Friday night club meets almost every week during school terms 1 and 4. Swimmers should arrive by 6.00pm to warm up for a 6.15pm start. There will be a "free swim" time at the end of the night once the lane ropes have been removed. This will be approximately 15-20 minutes while parents are packing away equipment and tidying up.

Nominations for each club meet must be lodged at the pool or submitted via email to info@gracevilleswimclub.com.au using the nomination form which can be downloaded from our club website. Swimmers must nominate by 6pm Thursday to allow sufficient time for our volunteers to organise the programme. Late nominations may only be accepted under special circumstances at the discretion of the Computer Operator. Swimmers can sign on after lessons or squad any afternoon.

Automatic Nominations: Swimmers can submit an automatic nomination for the season. If a swimmer has an automatic nomination but then is unable to swim on a particular club night they must notify one of the computer operators by putting a note in the nominations box or sending an email to info@gracevilleswimclub.com.au before 6pm Thursday. If a swimmer nominates (either automatically or manually) and then fails to swim without notifying one of the computer operators, 1 point will be deducted from their tally for each event they did not swim. If a swimmer fails to swim and does not notify the computer operators for three club nights, their name will be withdrawn from the automatic nominations.

The Management Committee has determined the programme for the season which is detailed in this handbook. Club meets are held over 3 strokes over distances of 15, 25 and 50 metres. A 100m freestyle or 100m medley race will also be conducted each week. There will also be another long distance race held in the middle of the Club Night.

Races will be announced over the microphone only once. Parents please ensure your children then go to the marshalling area ready for the race as this assists with the efficient running of the programme.

Prior to the races, one novelty event for young swimmers needing assistance will take place from the shallow end over 15m. Swimmers must not dive in the shallow end but will start in the water. Children will not need to nominate for this event and no times or points will be recorded. Younger swimmers will be promoted from 15m to 25m to 50m when qualified. All swimmers are encouraged to graduate to the higher level as soon as possible. Prior to promotion, qualifying times are to be gained twice but not necessarily in consecutive swims. Swimmers aged 8 years or over can swim 25m without first qualifying in the 15m events. Swimmers who better the qualifying time in a time trial will be promoted immediately.

To be eligible to swim in long distance races (100m and 200m) swimmers must be at least 10 years of age at the start of the season (i.e. born before 11 October 1998) or have twice swum the qualifying time set out below (to be eligible to swim in the 100m Medley swimmers must have swum the qualifying time below in at least two strokes).

Qualifying Times	15 - 25m	25 - 50m	50 - 100m & 200m
Freestyle	20 sec	25 sec	52 sec
Backstroke	21 sec	27 sec	56 sec
Breaststroke	24 sec	30 sec	1 min 2 sec
Butterfly	21 sec	27 sec	56 sec

Swimmers who have qualified to swim in a 50m event but choose to swim in a 25m race will only receive one point for that event.

We aim to have a referee at some Club Nights. The referee will assist swimmers to comply with the rules of swimming and advise swimmers when they have broken the rules. Where older swimmers (10 years and over) repeatedly break the rules they may be disqualified at the discretion of the referee. Younger swimmers will not be disqualified provided they are making a genuine attempt to swim the stroke. The rules are set out later in this handbook.

All events will be girls and boys together under a points system. Swimmers will be automatically placed in events with others who achieve similar times.

Swimmers compete against their own best time for points. Swimmers are awarded points for participation and improvement. Accumulation of points will achieve greater recognition and the majority of trophies and awards will be given to swimmers based on the points system.

The swim school coach will attend most club nights and can assist swimmers to learn the technical aspects and rules of the sport of swimming.

The BBQ and Canteen operate for your convenience every Friday night. They are a service to the swimmers, their parents and guests. We try to keep prices down to encourage families to come to club nights. Please remember that the people cooking and serving you are parents who are volunteering their time.

The club has a restricted liquor licence to sell alcohol on Friday nights. The club is required to ensure that responsible behaviour is observed. Only parents of club swimmers or their guests will be served. Any person displaying irresponsible or unacceptable behaviour will be required to leave the pool area. The licence will be reviewed every three months.