Arena League

What is it?

Arena league is a short course competition hosted three times (rounds) a year, on the second saturday of the months: October, November and December and roughly lasts 2.5 hours. The idea behind Arena League is to promote competition in a team setting, where the fastest swimmers in each club race each other to score points for their team. There are 6 leagues, with Tilehurst falling into the South League, along with 80 other clubs. Within the South League there are 5 divisions: Premier, Division 1 West, Division 1 East, Division 2 West, Division 2 East. Tilehurst competes in Division 1 West. Each round consists of 6 teams, and is held at a variety of pools in the South, example . This competition incorporates relays and individual swims, swimmers who finish 1st win 6 points, 2nd=5pts, 3rd=4pts, etc. The event kicks off with the female and Open/male 200IM which is swum by the oldest age group. For swimmers in the 10/11 each race is 50m, whilst in the other age groups each race in 100m. each age group will race all 4 strokes. Furthermore, there are 2 relays per age group, 1 is a 4x50 medley relay (involves all 4 strokes) and 1 is a 4x50 Freestyle relay. There is also a 8x50 Freestyle relay known as the Squadron, this involves 2 swimmers from each age group and is a really excting way to close off the competition. Example of how the meet is run

It is a great team bonding experience for the swimmers and coaches!

 

Age ranges

For boys and Girls the age ranges are as follows:

10/11 

Under 13 

Under 15 

Open 

 

Number of Swimmers

There is no set maximum number of swimmers that your team can include however, swimmers may swim in a maximum of two individual events in their own age group,
except for the Open Age Group where swimmers may swim in three individual events. In addition, swimmers may swim individual events in older age groups subject to an absolute total of no more than five individual events. A swimmer may swim in any number of relays for which they are eligible.

Read the full set of rules here

 

2024 Arena League News: