All Open Meets Are Open to Disabled and Non Disabled Swimmers

Gala Types
OPEN MEETS
Anopen meet competition is open to all who are age9 yearsand over. Many clubs, run open meets in order to raise funds for their club. The County, Regional and National Age Groups & Youth Championships are also open meets.
Open meets are graded or licensed at different levels, with“qualifying”and“cut-off” timesappropriate to the level. They are licensedfromLevel4at entry level, toLevel 1at the top. Novices should look for a Level 3 or 4 meets to start with.These have slower qualifying times. However, they also often have upper cut off times too, so that if you are fast at a stroke, you will not be able to swim. Sometimes Level 4 galas are also graded intoB and Cswim times, both of which have an upper and lower qualifying time. This means that slower swimmers can still win medals in the C category. However, if you enter with a slow time and swim the race really fast, you may get a“speeding ticket!”Too fast for these?Then you should look for a Level 2 or 1 meet. Level 4 galas are usually first come first served and fill up quickly whereas level 1 and 2 galas usually go on thetimesa swimmer holds.

ALL OPEN MEETS ARE OPEN TO DISABLED AND NON – DISABLED SWIMMERS

UNLICENSED MEETS

Swimmers of any age can compete in unlicensed meets, for example club galas or club championships. The rules for these galas can be determined by the organising group for the eventand therefore maybe restricted on various criteria such as age or ability. They are often a great introduction to competitive swimming. Results will be published but not noted on ASA rankings and therefore cannot be used in Open Meets.

AREA QUALIFYINGMEETS

County Championships
Formany swimmers this will represent the peak of their year.Held each year betweenJanuary and Februarywithall timesbeingobtained at licensed meetsand noted on British rankings.Please see the note below on accessing your ASA times.
Events are swum in gender and age group categories for all strokes.
Girls 13 & under and Boys 14 & under swim in the BAGCAT championships with medals for the top three and trophies for the best overall swimmers.
Glossop ASC isaffiliatedto Derbyshire and therefore members can only swim in their countycompetition ,Dual club members can swim in either county the club is associated with.Please discuss with your coach if you are not sure.

Older swimmers compete for trophies at Youth (16 & under) andSeniorlevel.

Disabled swimmers who are classified may enter counties without making qualification times. Thereis parallel medalsonparapointsbut these are NOT in age groups.

Regional Championships
Held annually during the early summer, qualification times (revised each year) must be achieved at a Level 1, 2 or 3 Licensed Open or County Meet.
Championships encompass the most talented swimmers from all counties inthe region.

The UK is divided into 8 regions (North East, North West, West Midland, East Midland, East, South West, London & SouthEast ). As with the counties the club you enter with will decide on which Region you swim in but Glossop only swimmers will compete inthe Midlands competition.

Disabled swimmers who are classified may enter Regional Competitions, but MUST make the entry time for their Classification. Thereis parallel medalsonparapointsbut these are NOT in age groups.Para Swimming DevelopmentRegionals, Classified and swimmers on the waiting list for Classification, may swim any or all of them as these are the classification opportunities.

National Championships
Held annually during July and August, qualificationtimesmust be achieved at a Level 1 or 2 LicensedOpen or Regional Meetduring the qualification window.The fastest swimmers, in an individual event, will be invited to compete in the British Summer Championships. The next fastest swimmers, in an individual event, (20 in all events except the 800m & 1500m Freestyle which will be 15) with an ASA affiliated club as their Ranked Club, or who have indicated that they wish to swim in the English Championships, will be invited to compete in the ASA Championships .

Disabled swimmers who are classified may enter the English Nationals if they make the entry times for their classification. Thereis separateparaeventsbut NOT divided into age groups. The British Nationals to be eligible swimmers must have an International Classification and be invited by British swimming.

The British Para National Meet, swimmers must beClassifiedand have made the entry times. Medals are awarded in each Classification and in age groups(note this is the only time on theparaswimming calendar medals are awarded in age groups)

The British Para International Meet swimmers must beClassified, but can swim on a British Classification and don’t need an International Classification.Must make entry times.

British Rankings andAccessing your Times

Times from licensed meets will be published on the British Rankings on the ASA website. These times can then be used to enter County and other championships together with licensed meets that stipulate an official ASA time in their entry conditions. Times will be published within 5 days of the meet at swimming. Clickon the following link

Input your family name and click on the relevant swimmer.

Swimmers can easily see their progression here throughout the year for all their strokes." Swimmers can also find their ASA number from here.