Gala Information | Kimberley Swimming Club

GENERAL INFORMATION

FOR ALL GALAS

Essential items to bring with you:

Extra Towel or T-Shirt (or both) for warmth between races
Non fizzy drink – preferably in a sports bottle
Hat and Goggles (optional)
Programme and raffle ticket money (for spectators)
Big Smiles, lots of energy and loud voices for cheering (everyone)
DON’T FORGET YOUR SWIMMING COSTUME / TRUNKS

Gala Information and Squad Selection

KSC currently participates in the following Notts ASA galas stages 1-3:

Notts ASA Stage One Galas: This consists of three galas during the season, with distances up to 50m for swimmers aged 11 years or under. The goal is to swim children in the appropriate age group rather than swimming them in an older age group.

Notts ASA Stage Two Sprint Galas: There are two galas during the season, covering 50m distances. Competition categories include swimmers aged 10 years and under, 12 years and under, 14 years and under, as well as an open age group typically 16 years and over. The goal is to swim children in the appropriate age group rather than swimming them in an older age group. KSC prioritises fielding the strongest and fastest team available whenever possible.

Notts ASA Stage Three Galas: This stage comprises two galas during the season, featuring 100m distances for swimmers aged 12 years and under, 14 years and under, and an open age group typically 16 years and over. The goal is to swim children in the appropriate age group rather than swimming them in an older age group. KSC prioritises fielding the strongest and fastest team available whenever possible.

All relays were modified last season to be mixed-gender events for stage 1-3 galas, reducing the number of required swimmers from eight to four.

KSC also competes in the:

Notts ASA Sports Centre Galas: These comprise of five galas each season spanning various distances. Competition ages include 9 years, 11 years and under, 13 years and under, 15 years and under, and an open age group typically 16 years and over. Relay events require 2 swimmers from each age group. The goal is to swim children in the appropriate age group rather than swimming them in an older age group.

J.C Dobbs League: This league includes five galas per season, with various distances. Competition ages are 9 years, 10 years and under, 12 years and under, 14 years and under, and an open age group typically 16 years and over. Relay teams consist of 4 swimmers from each age group. The JC Dobbs gala has cut-off times, and KSC endeavours to field a team of swimmers who match these times as closely as possible.

Liberty Leisure Gala: This is an annual gala for swimmers aged 12 and under who swim 50m races and 11 years and under who swim 25m races. There are cut-off times for this gala, and it is intended for less experienced swimmers to provide them with their initial experience of gala swimming.

In summary, there are only 18 galas throughout the swimming season. The sports centre galas are particularly challenging, often featuring some of the best age group swimmers in the county. KSC is committed to fielding its fastest team for the stage 2 and 3 galas.

Each season, we strive to ensure all swimmers participate in at least one gala. However, selection becomes challenging in age groups with a high number of swimmers. Some age groups may have only a few swimmers, leading to more frequent selection, while other age groups may have up to 12 swimmers, resulting in some not being chosen for gala swimming.

We appreciate your understanding of the complexities involved in selecting a gala squad. If your swimmer is particularly eager to compete in galas, we encourage you to discuss upgrading their membership to "Swim England compete membership" with one of our teachers. This will enable them to enter open meet competitions independently for strokes of their choice, provided they meet the qualifying times.

Lastly, one final point to mention, we can field two teams for some galas, but if we do this, we need twice the number of officials to support them.

Therefore, if any parents or carers are interested in becoming an official, please speak to a teacher at the club.