League Galas
As a club we enter three leagues throughout the season:
Team selection is made by the coach’s and is based on the swimmer's performance in galas and in training. The provisional team is selected approximately one month before the 1st competition in that league, final team selections are sent out around 2 weeks prior to the start of the gala in that round. Swimmers selected will be notified by email and asked to confirm they can attend. We ask that swimmers respond promptly to these emails by clicking on the attached link and that you try to be available for all 3 fixture dates for that league. If swimmers cannot attend please let us know so we can select a replacement as soon as possible. No swimmer is guaranteed a place, we’re a competitive swimming club and aim to field the strongest team possible.
Open Galas
Swimmers who aspire to enter County, Regional or even National Championships will need to get qualifying times that feed into the Swim England database. The way to obtain these times is by entering ‘Open Gala's’ to improve on their personal best times (PB’s). Open galas have different levels, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Levels 1 and 2 are for Long Course and Short Course Championships and will require entry times, Level 3 is first come first served, so they fill the gala on the entrants that get their entries in early. Level 4 is reserved for local club galas and time trials. Some of the level 3 galas are A, B and/or C grade, these will normally have upper cut-off times. Swimmers swimming quicker than the cut-off time will generally be awarded speeding tickets but will not be eligible for awards, but the time will count toward the Swim England times on the main database.
Club Championships
The club championships are open to all Dronfield Dolphins SC members only and are an ideal starting competition for everyone looking to compete in competitions. All swimmers are actively encouraged to compete and participate in as many events as possible, however, the 100’s/200’s gala we restrict entries to 3 per swimmer, this is down to the duration of the gala and the distances being raced. Club championship helps the coaching team to monitor progress and also identifies the fastest swimmers which provide the basis for gala selections. Our lower squads also have time trails for the same reason, these are aimed mainly for our swimmers aged under 9 as this is the main competition starting age.
Swimmers age
This is one of the most confusing aspects of swimming. Many competitions classify swimmers according to their age on 31 December of the year the swim takes place. However, others classify on the basis of the swimmer’s age on the day of competition known as Age on Day (AOD). This will be normally clearly stated in the entry details for each competition.
How do I find a gala to enter
Keep an eye on the website. We aim to have an open gala available to enter every month. Generally, we will email details of upcoming galas 3 to 4 months ahead of the gala.
How do I enter a gala
You will be sent an email to confirm the open gala is available to enter and suitable for the swimmer. You can then click on the link in the email or log-on to SwimClub Manager and select the events you want to enter. If you are unsure about entering a particular gala then speak to your coach. It is important that gala dates are noted by swimmers and parents, as these dates can be as far as 6 months in the future! Places at the most popular galas are filled very quickly!
Gala payments will be taken by direct debit. Please note we are charging 50p per swimmer per gala to help cover some of the costs the club incurs when attending open galas, e.g. poolside passes for parent helpers. The gala entries are then entered into an electronic file, which is sent to the gala host to secure places. Once this file has been sent, refunds are not possible.
Survival guide for the swimmer's parent
Equipment
Parents’ Role
Good sportsmanship starts with you; cheer your child and your team on. Competitive swimming provides many benefits to young athletes, they develop self-discipline, good sportsmanship and time management skills. Competitions allow the swimmer to experience success and to learn how to deal with defeat while becoming healthy and physically fit. Most importantly, show good sportsmanship at all times towards coaches, officials, opponents, teammates and their families, remember most of these individuals are volunteering. Encourage your swimmer's efforts and point out the things that they did well.
