Swim Ireland have introduced a Competition Pathway, a Swimming Domestic Competition Plan and Explanatory Notes which set out the competitions to be held at a National and Regional level throughout the year.

Intra-Club Meets

  • Intra-Club meets are confined to swimmers from within the host club, and the emphasis should be on fun.
  • Swimmers must be 8 years of age within the year the competition is held
  • There is no qualifiaction standard
  • Times achieved at these meets can be used for entry to Inter-Club meets and Club Open meets.

Inter-Club and Club Open Meets

  • Swimmers must be 9 years of age within the year the competition is held
  • The qualifiaction standard is defined by the club
  • Times achieved at these meets can be used for entry to Regional Development and Regional Qualifying meets.  Club Open meet times may be used for Regional Long Course Championships.

Regional Development Meets

  • Swimmers must be 10 years of age within the year the competition is held
  • There are no qualifying times however cut off times will be in force
  • All development meets will include 100m Individual Medley
  • Times achieved at these meets can be used for entry to Regional Qualifying meets.

Regional Qualifying Meets

  • Swimmers must be 10 years of age within the year the competition is held
  • Swimmers must have achieved the published consideration standard to be considered for entry
  • All development meets will include 100m Individual Medley
  • Times achieved at these meets can be used for entry to Regional Championships.

Regional Championship Meets

Regional SC Championships

  • Swimmers must be 16 & Under, 17 & Over (Male) or 15 & Under, 16 & Over (Female) within the year the competition is held
  • Swimmers must have achieved the relevant qualifying/consideration standards in Regional Qualifying meets to be considered for entry
  • One final only (with the fastest qualifiers irrespective of age)
  • Times achieved at these meets can be used for entry to National SC Championships.

Regional LC Championships

  • Swimmers must be 11/12, 13/14, 15/16, 17 & Over within the year the competition is held
  • Swimmers must have achieved the relevant entry times in Regional Development and Regioanl Qualifying meets, or specific Club Open meets to be considered for entry
  • Finals in each defined age group for all events with the exception of 400m 800m and 1500m events,
    which will be Heat Declared Finals.
  • Times achieved at these meets can be used for entry to Irish Summer LC Championships or National Division 2 Championships.

National Meets and National Championships

Irish SC Championships

  • Swimmers must be 16 & Under, 17 & Over (Male) or 15 & Under, 16 & Over (Female) within the year the competition is held
  • One final only (with the fastest qualifiers irrespective of age)
  • Short Course Times ONLY, LC times or LC conversions will NOT be accepted
  • Qualifying times must have been achieved between 1st December in the previous year and 6th November in the current year (or as per the meet conditions).
  • “A” and “B” finals in all individual events with the exception of 800m and 1500m events.

Irish Open Swimming Championships

  • Swimmers must be 15/16, 17/18, 19 & Over (Male) or 14/15, 16/17, 18 & Over (Female) within the year the competition is held
  • Long Course Times ONLY, SC times or SC conversions will NOT be accepted
  • Qualifying times must have been achieved between 1st July in the previous year and 19th February in the current year.