Swimming Stages

[CheamMumOf2Kids]

My 12 year old daughter swims with a competitive club since two years now, but I do not know which stage of swimming she is on.

When asked the club - they say that they do not do stages.

Not sure what this means.

Can anybody explain please. Thanks.

I would assume that in a competitive club they have exceeded the top stage so are beyond them now.

Thanks EmrysAtticus for your reply.

Not at all sure. Thus wanted to understand from other mums, how does this work.

She attends galas organised by the club, but not competitions.

My son used to do swim England stages with his local council swimming pool. We moved him to a private company in a school pool and they said they didn't follow the swim England stages but did their own. Which are a lot harder although I don't understand the need for it.

Could it be like that? They just don't follow the swim England criteria and have their own standards?

If she swims competitively then I assume she's exhausted all the teaching stages.

Ours don't do stages either but all the criteria for the different teaching and coaching groups are on the club website.

My daughter also swims for a club. Generally the training they do with a club is far beyond the level of the stage awards, the club may have different squads that they will move through based on ability/age, but this isn't the same as stages.

Galas are competitions - some galas will be against other clubs, competing to earn points for your team, other competitions will be open meets, where the club may attend as a group but the swimmers are competing as individuals, for medals and/or to try and improve their times. As they get older their times may qualify them to enter higher level meets such as county and regional championships but your club should tell you about this. I find the best way to learn about these things is to chat to other parents during training and check the club website regularly.

Thanks all.

Yes they do have Squads.
And I didn't know that galas are competitions.
I know they record the time, but nothing is shared with me after the event.

I would think you can go and watch the galas. Do you do that?

Honestly, have not watched one.

I found the whole club thing completely confusing at first but it has all gradually become clearer. All our DCs times are recorded in their club login on the website, as is loads of information about the types of gala etc.

Ah thanks ExpletiveDelighted.
Good to know that I am not the only one.

I do not have a login. Probably I need to get that first.

My DCs finished those stages recently and they moved into the local swimming club. Speaking from my own (limited) experience they assess each child and place them with similar ability kids. They move kids when they feel they're better suited to another level or another instructor. It seems much more organic that the set stages of pass certain things to go into the next level.

From what I understand there are the 'official' competitions and the local galas.

Those kids who reach certain times, have the stamina and are confident in themselves are encouraged to go for those official competitions.

Kids who haven't yet worked up to those times, don't quite have the stamina yet, are unsure or lack confidence are encouraged to to for the galas until they do reach the level above.

Kids that want to swim but don't want to compete don't have to do any competition or gala.

Whether all clubs are like this I don't know. Maybe best speak to your club to be sure?

If your DD is registered with a club and is swimming in licensed meets, you will find her times here.
Some smaller clubs don't swim in licensed meets. Just friendly club galas .Larger clubs will enter their swimmers in larger meets based on the swimmers ability.
Your club should be communicating this with you.

www.swimmingresults.org/individualbest/