Competitions

As well as following a structured pathway through out each season to work on Individual Performances, swimmers represent the club in many leagues across the South West and Hampshire.  Below is a guide to Individual swimming performances and a guide to the leagues that Seagulls swim in.

Individual Swimming Performances

Throughout each season Seagulls swimmers follow a steady progression of competitions at club, county, district and national level competitions.  After Club Championships, county, district and national level competitions have entry times that swimmers must achieve in order to compete in their events.  Times can be gained at these championships to progress onto the next level, or they can be gained at Licensed Open Meets.

At district level and national championships competitions are split into two age groups for junior swimmers:

Age Group Swimming is for 9 to 13 year old girls, and 9 to 14 year old boys.
Youth swimming is for girls 14 to 17 years old, and boys 15 to 18 years old.

After Youth swimming juniors change into Senior swimmers for which their are National Level competitions, and major meet (Olympics, Commonwealth Games) qualifying meets.

Open Meets are licensed at different levels.  The lowest Level 3 is aimed at Club and County swimmers, Level 2 is aimed at County and district swimmers, and Level 1 at District and National level swimmers, who are looking to gain qualifying times and recognition in their events.

The swimming season starts in September and winds down during August after the National Age Group or Youth Championships.  We would look for a swimmer to have around 6 to 8 major meets through out the Season with the main emphasis being on training for these events long term.

A typical season would look like this in terms of Individual Swimming Performances

Meet	Time of Year	Aim
Club Championships	September to November	Qualify for County Championships
Targeted Open Meet	Early December	Qualify for County/ District Championships
Targeted Open Meet	Mid January	Prepare for County Championships
County Championships	February to March	Win and qualify for District. National Champs
Targeted Open Meet	Easter	Qualify for District/National Championships
		Prepare for District Championships
District Championships	May to June	Win and qualify for National Championships
National Championships	late July, early August	Win!

Interclub Galas

Below are the leagues that Seagulls swimmers compete in

The National Speedo League

This league has almost all clubs across the country compete against each other.  The first stage is through regions across the country, for which Seagulls is in the Western League.  In the Western League are 3 Divisions.  Swimmers start at U11 to Senior swimmers.

Seagulls strongest team available will compete in this league each year

For more information visit: www.nationalswimingleague.org.uk

Southern Junior League

This league is similar to the Speedo League, as in most clubs form across the country compete in this league, and again Seagulls are in the Western division.  This league is for swimmers between the ages of 9 and 12 year olds, and puts the swimmers in good stead for the National League.

Seagulls strongest Junior team available will compete in this league each year

Rother League

The Rother League is a Hampshire leagues, that stretches the versatility of all competing clubs, by each round providing a different format to swimming events. This league provides practice for important relay takeovers as many of the events are relays.  There are 5 divisions in this league

For more information visit www.swimleagues.org.uk

Minor League

This league was traditionally set up for smaller clubs and non Speedo League swimmers.  The league these days has progressed and holds very strong teams from the Hampshire area.

For more information visit www.swimleagues.org.uk

Junior Cup

The Junior Cup is a league again for the younger swimmers in the club from the age of 9 to 13 year old swimmers.  This league has the strongest teams from across Hampshire and the South Coast competing for the title of best Junior Club

For more information visit www.swimleagues.org.uk

Novice League

The Novice league is set up and run between five clubs locally in East Dorset and West Hampshire.  The competing clubs are Seagulls, Romsey and Totton, Hamble, Southampton and Ringwood.  This league has time restrictions on races to ensure that Novice swimmers have a league to compete in.  This league hosts five galas throughout the year.

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