Entering Swim Meets

The following is a general overview about how to enter a swim meet and to assist parents and swimmers understand the different types and responsibilities associated with swim meets.

At its simplest, swim meets can be divided into two (2) categories – those with time requirements and those without. However, there may be a difference in entry procedures and it is recommended that you read the meet program and entry requirements carefully. For example, meets with no time requirements will generally include a time requirement for longer distances of 200 metres of more. This is to ensure swimmers have the necessary skills and ability to swim the longer distance. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the advertised contact for the specific meet or speak to a member of the Canberra ASC Committee.

To find out when meets are being run head to the Swimming ACT meet calendar, or the Swimming NSW Event page for NSW meets. Swimming NSW meets are not by Swimming ACT. Keep any eye on the calendar and Club emails for upcoming meets. Ensure you read the program and qualifying times for SNSW meets carefully. There are different guidelines for entry to those meets.

What are the time requirements?

Official times

Official times are entered into the Swimming Australia Results Central database and enable a swimmer to enter meets where there is a time requirement.

Swimmers obtain official times by competing at various meets that satisfy the requirements specified by the governing body. These requirements vary, however generally consist of a certain number of technical officials and positions (e.g. Referee, Starter, Judge of Stroke etc.), an appropriate timing system and a minimum number of timekeepers per lane.

Without the minimum number of technical officials, appropriate equipment and timekeepers, any times recorded cannot be submitted as official times. Hence the importance of the technical official roles and timekeepers at each meet.

Break times

Break times are generally used for at swim meets targeted at new and developing swimmers and are intended to encourage improvement and ‘break the time’. These meets also provide an opportunity for new swimmers to obtain official times. Once a swimmer breaks the time for a stroke and distance—swims faster than the break time—they are no longer permitted to enter that event and can progress into more competitive meets requiring qualifying times – these are explained a little later.

The break times vary for each stroke, distance, age group and gender. So, while you may not be able to compete in one event due to having a faster time, you may still be able to compete in others. For example, if the break time for the 50m Freestyle – 12-year-old Males is 35:00 seconds, a swimmer can compete in this event if they have no official time for this event and/or have an official time that is equal to or slower than 35:00 seconds, e.g. 35.01 seconds or slower.

Qualifying times

Qualifying times are the opposite of break times and require swimmers to have recorded an official time that is equal to or faster than the qualifying time advertised. The qualifying times vary for each stroke, distance, age group and gender. While you may not be able to compete in one event due to having a slower or no official time, you may still be able to compete in others. For example, if the qualifying time for the 50m Freestyle for 12-year-old Females is 35:00 seconds, a swimmer can compete in this event if they have an official time that is equal to or faster than 35:00 seconds, e.g. 34.99 seconds of faster.

Swim Central

Most meets require swimmers to enter online via Swim Central. Registered swimmers (members of a swimming club) can do this by simply clicking the relevant meet entry link for the advertised meet in the Swim Central event calendar. There are a number of member resources on the Swimming NSW to help guide through entering a meet. If you experience any difficulties when trying to enter a meet, please get in touch with the advertised contact for the meet as soon as possible. Alternatively, contact our Race Secretary at racesecretary@canberra.org.au for assistance.

What are the different types of ACT meets?

Club Nights

Run by Canberra ASC, these meets are intended for all members to come together, try a new event and/or distance in a non-competitive, relaxed environment. Club nights also provide an opportunity for swim school participants to have a go at race swimming before diving into the world of competitive swimming and meets. Swimmers are only permitted to enter up to three (3) events. There are no time requirements except for 200+ metre events.

Please refer to the Club Night program available at canberra.swimming.org.au for more details.

Development Meets

These are particularly good meets for those swimmers who do not have any qualifying times in the national database. Run by Swimming ACT (SACT) these meets are designed for new and developing swimmers and provide a more formal starting point and pathway into competitive swimming. There are no prerequisites required except to be a member of a club. It is the best place to start!Development meets have break times. Swimmers can compete at Development meets with no official times and/or times that are slower than the break time(s).

Distance Meets

Run by SACT in conjunction with Development meets, Distance meets usually include 200m events for Breaststroke, Backstroke and Butterfly, as well as 400, 800 and 1500m Freestyle events. There are qualifying time requirements for the distance meets, however these are based on official times at shorter distances. For example, a swimmer will need an official time in the 100m breaststroke that is faster than the advertised qualifying time to compete in the 200m breaststroke. This enables swimmers who have not competed and obtained an official time at the longer distances to compete once they have achieved a certain level at the shorter distance. The qualifying times vary for each stroke, distance, age group and gender, so please ensure you read the meet program carefully before entering a distance meet. It is a requirement of SACT, that all swimmers entering a Distance meet must be accompanied by an adult or volunteer who can assist with officiating (e.g. timekeeping) for the duration of the Distance meet.

Qualifying meets

As the name suggests, qualifying meets will have qualifying times that swimmers must achieve before being able to enter the event(s). These include SACT Championships and various local Club run qualifying meets throughout the year as well as NSW Country and State Championships.

The qualifying times vary for each qualifying meet, stroke, distance, age group and gender. It is important the you read the meet program carefully to ensure you qualify and enter the correct event(s).

Invitational meets

If a swimmer is selected to compete at an invitational meet (e.g. James Brophy Inter-District Invitational), any time requirements will have been considered as part of the team selection process. However, if you have any questions, please contact the team/meet organiser directly. If you receive an offer to participate in an invitational meet, it is important that you accept or decline the offer as soon as possible to ensure the team/meet organiser can fill places and submit team entries on time.

Relay teams

For qualifying meets, relay teams will be created and entries submitted by our Race Secretary. There is a process whereby the Meet Manager software determines the best team(s) and combination of swimmers based on the official times recorded. Any entry fees for relay teams are covered by the Club.

If you receive an offer to participate in a relay team, it is important that you accept or decline the offer as soon as possible to ensure the Race Secretary can fill relay places and submit team entries on time.

Why are some swimmers unregistered?

SACT permits swimmers who are not a member of a club to compete in up to three meets. This gives new swimmers an opportunity to try a club night or development meet before committing to a club. It is a great way to try competitive swimming however any official times recorded while competing as an unregistered swimmer cannot be submitted to the Results Central database.

Once a swimmer has competed at three meets as an unregistered swimmer, they are not permitted to compete at any other meets until they join a club.

Remember… always review the meet program when considering which meets and events you want to enter. If you have any questions, get in touch with the advertised contact or speak to a member of the Canberra ASC Committee for assistance.