Parent's Guide

Welcome to Elmbridge Phoenix Swimming Club.

This guide is designed to help you understand all the rules and structure surrounding swimming galas. If you feel we've missed anything, please let us know so we can add more information.

Most new swimmers will begin in Development 1 Squad, which is our entry-level competitive squad training in a 25m pool.

When joining the club, your child will start with a Club Train Membership renewed annually by the club. This membership is for swimmers who are training and developing their skills within the club network. It does not allow entry into open competitions. Once your child is 9 years old and ready to compete, the club will upgrade the membership to Club Compete. This membership is for swimmers who want to take part in competitions. 

Competitions

There are different levels of swimming competitions. All competitions charge a fee per swimmer per each entry as well as fee per spectator entry to watch your swimmer swim.

Mini Meets are unlicensed events designed for younger swimmers to experience racing and see if they are ready to compete. These meets are typically unlicensed, meaning no official time is being recorded in Swim England Rankings, also swimmers will not be  disqualified for technical infractions. They provide an excellent opportunity to practice in a racing environment and prepare for more serious competitions in the future.

Level 4 Meets are licenced, and your times will be recorded in the Swim England Rankings afterwards. The difference with these meets is that they will have a Referee and qualified officials as well as disqualification codes will apply if a stroke or turn is not performed correctly. These meets are usually for our Club Champs, occasionally, we are invited to, or we may invite another club to take part in those competitions.

Club Champs are usually held several times a year and include a series of 50s, 100s, 200s, and 400s events. You do not need a qualifying time to take part in these competitions, making them a great opportunity to record times across a wide range of events. Opportunities like this are rare, so it is extremely important for swimmers to compete in as many events as possible. Times gained at these competitions will be required for swimmers to enter higher-level galas.

Entries for these events will be made via our entry portal called Swim Manager. Please note that there is always a deadline for entries to allow the club to organise the programme of events efficiently. We encourage all swimmers to sign up and make the most of these valuable opportunities.

Level 1,2 and 3 Meets are next level of competiton and are organised by other swimming clubs. They are also called "Open Meets". Our club will select the meets we are targeting, and these will be added to Swim Manager. Most of these meets will have both upper and lower qualifing time. Very often they will not accept "no timers" (swimmers with no offcial time recorder in Swim England Rankings), so they are aimed at specific squads. Swimmers can qualify based on their personal best times and may choose which events they would like to enter. Entry will be made via our online entry portal, and the club will submit all entries after the closing date has passed.

Some meets operate on first-come, first-serve basis. In these cases, the club will set an early closing date (much earlier than the official closing date) so that we can submit our entries quickly and increase the chance of all swimmers being accepted.

Other meets are based on fastest entries. This means the organising club will accept only the fastest swimmers and reject the slowest. These are called scratched entries, and there will be no charge for any rejected swims.

Surrey Championships

The club is registered in the Surrey Region. This is the first major competition event where swimmers will discover where they stand in the wider swimming community. Eligibility is subject to qualifying times, and this event is considered as the cornerstone of our Club calendar. Each year, Surrey publishes the qualification times ( usually from July onwards), and our swimmers work towards meeting these standards by taking part in various swimming galas and achieving new personal bests.

Regionals 

Those are the highest level of open meets, always held in a 50m pool (long course). Times achieved here can be used to qualify for National Championships. Times from level 3 and 4 meets cannot be used for Nationals.

Team Events

Swimmers for team events will be selected at the discretion of the coaching team. There is no entry fee for swimmers participating in these events. Coaches will contact selected swimmers by email directly, and invite them to take part. Parents and guardians are required to confirm the swimmer's availability at the earliest opportunity and no later than the stated deadline.

The success of league competitions depends on the attendance of selected swimmers. Therefore, it is expected that swimmers will participate once chosen. If a swimmer has taken part in the first round of competition, they should review and note the dates of subsequent rounds, as there is a strong likelihood that they may be selected again. Galas dates will always be published on the club's website under "Fixtures" or in your Swim Manager App.

While attendance is expected, it is recognised that exceptional circumstances may arise. In such cases, parents must notify the coaching team as soon as possible.

Each club is allocated a lane for the duration of the gala, and swimmers will compete in this lane across their assigned events. Team galas typically consist of a combination of relays and individual races. Please note that not all swimmers will get chosen to take part in those events.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What time I should arrive at competition or club gala?

To ensure swimmers are fully prepared for competition, the following arrival times and procedures must be observed:

• Team Galas ( where transport is not provided): swimmers are required to arrive at the competition venue no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the scheduled warm-up.
• All other Meets: swimmers must change and be present on poolside a minimum of 15 minutes before the first scheduled warm-up for the session in which they are competing.

Adherence to these timings is essential, as it allows swimmers sufficient opportunity to complete their pre-pool mobility work and land-based warm-up, both of which are critical to optimise performance and prevent injury.

What is Long Course and Short Course?

A long course pool measures 50 meters in length and is the standard used for major international competitions such as the Olympic Games and the World Aquatics Championships. Because the pool is longer, swimmers complete fewer turns within a race. This generally places greater emphasis on endurance and sustained stroke technique, as swimmers spend longer periods of time swimming between turns.

A short course pool measures 25 meters in length. It is frequently used in domestic competitions. Due to the shorter length, swimmers perform more turns over the same race distance. This often results in faster times compared to long course swimming, as swimmers can take advantage of the momentum gained from turns and underwater phases.

How do I convert Long Course times to Short Course times?

You can simply use one of the online tools to convert times: Time Conversions | pullbuoy 

What is a time trial?

A time trial is an officially sanctioned race, conducted under the same technical rules and officiating standards as a regular swimming event, for the purpose of recording an official time. Time trials are usually available on the day of the competition if places remain or if there are withdrawals. Additional swimms can be added for an extra cost by going to the recording desk and speaking with the organisers. Please note that time trial swims are not eligible for medals.

Who is my child competing against?

All competitions are organised in one of two ways: "age on the day" or "age as at 31st December". This determines which age group your swimmer will compete in. Always check the accepted entry list to confirm the age group your swimmer has been placed. In the heats, swimmers race against competitors from diffrent age groups. The heats are seeded by entry times, from the slowest starting first to the fastest.