Yes, Severnside Tritons enters swimmers for different competitions on a regular basis and children generally start swimming at these events in their ninth year. We compete in galas, leagues, open meets and Championship events.

Our fixtures list gives all the information you need about the competitions we enter during the year - age, level, location, qualifying times etc. Some competitions are for new or emerging swimmers and if your child has not swum in competitive galas previously these are the types of galas he/she is likely to be entered into first.

If the competition is a team one, details such as team lists, start times and travelling arrangements will be posted on the Club notice boards and website. It is therefore important to check regularly to see if you have been selected. Swimmers should confirm their availability either by registering electronically on the fixtures page or by ticking the team list on the notice board.

The swimming year runs from September to September. Competitions start towards the end of September once swimmers have got back into their training after a break in the summer. Galas can take place at any time of year, league competitions start in October and finish in late April/early May. Couny Championships start in December and finish in March, with regional Championships in May and June, finishing with National Championships in late July/early August. Open meets are run thoughout the year depending on the level of meet.

There is more information in the Club Handbook.

If you have wondered how children qualify for different competitions, spare a thought for the coaches who have to work with over 150 birth dates. A swimmer must have reached any relevant minimum age to compete. Generally, a swimmer's age is the age he reaches at midnight on 31st December in the year in which the competition takes place and so the age group you enter is determined by the age you are at that time and on that day in the year in which the competition takes place. This is the rule for Club Championships and most inter club events as well as for the Speedo league for which the last round takes place at the end of December. It also used to be the rule for Cotswold League competitions, but it has recently been changed to 'age on the last day of the competition'. Most open meets, County Championships etc and some inter club galas use the 'age on last day of competition' as the cut off point. By having different cut off points it means that swimmers are always swimming against different competitors, depending on when in the year the competition takes place. There is no minimum age for Club Championships, but otherwise the minimum age for inter club galas is usually 9. In Open events and district relay events, the minimum age is also 9, on the last date of competition. In individual district events and national relay events, the minimum age is 10 on the last date of competition. And in individual events at national level the minimum age is 11 on the last date of competition. All other age groups are worked out on the same basis.

The Club's Various Notice Boards, will display important notices and information such as gala fixtures, teams lists and results. The Club seeks to make increasing use of the internet and this website in communicating with members on happenings and changes to the normal running of sessions and matters of administration. Members are strongly encouraged to register with the web site to keep in touch with club events and activities. One benefit of this is that we have the facility to be able to globally e-mail everyone in the club in the event of an emergency.  Please make sure you tell the coach as soon as possible if you are available or not to swim.  The Club, also produces a Newsletter 'Wavelength,'' which is available from the Club desk and is also posted on this site.

Every swimmer and every volunteer is a club member and the Club pays an annual fee so that they are also all members of the ASA. This provides insurance for accidents during training or participating at galas with the club. Swimmers who take part in Open Meets, County Championships etc count as competitive swimmers and will be registered as such with the ASA. Every Club Member will have a unique ASA registration number and membership card. For more information regarding cover and fees please see the Membership Secretary or Registration Secretary.The ASA now hands out plastic membership cards that are valid for life provided the membership fee is paid. These have you unique Membership ID number which you will need if you want to enter open meets and other competitions. Remember that if you do not pay your fee, you are not covered by the ASA insurance policy.

The Club or coaches can only be responsible for swimmers during their training sessions and not before or after this time. The club cannot be responsible for your child away from the poolside. This includes in the changing rooms, other areas of the buildings and outside any swimming pool used by the Club. The conduct and behaviour of your child remains your responsibility at all times. The Club has a policy on Parental Supervision and you are recommended to be aware of the contents of that policy. In particular you must make sure that when you drop your child off to train there the coach has confirmed that the session will go ahead. All Club policies are on the website under "Club Documents".

If you decide to leave the Club you must inform the Membership Secretary in writing. This will enable someone on the waiting list to take up your place. If you are joining another club you will be able to get an official ASA resignation form from the secretary of the new club. Under ASA rules once a member, you remain so until a written resignation is received and anyone who has outstanding fees at one club may not compete for a new club until those outstanding fees have been paid.

The club requests that you refrain from using video, zoom or close range photography, including mobile phones cameras on poolside or the balcony during galas or at training sessions, or any other situation where swimmers will be wearing swimsuits unless you have filled in the Club's Photo Permission Book and discussed why you are taking the photographs with the club or gala organiser. This excludes coaches for training purposes.

The Club has a large number of coaches, teachers and poolside assistants. It is important that the time they spend for the benefit of the Club is not wasted and your co-operation during the teaching/coaching sessions is appreciated.

If you want to know anything please don't be afraid to ask or speak to any member of the coaching team. You will probably find that your child has an individual coach who becomes their main point of contact during their time as a club member.

We are also extremely fortunate to have a large number of parents who have qualified as timekeepers, judges, starters and referees so that we are able to provide officials at the various galas and competitions we enter. We also have several parents who have the Teachers Rescue Certificate that enables them to provide necessary lifeguard cover for teachers and coaches. If you are interested in helping in this way, please speak to a Committee member as we have a well organised education programme. None parent volunteers is paid for the work they do on poolside.

The Club shop is run at both Thornbury and Stroud. At Thornbury, the club shop usually operates monthly on a Friday evening although is you require any items at other times, please call Donna (01454 632 697) or Sally (0117 956 6003). At Stroud the facility is open every other Thursday at SPLC from 6.45 to 8.15pm and is run from the desk. Both locations have a good stock of swimming kit including swimsuits, goggles, STSC shirts and hats. They can also order special items for you. (Check the website for a price list)

We always reduce the number of sessions that run in the summer holidays and we usually shut completely for two or three weeks. This gives everyone a chance to recharge their batteries! We try to coincide our closure with the coaches' course at GL1 where swimmers can find additional pool time and also the Bryanston Swim Camp.

If you have trained properly during the rest of the season you should find it easy to build your fitness up quickly when the sessions restart.

There is a ‘Learn to Swim’ section and Swim Development Section which is for children aged four to eight run at various venues across South Gloucestershire. These sections are divided into six groups.By the time they have completed lessons in the top group they will have a reasonable standard in three of the four strokes - front-crawl, backstroke and breaststroke or butterfly and an understanding of the fourth stroke. We focus on good body position, teaching good technique and having fun. Swimmers can then progress to become full members of Severnside Tritons if deemed suitable by the Club Coach.

There are 2 sets of fees payable by members of Severnside Tritons Swimming Club. Membership fees are payable annually and cover your ASA and Club membership. We require that at least one parent per family must also be an associate member.

We also charge monthly swimming fees to cover pool time. Please contact the Membership Secretary via the web site for current details of these.

Lots of information is regularly updated and displayed on the Club notice-boards at all pool locations and on the club website www.severnsidetritons.org.uk. Keep in touch by checking these regularly.

Firstly, by enabling your child to get to as many of their scheduled sessions as possible.

Secondly, by enabling your child to get to the sessions on time. Each session starts with a warm up. It is essential that the children warm up properly and the coach will not allow children to swim who have not been able to do this.

Finally the club always needs help. It is particularly important to have enough trained time-keepers to help with galas. If you are interested in becoming trained there are courses available. Members of the committee, whose names are on the website, are always happy to advice on these courses and how you can help generally.

Help is needed for organising social occasions which are an important aspect of the Club and are also lots of fun and for fund raising.

Help is also needed for other things such as running the Swim Shop which sells all sorts of swimming equipment such as goggles, hats, kickboards as well as club kit such as tee-shirts and kit bags. The swim shop also helps to raise money for the Club so has two important functions.

Backstroke

You must stay on your back except for the turn, which is a tumble turn; the arms recover over the water in an alternating action. The legs kick with an alternating action. A line of flags are hung across the pool 5 metres from the end from which the swimmers judge the distance to the wall in order to do their turn.

Breaststroke

The legs kick out and down together with the hands making circle movements in front of the head. Both hands must touch the wall together for the turn and the finish.

Front Crawl

Conventionally this is the fastest stroke; arm and leg actions are alternating and continuous. The arms recover over the water. At the wall you do a tumble turn.

Butterfly

The legs kick together with the arms recovering together over the water. You must touch the wall with both hands on the turn and the finish.

Individual Medley

Consists of four strokes in the order fly, back, breast, then freestyle.

Team Medley Relay

Just to confuse things the order of strokes is different and is, back, breast, fly and then freestyle.

Check out the Swimmers pages on the web site for tips on how to improve these strokes.

At Severnside Tritons you can learn to swim in our Learn to Swim Programme and move on to develop your skills further wihtin a competitive environment. We aim to develop children to their full potential in competitive swimming. Your child will improve their expertise in swimming techniques, diving off starting blocks, mastering turns, as well as increasing their stamina and fitness.

From non-swimmer to champion in one club; swim well, swim better, swim best