MUNSTER COMPETITIONS PATHWAY

This document is intended to explain the gala progression for all swimmers from the beginning of their competitive career through to National competitions.

It also contains the competition rules which apply to Munster competitions and details of the events and consideration/qualification standards for Munster competitions for the forthcoming season.

It is hoped that you will find this helpful.

COMPETITION PATHWAY

The National Performance Director has introduced a new competition pathway which will be implemented in all Regions from September 2017 and will ensure that competitions are streamlined throughout the country. This is a huge step forward and will be a very positive step in Irish Swimming.

This document has been complied by the Swim Ireland Competitions Steering Group in conjunction with the Performance Department and will explain the pathway from the time a swimmer begins their competitive career until they reach National level competition.

Ages:

Swimmers ages will be defined as their age on 31st December of the year of the competition. (For example, a swimmer born in 2005 will swim as a 12 year old during 2017 and a 13 year old during 2018). This applies to all competitions with the exception of schools which will be defined as 31st August of the school year.

Time Standards:

 Qualifying Times: Where a meet has qualifying times, swimmers who have achieved these times will be accepted into that event.

Consideration Times: Where a meet has consideration times, swimmers who have achieved these times will be considered for entry into the event based on entry numbers. Swimmers who have not achieved either the qualifying or consideration times will not be accepted into the event.

Competition Types:

 Swim Ireland have introduced a Domestic Competition Plan which sets out the competitions to be held Regionally and Nationally throughout the year. These are classified as:

(a) Intra-Club meets,

 (b)Inter-Club and Club Open meets,

(c) Regional Development and Regional Qualifying Meets (these replace Graded galas; with Regional Development replacing Grade 2& 3, and Regional Qualifying replacing Grade 1)

 (d)Regional Championship and National Division2 Meets

 (e)National Meets and National Championships.

 

1. Intra-Club Meets:

   These are defined as meets which are confined to swimmers from within the host club. Swimmers must be 8 years of age in the year of the competition to compete in these. Times achieved at these meets can be used for entry to Inter-Club meets and Club Open meets.

   Qualification standard;                                                                   None

    

2. Inter-Club and Club Open Meets:

   Swimmers must be at least 9 years of age to compete in these meets. Times achieved at these meets may be used for entry into Regional Development and Regional Qualifying meets, specific Club Open meets may be used for Regional LC Championships.

    Qualification standard;                                                      Defined by club.

    

3. Regional Development and Regional Qualifying Meets:

   Development Meets: Swimmers must be at least 10 years of age to compete at these meets. In Development meets there will be no qualifying times but cut off times will be in force i.e. if a swimmer is faster than a cut off time they will not be eligible to compete in that event. All development meets will include 100m Ind. Medley. Times achieved at Development meets may be used for entry to Regional Qualification Meets.

    Qualification standard;                                                      Cut off times

    

    Qualification Meets: Swimmers must be at least 10 years of age to compete at these meets. Swimmers must have achieved the published consideration standard to be considered for entry (see time standards above). Times achieved at these or equivalent meets may be used for entry to Regional Championships and if achieved in a Long Course pool in the Long Course season (1 st January – closing date) may be used for entry to the Irish Summer LC Nationals.

   Qualification standard;                                                                   Consideration times

    

4. Regional Championships

   Regional SC Championships;

   Ages: Male 16 & Under, 17 & Over; Female 15 & Under, 16 & Over.

   Swimmers must have achieved the relevant qualifying /consideration standards in Regional Qualifying meets or equivalent meets. Open finals ONLY. Times achieved at this meet may be used for entry to National SC Championships.

    Qualification standard;                                                      Qualifying and Consideration Times

    

          Regional Youth & Senior LC Championships:

   Ages: 15, 16, 17 & Over.

   Finals in each age group for all events with the exception of 400m 800m and 1500m events, which will be Heat Declared Finals. Entry times must have been achieved at Regional Development and Regional Qualifying meets or specific Club Open meets. Times achieved at this meet may be used for entry to Irish Summer LC Championships or National Division 2 Championships.

   Qualification standard;                                                       Qualifying and Consideration Times

    

   Regional Age Group LC Championships:

   Ages: 11/12, 13 and 14 years .

   Finals in each age group for all events with the exception of 400m 800m and 1500m events, which will be Heat Declared Finals. Entry times must have been achieved at Regional Development and Regional Qualifying meets or specific Club Open meets. Times achieved at this meet may be used for entry to Irish Summer LC Championships or National Division 2 Championships.

   Qualification standard;                                                       Qualifying and Consideration Times

    

5. National Championships

    Irish SC Championships:

   Age Groups: Male 16&Under, 17&Over; Female 15&Under, 16&Over.

   Age groups are for qualification purposes only. There will be no junior medals presented at this meet. Short Course Times ONLY, LC times or LC conversions will NOT be accepted. Qualifying times must have been achieved between 1 st December in the previous year and 6th November in the current year (or as per the meet conditions). “A” and “B” finals in all individual events with the exception of 800m and 1500m events.

   Qualification standard;                                                                   Qualifying Times

    

Irish Open Swimming Championships:                                                                                                     Age Groups: Male 15/16, 17/18, 19 & Over; Female 14/15, 16/17, 18 & Over .                              Age groups are for qualification purposes only. There will be no junior medals presented at this meet. Long Course Times ONLY, SC times or SC conversions will NOT be accepted. Times achieved at Regional qualifying LC meets may be used for entry for this meet. Qualifying times must have been achieved between 1st July in the previous year and 19th February in the current year. Open and Junior (Male 18 & U, Female 17 & U) finals in all individual events with the exception of 800m and 1500m events.

Qualification standard;                                                                               Qualifying Times

 

Irish Summer LC Championships:

 Age Groups: 12/13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & Over .                                                                                            Long Course Times ONLY, SC times or SC conversions will NOT be accepted. Times achieved at Regional qualifying LC meets, Regional Youth/Senior LC Championships or Regional Age Group LC Championships may be used for entry for this meet. LC qualification meets organised by Clubs can be used for entry for this meet provided they are approved for the purpose by Swim Ireland. Finals for all age groups in all individual events with the exception of 800m and 1500m events which will be heat declared winner.

 Swimmers may NOT compete in National Division 2 Meet if they have qualified for this meet.

Qualification standard;                                                                               Qualifying Times

Irish National Division 2 Meet;

Age Groups: 11/12, 13, 14, 15 & Over .

This meet will be held as a LC meet. Entry times must have been achieved at Regional Development and Regional Qualifying meets or specific Club Open meets. Qualifying and cut off times in each age group. The cut off time will be the qualifying time for the Irish Summer LC Championships. LC qualification times and SC conversions may be used for entry. Times must have been achieved between 1 st January and 18th June in the year of competition (or as per the meet conditions). Finals will be held in each age group in all events with the exception of 800m and 1500m which will be heat declared winner.

Qualification standard;                                                       Qualifying and Cut Off Times

 

MUNSTER COMPETITION PATHWAY

 

The Munster Competitions Pathway will be in line with the Swim Ireland Competition Pathway and this document will attempt to simplify the progression through Munster competitions.

Intra-Club Meets :

These meets are confined to the host club. Swimmers must be at least 8 years of age.  Events will be as defined by the club.  Times achieved can be used for Inter Club meets and Club Open/ Invitation meets.

Inter Club meets and Club Open/ Invitation Meets :

These meets are open to clubs affiliated to Swim Ireland and may be subject to Invitation from the host club.  Swimmers must be at least 9 years of age. Events will be as defined by the club.  Times achieved can be used for other Club Meets, Regional Development meets and where electronic timing is operational may also be used for Munster Qualifying meets and Regional Championships.

Regional Development and Regional Qualifying Meets :

Development Meets :

There are two levels of Development Meet ( Level 1 and level 2 ).  Swimmers must be at least 10 years of age to compete in these meets.  There are no qualifying standards, but cut off times will be in force i.e. if a swimmer goes faster than a cut off time they will not be eligible to swim in that event in future galas at that level.                                                                                                                                                                 To progress from level 1 to level 2 a swimmer must achieve the cut off time in either 100m Freestyle AND 100m IM, or 100m Free and two 50m events ( not including 50m Freestyle) or 100m IM and two 50m events ( not including 50m Freestyle.  Swimmers will be restricted to four events and must swim either 100m freestyle or 100m IM, but cannot enter both.

To progress from level 2 to qualifying meets swimmers must achieve the qualifying times in 200m Frontcrawl and 200m IM or the 200m Frontcrawl and two of the other 100m events (either the 100m Fly, or 100m Backstroke or 100m Breaststroke), or the 200m IM and two of the other 100m events ( either the 100m Fly, or 100m Backstroke or 100m Breaststroke).Swimmers are confined to four events and must swim one 200m event.

Qualification Standards :                                                                Cut Off Times

Qualification Meets :

Swimmers must be at least 10 years of age to compete in these meets.  Swimmers must qualify for 100m events and may select two 200m events and one distance event that they have not qualified for.  However, should galas be oversubscribed this may be amended. Swimmers who do not have ct’s for 100m events may swim these at development meets.  The cost for these events will be €4 per event.  Times achieved at these or equivalent meets may be used for entry to Regional Championships and if achieved in a Long Course pool in the Long Course season ( Jan 1 – closing date ) may be used for entry to Irish Summer LC Nationals

 

Qualification Standards :                                                    Consideration Standards

 

Regional Championships

Regional SC Championships

Ages: Male 16 & Under, 17 & Over; Female 15 & Under, 16 & Over.

Swimmers must have achieved the relevant qualifying /consideration standards in Regional Qualifying meets or equivalent meets. Open finals ONLY. Times achieved at this meet may be used for entry to National SC Championships.

 Qualification standard;                                                      Qualifying and Consideration Times

 

       Regional Youth & Senior LC Championships:

Ages: 15, 16, 17 & Over.

Finals in each age group for all events with the exception of 400m 800m and 1500m events, which will be Heat Declared Finals. Entry times must have been achieved at Regional Development and Regional Qualifying meets or specific Club Open meets. Times achieved at this meet may be used for entry to Irish Summer LC Championships or National Division 2 Championships.

Qualification standard;                                                       Qualifying and Consideration Times

 

Regional Age Group LC Championships:

Ages: 11/12, 13 and 14 years .

Finals in each age group for all events with the exception of 400m 800m and 1500m events, which will be Heat Declared Finals. Entry times must have been achieved at Regional Development and Regional Qualifying meets or specific Club Open meets. Times achieved at this meet may be used for entry to Irish Summer LC Championships or National Division 2 Championships.

Qualification standard;                                                       Qualifying and Consideration Times

 

Munster Competitions Rules

Meet Conditions : All Munster competitions will comply with SI & FINA Rules. The following meet conditions will apply to all competitions

1. Registration – All swimmers must be registered with Swim Ireland and have a registration no.  Entries without a registration no. will NOT be accepted.

2. Entry Times –All entry times must have been achieved within the previous fifteen months.

3. Electronic Times – As and from September 2016 only times achieved where electronic timing was used will be accepted for all competitions above Development meets

4. Age Up Date –The age up date will be 31st. December in the year of the competition ( with the exception of Schools galas)

5. Closing Dates –Agreed that all closing dates would be three weeks before the competition. NO ENTRIES AFTER THIS DATE.   Fees MUST be paid prior to the competition.

6. Entries on the Day – This was discussed and it was agreed that these could be taken at the discretion of the referee in certain situations. It was also agreed that submitted entries for Qualifying meets and Championship events would be returned to the clubs for verification, amendments etc. before the competition which should eliminate the requests for entries on the day.

7. Seeding – Non-conforming times will be seeded first. (i.e. In a Long Course competition swimmers entered on SC times will be seeded slower than swimmers entered on LC times and vice-versa in a Short course competition). Conversion times will NOT be accepted where there are LC and SC qualifying standards.

8. < > – One swimmer may swim up in age, but must remain in that age group for all relays in the competition.  Swimmers must be entered in the competition to be eligible to swim on relays. The swimmer does not have to be entered in an individual event, but their name must be on the gala database.

   Scratch sheet – 1 day competitions - To be posted for the entire competition 45 minutes before the start of the first session. 

2 Day Competitions - Withdrawals for the first day must be made 45 minutes prior to the start of the session.  Withdrawals for the subsequent sessions must be made prior to the advised time on the previous day.                                                                                                                                    

1. No Shows - Where a swimmer is NOT scratched, and fails to swim the club is fined €50 per swim. A swimmer will not be subject to a fine in the event that they produce a doctor’s certificate to Munster within 72 hours of the end of the competition. A swimmer who has been withdrawn from an event due to injury or illness will not be eligible to compete in the remainder of the competition.

1. Officials – Clubs must provide one official per four swimmers up to a maximum of four officials per session.  Where clubs are providing more than one official per session, at least one of these must be a turn judge. The host club must provide a minimum of two stroke judges, director of timekeepers, one call steward and computer operator.

Failure of a club to provide the required officials will result in a fine of €50 per official per session.

1. Medal Presentations – Swimmers must be properly attired for medal presentations, Clubs are required to ensure that swimmers attend for medal presentations.

2. Clubs MUST name their officials on the scratch sheet when these are being returned. Managers – Clubs MUST indicate on their scratch sheets the person who is responsible for their swimmers for the relevant competition.

3. “Kneeskins” , “Jammers” or any other swimsuit which cost over €50 (Girls) and €25 (Boys) must NOT be worn by any swimmer at a Development meet.

Munster Development Meet  Level 1 ( 3 opportunities )

Run over 1 day

September 30 / October 1

January 13/14

May 19 /20

FEES :              €15.00 per swimmer to cover all individual events,  €20.00 per relay.

Cheques to be made payable to “Munster Region Swim Ireland”.  All fees MUST be received prior to the competition. Fees should be sent to Tom O’Briem, Mont Pelier, O’Brien’s Bridge, Co. Limerick

Swimmers must swim in either the 100m Freestyle or the 100m Ind. Medley, and may enter a total of four events ONLY

Times must be submitted for all swimmers for the compulsory events i.e. 100m F/C and 100m IM.  Clubs may submit training times , but these must be signed off by a club Official.

            Session 1                                                                                Session 2

1. Boys 100m Freestyle7. Boys 100m Ind. Medley

2. Girls 100m Ind. Medley8. Girls 100m Freestyle

3. Boys 50m Breaststroke9. Boys 50m Backstroke

4. Girls 50m Backstroke10. Girls 50m Breaststroke

5. Boys 50m Butterfly11. Boys 50m Freestyle

6. Girls 50m Freestyle12. Girls 50m Butterfly

    

                                                                          

 

 

Only swimmers who have not achieved the cut off times are eligible to swim in these galas.

 

 

Swimmers achieving the cut off time in the 100m Freestyle and  the 100m Ind. Medley event or the 100m Freestyle and 2 of the 50m events ( Back, Breast or Fly), or the 100m Ind. Medley and 2 of the 50m events ( Back, Breast or Fly) will then be eligible to swim in Development 2 galas, and will no longer be considered Development 1 swimmers.

Run over 1 day

Munster Development Meet 2 ( 3 opportunities )

Run over 1 day.

November 18/19

May 19 / 20

 June 16 / 17

FEES :              €18.00 per swimmer to cover all individual events, €20.00  per relay event. Cheques to be made payable to “Munster Region Swim Ireland” and should be forwarded to Tom O’Brien, Mont Pelier, O’Brien’s Bridge, Co. Limerick.  Cheques must be received prior to the gala.

Times must be submitted for the 100m Freestyle

Swimmers MUST compete in one 200m event ONLY, and must swim a minimum of three events.

Swimmers will be confined to four events per gala.

           

            Session 1                                                                                Session 2

1. Boys 100m Freestyle7. Boys 100m Ind. Medley

2. Girls 100m Ind. Medley8. Girls 100m Freestyle

3. Boys 100m Breaststroke9. Boys 100m Backcrawl

4. Girls 100m Backcrawl10. Girls 100m Breaststroke

5. Boys 100m Butterfly 11. Boys 200m Freestyle

6. Girls 200m Freestyle12. Girls 100m Butterfly

    

    

    

 

 

Only swimmers who have not achieved the cut off times are eligible to swim in these galas.

 

To qualify for qualifying meets swimmers must achieve the qualifying times in 200m Frontcrawl and 200m IM or the 200m Frontcrawl and two of the other 100m events (either the 100m Fly, or 100m Backstroke or 100m Breaststroke), or the 200m IM and two of the other 100m events ( either the 100m Fly, or 100m Backstroke or 100m Breaststroke).

 

REGIONAL QUALIFYING MEET 3 (3 Opportunities )

 

October 13 -15

February 2-4

March 9 -11

Swimmers are restricted to 6 events

 

            Session  1                                                                  Session 3

1. Boys 1500m Freestyle15. Girls 1500m Freestyle

2. Girls 400m Ind. Medley16. Boys 400m Ind. Medley

3. Boys 200m Breaststroke17. Girls 100m Breaststroke

4. Girls 200m Freestyle18. Boys 200m Freestyle

5. Boys 100m Butterfly19. Girls 200m Butterfly

6. Girls 200m Breaststroke20. Boys 100m Breaststroke

7. Boys 50m Freestyle21. Girls 50m Freestyle

   Session 2                                                                   Session 4

8. Boys 400m Freestyle21. Girls 400m Freestyle

9. Girls 200m Ind. Medley22. Boys 200m Ind. Medley

10. Boys 100m Backcrawl23. Girls 200m Backcrawl

11. Girls 100m Butterfly24. Boys 200m Butterfly

12. Boys 200m Freestyle25. Girls 100m Freestyle

13. Girls 100m Backcrawl26. Boys 200m Backcrawl

14. Boys 100m Ind. Medley27. Girls 200m Ind. Medley

15. Girls 800m Freestyle28. Boys 800 Freestyle

     

 

Swimmers must qualify for 100m events and may select two 200m events and one distance event that they have not qualified for.  However, should galas be oversubscribed this may be amended. Swimmers who do not have ct’s for 100m events may swim these at development meets.  The cost for these events will be €4 per event

 

REGIONAL SC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

 

REGIONAL SC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

SC QUALIFYING & CONSIDERATION TIMES

SC QUALIFYING & CONSIDERATION TIMES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGIONAL YOUTH/SENIOR LC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

 

If a Friday evening session is not possible, the 800m and 1500m Freestyle events are to be run as ‘Mixed’ events in sessions 5 and 8 and the 400m Mixed Medley Relay to be placed at the beginning of Session 8

 

 

REGIONAL YOUTH/SENIOR LC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

LC QUALIFYING & CONSIDERATION TIMES

 

 

REGIONAL YOUTH/SENIOR LC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

LC QUALIFYING & CONSIDERATION TIMES

 

REGIONAL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

 

If a Friday evening session is not possible, the 800m and 1500m Freestyle events are to be run as ‘Mixed’ events in sessions 5 and 8 and the 400m Mixed Medley Relay to be placed at the beginning of Session 5

 

 

REGIONAL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

LC QUALIFYING & CONSIDERATION TIMES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGIONAL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

LC QUALIFYING & CONSIDERATION TIMES