Apart from the club championships and/or the Mini League the first competitions your child will enter will probably be Graded Meets.
These
are competitions where there is a time given for each event.
i.e.
every age, stroke and distance will have its own time.
If
your child has in the past swum this event in a faster time than is stated your
child cannot enter the event.
e.g.
your child’s time for 50m f/c is 43.60secs
the time given for this event
is 45.00secs therefore your child cannot
swim this event
However
your child may be able to swim another event at the same competition.
e.g.
your child’s time for 50m b/s is 52.80secs
the time given
for this event is 48.50 secs therefore your child can enter it.
If
your child does swim at the competition and swims faster than the time given
then they will be given a pennant or a sticker saying TOO FAST.
Your
child will not get a medal even if they finish the race in a medal position.
The medals will go to the fastest swimmers who have not swum faster than the
time given.
The
main aim for all children in all competitions is to do their best time (pb) therefore swimming
‘too fast’ is a good result for a swimmer.