Your Guide to Competitions
Everything you need to know about the official competitive pathway.
All official competitions are licensed by Swim England to ensure fair standards. This guide explains the different levels of meets our swimmers work towards.
🏊 Age 9: Can enter official licensed open meets.
⏱️ Age 8: Can race at internal Club Championships (Level 4).
The Four Levels of Licensed Meets
Level 4
The perfect starting point for new swimmers seeking times.
- 🎯 Purpose: First official race times
- 🏊 Pool: 25m or 50m
- 💡 Info: Includes internal Club Champs.
Level 3
The most common "Open Meets" for us to attend.
- 🎯 Purpose: Qualifying times
- 🏊 Pool: 25m or 50m
- 💡 Info: Have "Upper Qualifying Times" (speed limits).
Level 2
Higher-level competition aimed at National times.
- 🎯 Purpose: Winter Championships target
- 🏊 Pool: Strictly 25m
- 💡 Info: Fast, competitive environments.
Level 1
The highest domestic level of swim meet.
- 🎯 Purpose: Regional & National
- 🏊 Pool: Strictly 50m
- 💡 Info: British Summer Champs level.
Team Spirit: Inter-Club Leagues
It's not all about individual times! AST also competes in exciting team-based leagues. The Cotswold League is a fantastic local development league where we compete against other area clubs, bringing true team spirit to the pool.