LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

The ASA Technical Committee has produced the following document to help parents and club helpers understand the principles behind training and competition for young swimmers.  To view this document (click here).

ATTENDING GALAS

You will find a brief description of the different galas below.

Swimmers must take the following items to each gala:

Swimming costume, 2 towels, a pair of poolside shoes, a t shirt and shorts/jogging pants to put on between races, drinks (not fizzy) and a packed lunch and snacks if the gala lasts all day. Please remember valuable items are taken at your own risk.

GALA ENTRIES

Each Coach will inform the swimmer if they have been selected and have the competition times for the galas the club are going to attend. You will be given a form with the details of cost per swim and who to return the completed form to and by which date. (please note – no application forms will be accepted after the closing date and all payments must be made by cheque). Please note that some galas have fines for competitors who do not attend the gala so please ensure that you inform your coach if you are unable to attend.

It would be helpful if swimmers kept a record of their swimming times after galas including the venue and date achieved. At each subsequent gala a swimmers fastest times will have to be submitted with each new entry for each swim. Please note it is the responsibility of the swimmer (or swimmers parents) to keep an up to date record however do not hesitate to contact the coach or any of the committee if you have any problems.

 CARD MEETS 

Card Meets are competitions where the swimmer will be given a card for each swim that the swimmer has received an entry by their coach. These cards need to be posted the day of the gala and by a specific time which will be noted on the card. It is the swimmers responsibility to check before the competition as failure to post cards can result in swimmers not being able to compete. This type of gala is becoming less common and in general galas will be "cardless" meets.

WARM UP

Swimmers need to be aware of the time of the warm up session from either the competition details provided by their coach or usually via. the Hosting Clubs website. Swimmers are expected to be at the venue in good time for the start of warm-up.  Warm-up sessions take place before the start of each morning and afternoon session.

TYPES OF GALA

OPEN Galas

These galas are aimed at the faster swimmers.

GRADED Galas

These galas are aimed at swimmers who are not fast enough to enter the Open Galas.

INTER CITY DOLPHIN Galas

These galas are held at city pool and are for dolphin squads throughout the City Of Newcastle. There are 4 galas a year held every 3 months June, September, December and March. Children swimming at this gala are aged 11yrs and under.

DURHAM & DISTRICT JUNIOR LEAGUE (or DIDDY LEAGUE)

The league is separated into 3 separate divisions 1st, 2nd & 3rd.

The league is aimed at children aged between 9yrs and 12yrs.

For each swim at the competition, points are awarded 6 points for 1st, 5 points for 2nd and so on.

Each club competes with other clubs in the same division, there are 3 heats held in March/April, with the final held in June/July each year. In divisions 2 and 3, if a club wins their final then they are promoted to the next division up. The winner of the division 1 final goes on to represent Durham & District at the National finals.

NORTHUMBERLAND & DURHAM DISTRICT or N & Ds

Age Group Championships are normally held over 2 weeks in March. Times are set for these championships and swimmers must prove they have swum faster than the entry times.

Graded Championships are held over 3 weekends in September, October & November. Times set at these galas are slower times and swimmers must not have swam faster than the entry time. Swimmers with fast times may be rejected from this gala.

NORTH EASTERN REGION (NER) or NORTH EASTERN COUNTIES (NEC)

These galas are held at Sheffield over 2 weekends (normally 1st and 2nd weekends in June).

Clubs from all over the North Eastern Region attend. Times are set a bit faster than the N & Ds, but swimmers must still prove they have swum faster than the entry times.

NATIONALS

SWIMMING TIME CONVERSION TABLE

To convert various pool times from 50m to 25m pool time and various other length pools (Click Here)

USEFUL MAPS

Newcastle ASC (Click Here)
City Pool,
Northumberland Road,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 8SE.
Tel: 0191 211 6250 or 211 629

Derwentside ASC (Click Here)
Louisa Centre,
Front St,
Stanley,
County Durham,
DH9 0TE.
01207 218877

Sunderland ASC (Click Here)
Sunderland,
SR5 1SU
0191 561 6161