GENERAL
Everything you ever wanted to know about swimming but were too afraid to ask
| Long Course | 50 metre pool |
| Short Course | 25 metre pool |
| Swimming Age Groups | For most competitions swimmers ages are determined by their age on 31st December in the year. Two swimmers born on 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1992 will both be classified as 10 year olds throughout 2002 |
| Age on Day | In a minority of competitions swimmers ages are determined by their actual ages on the day of competition. |
| Open Meets | Competitions open to all registered swimmers. |
| Heat Declared Winner | The fastest swimmer in the heats is the winner. There is no final. |
| Relays or Team Races | Usually 4 or more swimmers swimming consecutively. |
| Freestyle Relay | All swimmers may swim any stroke. |
| Medley Relay | Must be swum Back, Breast, Fly, Free (which means NOT Back Breast or Fly) |
| Individual Medley | Must be swum Fly, Back, Breast, Free (which means NOT Back Breast or Fly) |
| Affiliation Fees | Paid by all members of ASA affiliated clubs. A small amount to the County, rather more to the District and the largest of all to the ASA. |
| Masters | Aged 25 or more |
| Minimum Ages | 8 or less teams and not a league - 9
9 or more teams or part of a league - 9 for relays, 10 for individual swims. Further restrictions apply to District and National Galas |
| Referee | The person in overall control of a gala |
| Starter | Responsible, with the referee, for ensuring that the starts of all races are fair. |
| Judges | Usually: 2 or more turn judges to ensure that turns and relay take overs are fair, 2 stroke judges to ensure that all strokes are in accordance with ASA law 2 finish judges to put the finishers in order and to ensure that turns and relay take overs at their end are fair. Placings are never decided on times. The finish judges and the referee decide the finishing places. If necessary times are adjusted to match Judges do not disqualify. Only the referee may disqualify. |
| Timekeepers | Not always necessary. If needed the minimum is one per lane. |
| Coaching Qualifications | Assistant Teacher, Teacher, Club Coach, Coach, Senior Coach |
| Designated Meets | Times achieved at designated Open Meets may be used to meet the entry times for District and National competitions. Times from other galas may not. |
| 2 Start Rule | One false start will be allowed per race (not per swimmer). On the second start, any swimmer who false starts will be disqualified. |