An Introduction to Meets
Are You a Meet Host?
If you are a Meet Host from another swimming club holding a licensed open meet why not invite Erith & District Swimming Club? Just e-mail all of the details including the electronic entry sets (Sportsystems or Hy-Tek) to our Competitive Swimming Manager via e-mail: swimmingmanager @ edsc.org.uk.
What Are Meets?
These are competitions where Club swimmers enter individually using their previously achieved personal best time for each stroke and distance they wish to take part in. The types of open meet vary according to the capability of the swimmers. The ASA have a licensing system of 4 categories which have been designed to broaden the range of competition available to swimmers. The Kent ASA require swimmers to have achieved a qualifying time at a licensed meet to be eligible for the County Championships.
Briefly the four categories are described as follows:
LICENSE LEVEL 1:
These are the highest grade of meet designed for swimmers of national standard and above. Such a meet has to have lower qualifying times (no slower than) but there are no upper qualifying times (no faster than). Times achieved at these galas can be used for qualification to national, regional and county competitions. Only licensed qualifying times are eligible for entry into Level 1 meets.
LICENSE LEVEL 2:
These galas have both lower qualifying times and upper qualifying times although this is usually much faster than a national qualifying time and therefore not normally are restriction to entry. The lower qualifying times however can vary considerably from open to open. Times achieved at these competitions can be used for qualification to national, regional and county competitions.
LICENSE LEVEL 3:
License 3 meets have upper qualifying times but not necessarily a lower qualifying time. The cut-off can be anything up to a National Standard. Times achieved at these opens can be used for qualification to county competitions.
LICENSE LEVEL 4:
These are intended for club swimmers and those beginning to enter individual open competitions. These meets must have an advertised upper qualifying time, unless the event is a Club’s own internal Championships (e.g. our Club Championships). Electronic timing is not compulsory, although preferred. Times achieved at these meets may be used for entry into meets at levels two and three and into county championships.
External Links
The following links are handy references for completing entry forms to meets:
http://www.swimmingresults.org/individualbest/ - to check a swimmer's best individual licensed times
http://www.swimmingresults.org/individualrankings/ - to check a swimmer's ranking in terms of licensed times in various strokes/distances at national, regional, county and club level
https://www.swimmingresults.org/membershipcheck/ - to check your ASA Membership number here
https://www.swimmingresults.org/licensed_meets/ - to display a full list of available licensed meets