charged (see team selection list on notice board).

The club provides two notice boards that hold all relevant information, i.e. squad fees, team selection, forthcoming galas, social events, missing sessions and other RELEVANT information.

It is vitally important that both swimmers and parents read these notice boards every time the swimmers are attending training.

O

Open meets are galas run by a club, but entries are open to any individual swimmer or club from other areas or associations. Galas regularly attended by swimmers from Barrow are placed on the noticeboard for information. However, if is important to realise that entering these galas entails time/commitment from parents. The following information is required:

• Open Meets are over either one or two days (not just 1-2 hrs as Diddy League etc galas).
• This obviously requires overnight accommodation (one possibly two nights) as warm-up is usually early in the day (i.e. 8am)
• There are anything up to three or four sessions each day with the final session finishing between 6pm – 8pm
• Swimmers can enter any number of events in their own age group
• Due to the duration of galas, no bus is laid on from the Club. Swimmers are expected to make their own travel/accommodation arrangements.
• The cost of entering events at galas is approximately £2 - £3.50 per event and is payable at the time of entering. There is a Closing Date for entries on the Application Forms provided.

P

Whenever/wherever swimmers compete in organised events i.e. designated meets, age group competitions, club championships, graded meets, school galas, etc. their times should be recorded by the swimmers’ parents and the club for which the swimmer is a member.

This enables teams to be selected and is a record of how a swimmer is improving.

The swimmers’ PB times MUST be from ratified sources, i.e. Electronic timekeeping, print out of recorded times from gala officials, officially bone fide recorders (Diddy League responsible persons) and not, under any circumstances, non-corroborated sources or unreliable/questionable means.

When swimmers enter any meet (outside of Club galas), pink/blue (girls/boys) entry cards are issued (see sample attached). These cards are used by the organisers of the meet and hold the following information:

• Swimmers’ name
• Club
• Competitor number (in accordance with programme)
• Event number
• Event description
• Date of birth
• Pool length
• Date of swim
• Gala start time
• Swimmer’s submitted time
• The time card should be ‘posted’ by

These cards must be ‘posted’ by the swimmer in the correct box, usually found in the foyer or outside the changing rooms. These boxes will be ‘closed’ prior to the start of the warm-up – are collected by the organisers of the meet and used to arrange heats and lane designations. Just prior to the start of the gala (and throughout), the cards will be placed at a collection point to enable the Club coaches to collect and distribute back to the swimmers. The swimmer takes the card along with them when they report for their event and hand them to the timekeeper on their allotted lane. After the heat has been swum, the timekeeper enters the swimmer’s time on the card. The top six or eight swimmers will have their cards returned to them designating lane numbers for the Final.

R

Relays are usually four individual swimmers swimming as a team in events like 4 x 25mtr (1 length), 4 x 50mtrs (2 lengths). Relay events can be all one stroke or medley (eg variety).

These are available for anyone to see if required. Club rules cover all aspects of club activities, discipline, etc. Rule changes can be made at the AGM.

There are two types of race starts that are used in galas, these are:

One Start Rule: If a swimmer moves or leaves the blocks after the Starter has announced "take your marks", then that swimmer is immediately disqualified. This rule was brought in by the ASA to stop swimmers deliberately false starting to gain an advantage over other swimmers.

Over the top starts: At the Meet promoters discretion, "Over the Top" Starts may be in operation. This is where the swimmers in the preceding heat remain in the water with the next race commencing "over the top" of them. The previous heat swimmers then leave the water whilst the next heat is in progress. This rule can, obviously, NOT be used in backstroke events.

S

Currently (June 2002), squad fees for all squads (Minnows and Squad 1) are based on £1 per 45 minute session. This goes towards (but does not completely cover) the amount paid to the Park Leisure Centre each year for the hire of the pool. This is approximately £23,000 per annum and rises by around 10% per annum.

Hand paddles, flippers, goggles, hats, kickboards, pull buoy and a drink (either water/fruit cordial/ or one of the specifically prepared sports drinks that can be purchased) are all standard equipment for use in training sessions. Whilst the Club has a varied selection of equipment, we expect most of our swimmers to acquire their own if possible.

Equipment for Galas: Towels x 2, shorts, t-shirt, flip-flops, Club costume (plain black), Club hat (either silicone or ordinary), drinks (not fizzy) – water based and in plastic drinks bottles not glass. Snack foods may be required (dependant upon length of gala) i.e. cereal bars, bananas, small tins of fruit, jellies, rice pudding etc. (easily digestible). Please ensure swimmers are NOT given crisps, pop, pastries before and during swimming.

If the gala is an all day gala, please remember swimmers need their lunch to be a high energy, easily digestible meal i.e. pasta, sandwiches (light), rice pudding, yoghurts etc.

PLENTY OF FLUID IS REQUIRED CONSTANTLY. POOLSIDES ARE HOT AND HUMID. A HEADACHE IS A SURE SIGN OF DEHYDRATION. ONCE A SWIMMER HAS A HEADACHE THIS IS TOO LATE – DEHYDRATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. 

This is the official magazine produced by the ASA. This magazine covers all areas of swimming, diving, waterpolo, open water and synchro. It is from this magazine that information about forthcoming galas throughout the country is found. This periodical can ordered through any Newsagents.

T

TEAM SELECTION

All teams are selected by reviewing the swimmers’ individual times. For this reason it is important to enter Club Championships, Age Groups, or any open meets/galas ensuring OFFICIAL times are obtained.

Once the team has been selected it is agreed by the swimming sub-committee.

It is the club’s intention to try to swim as many swimmers as possible, (even if for only one race), where times are similar.

The fastest swimmer in each discipline will usually be given the individual event (this is up to a maximum of two events).