Amateur Swimming Associations

Below is an extract from the ASA Web Site:-

• The ASA is the national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, open water, and synchronised swimming.
• The ASA organises competitions throughout England, and establishes the Laws of the Sport for each of the above activities.
• The ASA operates a comprehensive certification and education programme for teachers, coaches and officials in each of the above activities.
• The ASA operates a comprehensive Award scheme
• The ASA supports a 1600 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure.

What does the ASA mean to Stretford ASC and how does the ASA fit into the picture?

On a pyramid structure the water activities in England are arranged as follows:-

The ASA sets the rules for swimming and water polo and stemming from this we have teaching qualifications, and qualified officials. The ASA is part of a bigger organisation called FINA which sets the rules world wide – if we didn’t have these worldwide rules how could we run the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics?

Regionally the North West Region run the water activities from the North Midlands up to the Scottish Boarder.

Within the North West Region there are 7 Associations who put on programmes at a more local level. The names of these Associations are Manchester and District, Central Lancashire, Bolton and District, North Lancashire, North Midlands, Cumbria, and Liverpool and District.

Since Stretford is a competitive club we participate in the leagues run by Manchester and District, Central Lancs.

If you want to know more about the ASA they have a very good website at www.swimming.org/asa

Central Lancs Competitions

Central Lancashire Swimming and Water Polo Association

The Central Lancs Association includes all clubs affiliated to the North West Region and which lie within a twenty mile radius of Rochdale Town Hall are eligible for election as members.

PROGRAMME “JUNIOR”, “JUBILEE”, “INTERMEDIATE” AND “SENIOR” LEAGUES

The programme comprises of Junior, Jubilee, Intermediate and Senior leagues. This year (2012) Stretford will be competing in the Intermediate League. Any swimmer swimming in these competitions are required to be individually registered with the ASA, but this can be at Category 1.

Junior Swimming League Competition

The competition takes place annually between 1st March and 31st October. Currently the league is divided into two divisions with new clubs entering in division 2.

The age of the swimmer is that of the 31st October in the year of competition. The age groups are 10 and under (minimum age 9 years), 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under and swimmers may swim in all events in their own age group or above.

Normally at a gala there are only two teams with the gala starting off with a series of events where the boys and girls swim in the same race, therefore 4 lanes are occupied. On rare occasions two separate galas are held with the home team competing against two away teams. This is called a “double header” but it does require 6 lanes.

The second part of the gala are mixed races.

All the events are relays.

Each age group of boys, girls and mixed are all competing in their own mini competition such that at the end of the competition the winner and runner up in age group or boys, girls and mixed received medals.

The teams compete in an even number of home and away galas and each team only competes against each other once.

Intermediate Swimming League Competition

The competition takes place annually between 1st March and 31st October. Currently the league is divided into two divisions with new clubs entering in division 2.

The age of the swimmer is that of the 31st October in the year of competition. The age groups are 11 and under (9 years of age can only swim in relays), 13 and under, 15 and under, and swimmers may swim in all events in their own age group or above.

Normally at a gala there are only two teams with the gala starting off with a series of individual events where the boys swim in the even numbered events and girls swim in the odd numbered events, two swimmers are in individual events and one team in the team event. The first part of the gala is individual events whilst the second part are all relays.

On rare occasions two separate galas are held with the home team competing against two away teams. This is called a “double header” but it does require 6 lanes.

The teams compete in an even number of home and away galas and each team only competes against each other once.

Jubilee Junior Swimming Competition

A draw in made at the February meeting of the Central Lancs such that 4 teams will compete in a gala with the first drawn acting as the home team.

There are three round in the competition held in 1st week of March, second week of May, and first week of July. Based on the number of points a team has accumulated during the three round determines which gala they are placed in for the finals which are held in the first week of October.

The age groups are 10 years, 11 years and under, 12 years and under, and 13 years and under. There is a mixture of individual events and relay events.

Age Group & Championship Competition

Central Lancs hold an Age Group and Championship competition in June in which swimmers enter as individuals and compete in a full programme of events. The Age Group Competition and Championships are Licenced meets to Level 3 which means that if a swimmer swims better than the required time this will gain him/her entry into the County or North West Region galas or a Level 1 or Level 2 meet. Because they are Licenced meets it is a requirement that each swimmer is a member of the ASA to Category 2 level.

Age Group Competition Galas for the Warburton Trophy (Warburtons)

These are a series of open meets which are a Licensed Level 3 meet and this year will be run over two weekends 30th Sep/1st Oct and 6th/7th Oct 2012. Because they are Licenced meets it is a requirement that each swimmer is a member of the ASA to Category 2 level.

Central Lancs will use this competition to select a Central Lancs Team for the Inter-Association meet which this year takes place at Blackpool over the weekend of 17/18 Nov 2012

 

M & D Competitions

Manchester & District Swimming and Water Polo Association

The Manchester and District Swimming and Water Polo Association was formed in 1891 – 3 years after Stretford was started. The M & D Association includes all clubs affiliated to Lancashire County and which lie within a fifteen mile radius of Manchester Royal Exchange are eligible for election as members. Clubs further a-field may be elected as members but these clubs must be sanctioned by the Lancashire County.

Programme “A”, “B” and “Team” Galas

Each of these gala series is split into a number of divisions, with promotion and relegation between them. In each division there will be seven or eight teams. Each team will swim in one home and three away galas with four teams competing in each gala. Thus, a club will not swim against the same opposition each time, but each team will swim the same overall number of galas. Points are scored in each gala and these are totalled at the end of the season to give the league placings. There is also a final for the top six clubs in the division with a trophy for the winning team and medals for both first and second place teams. The competitions run from January to July with the finals in September or October.

This year (2012) Stretford will be competing in the M&D Programme “A” league, Programme “B” Programme and the “Team” league.

Ages are as at 30th September in the year in question. Under 9’s may not take part and 9 year olds may only swim relays. It is not necessary for the swimmer to be registered with the ASA at Category 2 for these competitions

Programme “B”

This has three age groups; 13/14 15 & Over with the format of the league being determined by the Hon. Swimming Secretary after entries have been received. The gala programme includes individual events and relays. Swimmers may compete in their own age group or above but only in two individual events and all relays. For each race the points are 4,3,2,1 for 1st up to 4th. All the points are accumulated during the season to determine the finalists.

For the heats M & D will provide the Referee/ Starter but the recorder is provided by the home team and each team is to provide a Judge.

For the Finals M & D provide all officials

Programme “A”

This has three age groups; 9/10, 11, 12/13 and consists of two divisions. The gala programme includes individual events and relays. Swimmers may compete in their own age group or above but only in two individual events and all relays. For each race the points are 4,3,2,1 for 1st up to 4th. All the points are accumulated during the season to determine the finalists.

The top six clubs in Div 1 swim in the Major Final and the top six clubs in Div 2 swim in the Minor Final. The finals are held in September/October

For the heats M & D will provide the Referee/ Starter but the recorder is provided by the home team and each team is to provide a Judge.

For the Finals M & D provide all officials

Team Relay

This has three age groups; 9/10, 11/12, 13/14 and consists of three divisions. As the title implies all the events are relays. Swimmers may take part in four events plus the Cannon relay. Again each division works on a points system with the top teams competing in the Finals in September/October.

Age Group Competition

M & D and Bolton & District are holding a joint open meet competition in January at the Manchester Aquatic Centre in which swimmers enter as individuals and compete in a full programme of events. The Age Group Competitions are Licenced meets to ASA Level 3 which means that if a swimmer swims better than the required time this will gain him/her entry into the County or North West Region galas or a Level 1 or Level 2 meet. Because they are Licenced meets it is a requirement that each swimmer is a member of the ASA at Category 2 level.

Swimming Championships

Manchester and District and Bolton And District Swimming and Water Polo Associations are joining, for the first time, to host a joint Championships. This will be a level 3 Designated meet and the age groups are swum as Junior, Youth and Senior events with trophies being presented to the winners of each event. The age groups are 12 and under; 13 and 14; 15 and over. Because this is a Licenced meet it is a requirement that each swimmer is a member of the ASA at Category 2 level.

The Championships will be used to select the joint M & D and B & D Inter-Association Team which is competing at Blackpool over the weekend of 17/18 Nov 2012. The age Groups for the Inter-association will be 10, 11, 12,13, and 14 years of age (age as at 18th Nov 2012)

The 2012 Championships will be held at the Manchester Aquatic Centre on 20/21 Oct 2012.