GALA DO'S AND DONT'S
Entering An External Gala
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Swimmers will be advised via email of the competitions and events to enter ( a calendar of events is available on the club website & notice board so you have advanced notice of dates. Try to keep these free)
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Parents then need to complete an online entry. The entry form will be sent via email and the members app.
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Entries need to be made before the club closing date (the club closing date is earlier than the host closing date to allow time to collate and submit Morpeth ASC entries)
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Please keep a note of the competitions and events you have entered. You will need this later to check your entries.
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You will be sent a list of entries to check after the club closing date.
Payment
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The cost of races can be found in the meet information
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Please check you are paying the correct amount
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Payment should be made at the time of submitting your entries
Rejected Entries & Withdrawls
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Entries will be accepted or rejected by the organiser. You will be informed if your entry has been rejected.
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Rejections are a result of the host club receiving too many entries. Morpeth ASC has no control over this.
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Refunds are given for rejected entries but not for withdrawals after the closing date.
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The competition secretary must be notified before the closing date if you wish to withdraw from a an event/gala. After this date, we have made payment for your events to the host club.
BEFORE THE GALA
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Make sure you have downloaded the Morpeth ASC app by Spaces to post a message on if you are delayed or unable to attend. You can also do this on the club fb page
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In the case of a swimmer having vomitted /diarrhoea prior to the gala, we ask that a commensense approach is taken and you do not attend swimming (including galas) for at least 48hrs. This is to avoid the spread of bugs to other swimmers or in case the swimmer has a relapse.
(The club is fined where withdrawals are not notified at the start of the session)
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Make sure you know how to get to the venue and you are aware of any parking arrangements to enable you to allow plenty of time to get to the gala on time
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Bring some cash – there will be an entry fee for spectators
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Swimmers should know which races they are participating in
ATTENDING THE GALA
When attending a gala please arrive 30 minutes before scheduled warm up times.
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Upon arrival, the swimmers go straight to the changing area whilst parents queue to enter the spectators’ area.
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Swimmers stay with the team for the whole session (unless advised otherwise by a coach or team manager). There is usually a morning session and an afternoon session.
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Parents should not come onto poolside at any point throughout competitions or enter the changing area - (unless an absolute emergency e.g. illness).
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Swimmers must tell the coach or poolside helper if they are unwell or injured
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Swimmers can leave poolside at the end of the session for lunch or to go home.
Once changed, swimmers should go and meet their team on poolside taking with them:
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Warm Up costumes
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Costume to race in or racing suit if appropriate.
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Swimming Hat & spare
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Goggles & spare
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A towel to dry off after each race
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Club T-shirt to wear in between races / shorts or leggings
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Club Hoodie
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Trainers & socks only used for poolside / Sliders or similar
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Food and drink for each session
Once the team is assembled the team manager & coach will provide all necessary instructions for your races.
Swimmers should know what events they are competing in.
DURING THE GALA
• The coach will let you know when to you need to go to marshalling for your race (experienced swimmers are expected to manage this themselves)
• Listen to the advice the coach gives you
• After the race the coach will give you feedback on how the race went – go and find them!
• Have a swim down and then dry off – you need to keep warm
• If you leave poolside then let the coach know
• Drink plenty
• Don’t eat lots of sweets
• Support your team mates
• Check the posted results to see if you’ve won a medal
• PARENTS MUST NOT GO POOLSIDE
Remember, the most important thing is to do your best and enjoy yourself!
Dos & Don'ts for Swimming Parents
Swim Parents
When coaches, swimmers and swimming parents work well together, incredible things are possible. The team is committed and focused on helping the swimmer to realise their full potential.
For swimming parents there are a few simple dos and don’ts that can help ensure that you are guiding your child in the right way and fulfilling your all-important role.
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Do be supportive – rain or shine! Whether your child comes first or last, sets five PBs or none, you should still love and support them the same. One of your most important roles as a swimming parent is to provide emotional support during the tough times, of which there will be many. Let your child know that they are still loved, no matter how badly they think they swam. And likewise, try not to let them get cocky when they win.
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Don’t pressure your child - Remember that swimming is your child’s hobby. If your child has their own reasons and own goals for participating, they will be far more motivated to excel and therefore far more successful. It is normal and healthy to want your child to excel and be as successful as possible, but swimming parents cannot make this happen by pressuring them with expectations. Instead, you can encourage them and offer them unconditional support and guidance.
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Don’t be the coach - ‘Coaches coach. Swimming parents parent.’ Your child’s coach is there to teach the technical swimming skills. You can help your child to learn values and develop positive character traits. Showing unconditional love and support, and creating a happy and balanced home environment will help them to get the most out of what they are doing in the pool.
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Do encourage independence - Confidence is the essential ingredient in all great swimming success stories. Confidence comes from knowing; knowing you can do it. Encourage your child to pack and empty their own swimming bag, to make their breakfast, to carry their swimming kit, fill their water bottles etc. This will help to create independent and self-motivated swimmers, with a strong sense of confidence, self-belief, resilience and self-reliance.
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Don’t dangle carrots - Try to avoid extrinsic motivation (bribery!). It’s important to be careful of the message you send out – swimmers should swim for themselves and for the positives the sport brings. When your child does well, try to praise them for what they did well, not the outcome that they achieved.
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Don’t criticise the officials - The majority of officials are volunteers. Many are even swimming parents who have decided they want to help out on the poolside. Children sometimes make mistakes at meets – it happens! If your child is disqualified at a meet, try not to complain or worry. If a disqualification is questionable, as sometimes is the case, the coach (and not the parent!) will take the necessary steps.
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Do respect the coach - Trust the coach to do their job. If you have any questions about something your child’s coach is doing or saying in the sessions, it is usually ok to ask. However, their attention will be on the swimmers they are coaching during session times, so try and grab a word with them before or after training. Remember that a huge number of coaching staff are giving their time voluntarily and are keen to get the best out of every one of their swimmers!
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Do be loyal and supportive of the team - Where possible emphasise the importance of being a team player. Swimmers that motivate others are often the happiest and gain the greatest benefit out of training and competition. This goes for swimming parents also. Cheer for your own child but cheer for their teammates too. This will help to create a positive atmosphere amongst the swimmers and their supporters.
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Don’t make your child feel a failure - Children develop at different rates, in terms of size, strength, coordination, emotional and intellectual maturity and just about everything else. Encourage your child to compete against themselves, and to measure themselves against only their own best efforts. If they do win and beat everyone else, it’s a bonus!
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Don’t push for Olympic or Paralympic glory - Maybe your child will become an Olympian, but for most this isn’t the case. Encourage your child to be the best they can be and to enjoy their sport, but make sure both your and their expectations are not too set too high. It’s great to have goals and dreams, but the most important thing is that they are happy. If they are happy the good performances will come naturally.