?? Frequently Asked Questions ??
Q. How can I keep up –to-date with all club activities and events.
A. Refer to the club’s website regularly and ask your parent(s) to send an e-mail to the Club Secretary at graham@lewesswimmingclub.org to ensure you are on our e-mailing list.
Q. What do I need on poolside?
A. Swimming cap, goggles, a drink and a t-shirt. Please don’t wear watches or jewellery whilst in the water. If you have long hair please tie it back or wear a hat.
Q. So will I need to buy any additional equipment?
A. As you progress you may wish to purchase your own training equipment (floats/kick boards, pullbouys or fins) ask your teacher/coach which fins to buy and whether you are ready to use them.
Q. What if I get tired - can I get out of the water?
A. If during a session you feel it necessary to stop swimming make your way to the side of the pool or finish that length and then speak to your teacher.
Q. What happens if I am late for a session?
A. Although this is sometimes unavoidable, it does disrupt the class. It is also very important that you do a warm-up, and that you are there when the register is taken for safety reasons.
Q. Is there anything else I should know about my lesson?
A. As it is hard to hear in swimming pools you should always look at your teacher and follow their instructions. It is hard enough for them to talk over the sound of the water as it is, without them talking over you!
Q. Will I have an opportunity to gain badges and certificates?
A. The club operates the A.S.A. Award scheme and follows the A.S.A. National plan for teaching swimming. This allows your teacher to assess you at various levels, and awards for recognition of these levels.
Q. Will my teacher be qualified?
A. Yes. All of our teachers, coaches and helpers are fully qualified by the amateur swimming association (A.S.A.) The club has an on-going commitment to train and update all teachers. All our teachers are voluntary.
Q. OK- When should I arrive at the pool for my session?
A. You need to be changed and on the poolside at least five minutes before your lesson.
Q. Where can I leave all my clothes and things?
A. Your belongings can be left in the locker in a changing room or be brought on to the poolside (in a bag)
Q. Will there be any swimming during the school holidays and half terms?
A. If you are a beginner then you probably will not have any sessions out of school term time. If you are an "improver" or at any level above that then you will have an opportunity to swim once or twice a week during these times.
Q. Can my parents get involved in the club if they want?
A. Yes, the majority of our teachers and coaches have either swum for the club in the past, are swimming for the club at present or are parents of current swimmers.
Q. Do I really have to be competitive?
A. If you don't want to swim competitively, then there will be no pressure in trying to make you, but be aware that we are a competitive club
Q. What will I learn in my lesson if I can already swim?
A. Your teacher will aim to improve your stroke to ensure that it becomes more efficient by working on techniques and "drills". Once you have an efficient stroke then you will work on speed and lastly stamina-building exercises.
Q. I can't wait - when will I be picked for a gala?
A. When your times are fast enough.
Q. Who will pick me for a gala and how will they know if my times are fast enough?
A. You will be selected to swim in a gala by the Team Manager or Head Coach, who uses a computer programme to collate the times that you achieve at Club Championships and Time Trials.
Q. What on earth is a time trial?
A. A time trial is held once a term at your pool session. You are asked to swim each stroke as fast as you can for various distances. Your times are recorded and given to the Team Manager / Head Coach who log them on the computer. The computer programme then selects the "best" swimmer for each event from various criteria. The "best" will not always be the fastest.
Q. How will I know when I have been picked for galas then?
A. You will receive a gala notice two weeks prior to the event. On it will be the time and the place of the gala and usually the pick-up times and places for any coach as well, should you choose to use it. The annual fixtures list is printed on the back of your newsletter, and also on the notice boards at each pool, but sometimes they vary. Alternatively they are displayed on our Events page
IF FOR ANY REASON YOU CANNOT ATTEND YOU SHOULD LET THE TEAM MANAGER / HEAD COACH KNOW IMMEDIATELY.
Q. Can my parents come and watch me swim at a gala?
A. Of course they can. They are welcome to travel on the coach with you or by car.
Q. Do we have to pay for the coach?
A. If the club arranges a coach, the charge is £5 per person. You can bring some money with you as there is often food available such as chocolate, rolls, crisps, and drinks.
Q. What do I do at a gala and how will I know when to swim and what stroke?
A. When you arrive you will need to get changed and do a warm-up. You should then sit with your team-mates and wait until you are sent up for your race. Your team captain will explain what you are doing. You are very welcome to have a parent on the pool side with you, but tell the TEAM MANAGER or HEAD COACH before the gala. You should NOT LEAVE THE POOL SIDE unless you ask. All swimmers should remain on pool side for the presentation at the end regardless of whether we have won or not.
Q. What do I need on poolside at a gala?
A. At a gala you should wear a club t-shirt. You should have also goggles, should you need them. You will find throughout the evening that you become thirsty, so to minimise the risk of dehydration you will need a drink (NOT FIZZY) in a plastic bottle. An extra towel for pool side is also advisable.
Q. Can I get changed after my event?
A. We would rather you didn't get changed, as it is always possible that you may get asked to swim another race in the gala due to unforeseen circumstances.
Q. I think I am brilliant. Can I progress further than club-level galas?
A. Yes. Once you have achieved the relevant times you will be invited to swim by the Team Manager or Head Coach at a County Development Gala. In addition, the Opens Organiser may contact you to swim in open meets or county championships which are the next level up from inter-club galas.
WHAT IS A "SWIMMING GALA" ?
A swimming gala is a swimming match between several clubs. Individual clubs hold several during the year and invite other clubs to compete. The programme of events, age groups etc. are decided by the host club. Points are awarded for each race according to finishing positions e.g. 1st place - 1 point, 2nd place - 2 points etc. At the end of the gala, usually between 30 and 50 events, the points are totalled and the winning club is presented with a trophy.
There are several types of inter-club gala. The most popular is the "Standard B" gala, which involves most club swimmers - good and not so good. There is an "A" gala, which is very much aimed at faster swimmers - County and District level and often it is the big clubs and city clubs which compete in these. There are Junior galas for the lower age groups and Relay galas which comprise only relay races. There are also "Time Restricted" galas where there is an upper speed limit so if a swimmer is too fast in an event he is disqualified. This is to ensure that clubs do not enter swimmers who are grade A.
The inter-club gala is very dependent on team effort and requires the whole team to be present even if individuals have only 1 or 2 races. It is a chance for "new" swimmers to have a go at serious racing. Swimmers are selected to be in the team according to their performance times. For new swimmers these come from the time-trials, which are held regularly at the various pools.
If swimmers feel that they should have been selected for a certain gala instead of someone else then they can contest the selection. If this occurs a ‘swim-off’ will be arranged between the individuals to decide who takes part in the gala.
WHAT IS AN "OPEN MEET" ?
Although an OPEN MEET is normally organised and run by a swimming club it is different to an ordinary club gala in that swimmers choose in which events they swim and they pay an entry fee usually for each event entered. In a club-gala times are not important as far as the final result is concerned but at an open meet times are the main factor, firstly in order to qualify and secondly to get through to the finals.
If a swimmer’s times are fast enough (the qualifying times vary from meet to meet and some meets operate on a 'first come first served' basis) he or she will be invited to swim in the open meet by the club’s open meet organiser. Alternatively a notice will be posted on the club notice boards inviting interested parties to apply to the open meet organiser. Swimmers may choose which events to swim and which to miss, assuming that they have qualified for some. It is good experience and enables individuals to achieve fast times and accurate times, so normally they are expected to enter all events for which they qualify.
On the day of the event the swimmer will swim in a heat, seeded according to their submitted times. The fastest 6 or 8 swimmers from the heats will go through to the finals which are held later on in the meet or at the end. The first 3 finalists are presented with medals and the other 3 (or 5) receive an award
Open meets are the ideal opportunity for swimmers to swim in the stroke and distance of their choice and they are always encouraged to compete.
WHAT ARE "COUNTIES" ?
Counties or County Championships are similar to Open meets but are regarded as being more important. They are run by Sussex County. The main difference is that you are swimming for yourself rather than your club. The main object is obviously to win and therefore to be selected to swim for the county of Sussex.
Ultimately the fastest swimmers will be considered for the county Age-Group squad. Each event has a qualifying time and if swimmers meet that time they will be invited to enter by the club coach. They have to pay a fee for each event entered. Swimmers also have to be registered with the ASA. The Age Group Championships usually take place in the Spring.
In October there is a “Development” gala for those swimmers who are close to achieving a county qualifying time. If they do achieve a qualifying time they will swim in the County Championships the following Spring.
On the day of the event the swimmer will swim in a heat, seeded according to their submitted time. The fastest swimmers in the heats will then swim in a final. All finalists receive an award on the day with the first 3 usually getting medals.
Counties are a good way of gaining fast, accurate times. Club members will meet some of the best swimmers in the county of their age-group in their events and they will meet them time and time again. They will get to know who they are up against and who they need to beat - and they will eventually beat them, we hope. They will also get a wider view of their performance compared with swimmers outside of the club.