Beginner's Guide to Competition
Beginner's Guide to Competition
New to competitive swimming? Everything you need, all in one place.
New to competitive swimming? This section brings together everything you need to know — from understanding your first gala to tracking your times and qualifying for regional championships. Use the guides below to find your way around.
Key Gala Information
Everything you need to know before, during, and after a gala — poolside rules, warm-up procedures, and what to expect on the day.
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Beginner's Guide to Qualifying Times
What qualifying times are, how they work, and what your swimmer needs to achieve to enter different levels of competition.
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Summer National Qualifying Window 2026 Explained
A clear breakdown of the 2026 qualifying window — key dates, eligible events, and how to make the most of the season.
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Qualifying for NERs
How the North East Regional Championships work, what times are needed, and how D&G swimmers can qualify.
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Swimming Language
A plain-English glossary of swimming terms, abbreviations, and jargon — so you always know what the coach is talking about.
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Swim Results and Rankings
How to find your swimmer's results, understand rankings, and track personal bests using the main results platforms.
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