New to racing?
How swimming meets work
From a first time trial to the county championships: meets, licence levels, qualifying times and the leagues we race in — everything worth knowing before a first competition.
Beginner's guide
Your first steps into racing at EDSC
A simple introduction to competitions — the kinds of racing an EDSC swimmer meets, roughly in the order they meet them.
Time trials
A great introduction to competitive swimming. EDSC runs internal time trial sessions throughout the year to help swimmers and coaches track progression. Times are added to the club database, and results can be used to enter licensed open meets.
Club Championships
Held every year across several sessions from June to September. All competitive swimmers are entered automatically into their eligible events — a chance to learn about racing in a familiar, supportive environment.
Open meets
Licensed competitions organised by local clubs, typically open to Silver squad and above. Swimmers choose the races they enter, entry fees apply, and some events have upper and lower qualifying times. Invitations are sent through SwimClub Manager.
League galas
EDSC competes in the National Arena Swimming League, the Kent Junior League, the White Horse League and the Tudor League. Teams are selected on attendance, attitude and recent times; selection is a privilege, and every effort to attend is expected if invited.
County & Regional Championships
As swimmers progress they may qualify for the Kent County Championships (January/February) and the London Regional Championships (summer and winter). Qualification is based on times achieved at licensed meets throughout the year.
Good to know
🎂Age categories
Most open meets use age on the day, but some events use age at 31 December. Heats are swum by entry time, not age, and medals are awarded by age group.
🩱Racewear
Kneesuits and jammers are recommended for competitions, along with well-fitting goggles.
📱Meet Mobile app
Download it for live results and seeded entries on the day.
Licence levels
Meets, and the four levels
Meets are competitions where swimmers enter individual events using their personal best times. Swim England licenses meets at four levels:
🥇Levels 1 & 2
The highest grade, with strict qualifying times, at National and Regional level. Level 1 runs in 50m (long course) pools, Level 2 in 25m (short course) pools.
🥈Level 3
County and Regional level: where swimmers chase times for County and Regional Championship entry — with upper and lower time limits.
🥉Level 4
Entry-level competitive experience, for club swimmers and newcomers — generally no minimum qualifying times. The perfect first meet.
📊Your times
Check personal bests, rankings and licensed meets on the Swim England database.
swimmingresults.orgTeam racing
Our leagues
EDSC fields teams in four leagues across the season — from a first taste of racing to chasing the best club in the country.
🟢Tudor League
All ages · 6 galas, held locally in the first half of the year, against 8 local teams. The introduction to competing: upper time limits (usually Kent County qualifying times) keep the level friendly, the first 5 rounds decide the league and the 6th is a stand-alone shoot-out for the Tudor Cup. Our aim: introduce new swimmers to competition and get as many racing as possible. Coach: Paul Graimes.
🟡White Horse League
All ages · 4 galas in the first half of the year against 8 local teams — picking up where Tudor finishes in standard, again with upper time limits. All 4 rounds count. Our aim: field the strongest team possible, the fastest swimmer in each age group and stroke. Coach: Damian Edmonds.
🟠Kent Junior League
Up to age 13 · 3 galas across the county in March, June and September, against 24 teams, to find the fastest junior club in Kent. No upper time limits; all 3 rounds count. Our aim: the strongest possible junior team. Coach: Paul Graimes.
🔴National Arena League
All ages · 3 galas in October–December. We race in the NAL South (around 90 southern teams; other regions run in parallel) — the ultimate aim is to crown the best club in the country. No time limits, promotion and relegation apply. Our aim: the strongest team in every age group. Coach: Damian Edmonds.
How teams are selected
Selection is made by the coach responsible for each league, primarily on times recorded in SwimClub Manager from the current and previous season — alongside behaviour and effort in training, injuries/illness and training attendance. To be in the frame you'll be a hard worker with great attendance, aptitude and attitude, a team player who goes the extra mile and is injury free.
Swimmers may be picked for any events (not necessarily their favourites — the team's points come first) and occasionally for relays only. Swimmers may not be selected if they haven't followed the EDSC Code of Conduct, withdrew from a previous round in an unsatisfactory way, or didn't reply to selection in good time. Remember… it's a huge honour and privilege to be selected to represent your club. Go EDSC!
The full guide to leagues, with upcoming galasWhite Horse League resources
Team managers from all eight WHL clubs will find round-by-round entry files, programmes, DQ code sheets and Swim England data-validation tools on our resources page. Entries must be submitted by 10am on gala day.
WHL resourcesAlso in competitions
Ready to race
📰Competition news
When entries open, when they close early and when arrangements change — straight from the club's news feed.
Read competition news📅Our meet calendar
The four meets EDSC hosts each season, in running order, with entry packs, deadlines and results.
See the meet calendarFancy your first race?
Level 4 meets are made for newcomers. Book a trial and our coaches will get you started.