Racing & Events

Your Guide to Competitions

Everything you need to know about the official competitive pathway.

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Age 9 and over

Can enter official licensed open meets.

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Age 8

Can race at internal Club Championships (Level 4).

Entry pathway

The Four Levels of Licensed Meets

All official competitions are licensed by Swim England to keep standards fair. These are the four levels our swimmers work towards.

  1. L4

    Entry Level

    The perfect starting point for new swimmers seeking their first times. Purpose: first official race times. Pool: 25m or 50m. Includes our internal Club Championships.

  2. L3

    Club Level

    The most common open meets for us to attend. Purpose: qualifying times. Pool: 25m or 50m. These have upper qualifying times (speed limits).

  3. L2

    Short Course

    Higher-level competition aimed at national times. Purpose: the winter championships. Pool: strictly 25m. Fast, competitive racing.

  4. L1

    Long Course

    The highest domestic level of swim meet. Purpose: regional and national championships. Pool: strictly 50m, the British Summer Championships level.

Team Galas & The Cotswold League

It's not all about individual times — some of the best days are won as a team.

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Team spirit

Team Galas

It's not all about individual times! Team Galas are an exciting part of competitive swimming where athletes race to score points for AST rather than just chasing personal bests. These events are known for their loud, supportive, and incredibly fun atmosphere, bringing true team spirit to the pool.
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Our league

The Cotswold League

AST is proud to compete in the Cotswold League. It unites clubs from across the region in a display of skill, determination, and sportsmanship, and gives our swimmers a fantastic platform to challenge themselves, break records, and forge lasting friendships.

Parents can find league tables, participating teams, and round information on the league website.
Visit The Cotswold League

Ready to enter your first competition?

Read our step-by-step guide to entering a meet through the club website.

How to Enter a Competition