What are Targeted Meets?

The first step in developing the training plan for the season is setting the targeted meets calendar. These are meets that at least one of our coaches will attend with the swimmers. Each season the Head Coach will select targeted meets for our Club.

The targeted meets generally consist of:

Development Meets:
Development Meets are run by a region or club and don’t require you to have achieved a qualifying time in order to enter. These meets generally run no longer than 3 hours and follow a recommended events program prepared by Swimming Queensland. Times achieved at these meets may be used to qualify for Preparation Meets and Regional Championships.

Transition Meets:
Similar to Development Meets, Transition Meets are run by a region or club and don’t require you to have achieved a qualifying time in order to enter. These meets generally run no longer than 4 hours and follow a recommended events program prepared by Swimming Queensland. Times achieved at Transition Meets can be used for all other meets, including Regional, State and National Championships.

Preparation Meets:
Preparation Meets are also run by a region or club and are considered the next step on the pathway from Transition or Development meets. Some Preparation Meets may have qualifying times and Rule Tolerances are not applied at these meets. These meets may run over one or two days and follow a recommended events program prepared by Swimming Queensland. Times achieved at Preparation Meets can be used for all other meets, including Regional, State and National Championships.

Regional Championships:
Regional Championships are run by your Region. Regions may choose to set qualifying times for members to enter their Championships. Rule Tolerances are not applied at these meets. Entry to
Regional Championships is limited to your Region. Times achieved at Regional Championships can be used for all other meets.

State Preparation Meets & Championships:
Swimming Queensland runs two types of meets – Preparation Meets and State Championships. Qualifying times are required to enter both of these types of meets. Rule Tolerances are not applied at these meets. Members from across Queensland, as well as members from other states and national federations, may attend these meets if they have achieved the qualifying criteria. Consult the individual event’s page via our Events Calendar for more details.

Age and Open Nationals:
Age and Open National Championships are held across the country each year by Swimming Australia. Swimmers are required to meet qualifying criteria to be able to enter the Championships. Times from these meets can be used to enter all other meets. National Championships are also used as a qualifying meet for selecting international Junior and Senior Australian teams.
Visit the Swimming Australia for more details on when and where National Championships are happening next.

How many should I enter?

The number of competitions scheduled in the season plan can have a profound effect on the ability of a swimmer to achieve optimum results at the end of the season. Over-racing throughout the year can often lead to a premature elevation in preparedness that in turn leads to less than optimal performances in the major meet at the end of the season.

It is the coach’s job to construct training to meet the needs of the swimmers they coach. Swimmers should:

a. Choose events at training with the coach

b. Enter chosen events at home with parents