Altrincham Swimming Club — Competition & Gala Guidance

At Altrincham SC, our swimmers’ development is built on our Swimmer ABCs — the foundation of everything we do as a club.

The Swimmer ABCs

A — Attendance
Attendance is king! The more you attend, the better you get — and the better your squad gets too. Regular attendance helps us manage numbers, plan sessions effectively, and make sure every swimmer reaches their full potential.

B — Behaviours
We live our vision and values at every session and gala.
That means:

  • Respecting others
  • Striving for excellence
  • Aiming to reach our potential every time we train and race

C — Competition
We are a competitive club. While we remain inclusive and accessible, our purpose is to help swimmers compete at the level that suits them best. Competition gives training its focus and purpose — it’s how swimmers measure progress, build confidence, and learn to perform under pressure.

Our Gala Structure

We run a mix of internal and external galas to help swimmers develop and test their progress throughout the season.

Internal Galas

These include:

  • Pointscore
  • Club Championships

These are open to all squads, although Ducklings are encouraged to settle into club life first before taking their first steps into competition.  Once swimmers move into Development 1 (D1), we recommend starting to enter internal galas.

All our internal events are licensed, thanks to the work of our competitions team, meaning the times achieved can be used for entry into external meets.

External Galas

Swimmers from Development 2 (D2) upwards are expected to begin entering external galas.
External meets are a vital part of progression through the club — from D3 right up to Pre-Performance, regular racing plays a big part in development and squad movement.

How to Enter

  • External gala entries are managed through Swim Manager.
  • You’ll receive invites via email or through your WhatsApp squad group — if you get an invite, it’s relevant to your swimmer’s squad.
  • If you’re unsure what events or times to enter, ask your swimmer’s coach on poolside — we’re happy to help.
  • Most meets already have your swimmer’s times loaded, and some have qualifying times that must be met.

We encourage all swimmers from D3 upwards to race as much as they can. Racing is where skills and training come together — and it’s how swimmers improve.

Team Galas — Arena League & Beyond

Arena League is our main team gala each year — and it’s something we make a big deal of!
It’s part of a national swimming league and involves three rounds:

  • Mid October
  • Mid November
  • Early to mid December

We ask swimmers who might be in contention to keep these dates free.

Selection: Arena League is invitation only and based purely on times — we select the fastest swimmers on paper for each event to maximise points for the team.

It’s not about effort or attendance for this particular event; it’s about racing our strongest possible line-up.

We sometimes even invite back former club swimmers to strengthen our teams — it’s a great, competitive, and fun way to showcase what we can do as a club.

As a smaller club, we don’t have huge depth in every age group, so every performance counts — and Arena League is our chance to show just how strong and spirited our swimmers are.

Summary

  • Ducklings — focus on confidence, not racing just yet
  • D1 — start entering internal galas (Pointscore & Club Champs)
  • D2 & above — begin entering external galas regularly
  • Arena League — invitation-only team event for the fastest swimmers in the key age groups
  • All gala information will come via Swim Manager and WhatsApp
  • Ask your coach if you’re unsure about entries or events

Our galas aren’t just about medals or PBs — they’re about giving every swimmer the chance to learn, improve, and belong to something bigger.

Every gala — big or small — is a step forward in your swimmer’s journey.