Competing for Leicester Neptune
It’s fantastic to be part of a team, pull on your Neptune hat and go racing!
Swimming competitions are where you get to apply the skills learnt in training, challenge yourself and SWIM FAST!
Types of swimming competition
Find out about the types of swimming competitions and how they work at the links below:
Preparing for a swimming competition
Things to bring
- A swim bag
- Swimming costume / swimming trunks or jammers – We do not recommend beach/swim shorts for competition. Expensive, super-tight-fitting racing suits are not necessary for most competitions
- Goggles – Make sure they fit snugly and don’t let in water or fly off when you dive in. A spare pair can also be useful
- Club hat – Important for team identity.
- Club shirt – Important for team identity and to keep warm between races. You can also bring a team hoodie or jacket if you have one. If you need club gear, contact simon.goddard@lnsc.org.uk
- Towels – You may want two (one for poolside between races, one for afterwards)
- Locker token/ £1 coin – You may want to put your clothes (and spare towel) in a locker
- Poolside camping chair – Only bring for open meets, not team galas
Things not to bring
- Mobile phones – It’s much better to support your team mates!
- Training equipment – Kickboards, fins, paddles etc
Food and drink
- Drink bottle – Water is fine
- Snacks – These should be healthy and easy and quick to eat. No sugary sweets, chocolate or nuts
Personal Bests Times (PBs) and Swim England rankings
Personal Bests Times (PBs) are a swimmer’s best times for a particular event e.g., 50m freestyle. A PB can be achieved at any competition where the race is officially timed. Your PBs are a great motivator and a way to chart your progress.
If your PB is achieved at a licensed swimming competition it will be recorded on the Swim England Ranking webpage. If you achieve your PB at a non-licensed gala, or during a relay, it is still a fantastic achievement but won’t be recorded on the ranking webpage. Therefore, many swimmers also record their PBs separately e.g., on a spreadsheet.
Please note: Qualification for higher-level competitions, such as the Leicestershire County Age Group Championships (aka ‘the County Championships’), is only possible with PBs from licensed events that are listed on the ranking webpage.
If you have questions about whether a competition is licensed or not, please ask one of the coaches!
Enjoying racing and supporting our swimmers
Swimming is a sport that can and should be enjoyed for a lifetime, competitively or otherwise. At Leicester Neptune, we encourage and value participation, effort, a positive attitude and respect for competitors – it’s not just about winning medals and achieving multiple PBs. We also really appreciate families and friends coming to support and cheer on their swimmers and teammates at competitions – it absolutely makes a difference!
