FAQ
Opportunities to race and gain times
How can I start my racing career?
How many races should I enter?
Also check out the Parent Handbook from Greerton Swim Club for all your questions on swimmers, training, nutrition, etc.
There is an annual fee to belong to the club, payable in July, which marks the beginning of the swimming year. Join by click the 'Join Now' icon above.
Greerton Swimming Club does not employ a professional coach. We offer Club swimming on Monday and Wednesday at 7pm. These sessions are run by trained volunteer through to fitness swimming. Lessons are either 30 mins or 1 hour depending on ability.
Squad swimming is offered at Greerton Pool by through the affiliated competitive programme Swimming Opportunities
Opportunities to race and gain times
Club race days will be announced in Club newsletters. Also upcoming events can be can be found on the meet calendar.
How can I start my racing career?
In order to compete at a swim meet you must be a registered member of a club. There are several meets available both around Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty for all levels of swimming. Swimming Bay of Plenty request that all competitors have a time with their entry. Most meets have swimmers graded together by time rather than age so you will be swimming your race with others of the same ability.
The meet calendar shows Bay of Plenty and National Meets for the complete season. Most meets now can be entered via www.bayofplenty.swimming.org.nz after entering through the Member Login icon. If you don't have a logon contact the greerton recorder
How many races should I enter?
Firstly you can only enter a race for which you already have a time. Check with your coach and be guided by their advice. Remember to space your races, it is preferable not to swim one race after another. Try to compete in all strokes, it is not advised to specialise in a particular stoke or distance until your late teens.
Arrive 15 min before the start of warm up as noted in the flyer. Swimmers should sit all together with Greerton Swimming Club. A parent will have been appointed as a team manager. Introduce yourself so the team manager knows you have arrived. As seating is sometimes limited team seats are reserved for swimmers, parents are requested to sit separately from the team. The team manager will send you to marshalling approximately 6 heats before your swim. At marshalling you are seated in the order of your race and lane by a marshall. You are not allowed to leave the marshalling area unless to go to your race when the time has come.
Make sure you have your cap, goggles and your togs are securely fastened. Keep your clothes on and take your towel with you to marshalling. Once the marshall has sent you to stand behind the blocks its time to take off your clothes – place these and your towel in the basket provided. Put your cap on adjust your goggles and listen for the whistle of the referee to stand behind the blocks or enter the water if you are swimming backstroke.
Many swim meets operate over the top starts. This means that when you have finished your race you move back from the wall about one metre and wait beside the lane rope. The next race will get on the blocks and start now is time for you to exit the pool via the sides not over the end. The referee will indicate if you are required to exit the pool prior to the next race starting. When you have finished your race return to your lane and collect all your belongings from the basket, you may also like to ask the timekeeper for your time, if electronic timing is used the time the timekeeper gives you will be fractionally different from the one recorded by the computer. Remember to thank the timekeeper, this is really appreciated.
Results are usually available during the meet and these are placed on notice boards around the pool. They are usually also available on the Greerton Website a day after the meet.
Swimming is no different to other sports, there are very few paid positions and almost all organizing is by volunteers. Our club coaches are all encouraged to attend Swimming New Zealand coaching courses. These are usually held locally and the club will cover the cost where applicable. Packing up after sessions is also another way to help, everyone is keen to get a quick get away and many hands make light work. The Club Captain is the liason between club swimming and the committee, this position is an elected one and usually lasts for a year.
If your child is wanting to begin competiting there are many pool side positions available, It is usual to begin with becoming a team manager; this involves looking after swimmers while they wait to compete, ensuring they get to marshalling at the correct time, and attending to any other swimmer matters which may arise.
Time keepers are always needed this is an enjoyable way of helping and is the starting place of becoming an official. Training sessions and tutorials are held, followed by a theory and practical exam. The questions aren’t hard just common sense like “When do you start your watch?” Start practicing with a stop watch at Race Day. If you would like to become an official timekeeper or any other official please get in touch with our secretary. Time Keeping is a fun and enjoyable way to be pooldeck to experience racing and meeting officials from other clubs, many new friendships are forged between races