These are competitions where Club swimmers enter individually using their
previously achieved personal best time for each stroke and distance.The
types of open vary according to the capability of the swimmers. The ASA
have a licensing system of 4 categories which have been designed to
broaden the range of competition available to swimmers.
Briefly the four categories are described as follows:
LICENSE LEVEL 1
These are the highest grade of Open designed for swimmers of national standard and above. There has to be a
‘lower qualifying times’ (no slower than) but there is ‘no upper
qualifying times (no faster than). Times achieved at these galas can be
used for qualification to national, regional and county competitions.
LICENSE LEVEL 2
These galas have both lower qualifying
times and upper qualifying times although this is usually much faster
than a national qualifying time and therefore not normally are
restriction to entry. The ‘lower qualifying times’ however can vary
considerably from open to open. Times achieved at these competitions can
be used for qualification to national, regional and county competitions.
LICENSE LEVEL 3
License 3 opens have upper qualifying
times but not necessarily a lower qualifying time. The cut-off can be
anything up to a National Standard.Times achieved at these opens can be
used for qualification to county competitions.
LICENSE LEVEL 4
These are intended for club swimmers and
those beginning to enter individual open competitions. These opens must
have an advertised upper qualifying time. Electronic timing is not
compulsory, although preferred. Times achieved at these meets may be
used for entry into meets at levels two and three and into county
championships.
To look up your official ASA times that you have achieved at open meets you can
use
swimmingresults.org. Please note, as well as checking your times, you can also check your ranking in terms of your times in
various strokes/distances at national, regional, county and club level.
Swimmers Information / Open Meets