Competitions

Our aim is to run competitive meets, development programs, train officials, support coach development and coordinate activities for swimmers in our local metropolitan area.50

The SMNE competition structure encourages swimmers to compete at various levels in accordance with their own ability, to grow engagement and inclusion to create lifelong participation. The timing of our competitions aim to meet the needs of those swimmers wanting to obtain qualifying times for State and National Meets.

The benefits of competitive swimming:

• for our kids to learn to be disciplined, focused and dedicated
• for our kids to learn to take care of their body and equipment
• for our kids to learn to work with others and to be good team mates, gracious in defeat and humble in success.
• for our kids to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don’t get that placing or title they’d hoped for, but still they go back week after week giving it their best shot.
• for our kids to learn to make and accomplish goals.
• for our kids to respect, not only themselves, but other athletes, officials and coaches.
• for our kids to learn that it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to create a champion and that success does not happen overnight.
• for those moments when our kids become so tired they want to quit but don’t.
• for those days when our kids come home from school and are “too tired” to go to their training but they go anyway.
• for our kids to be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.
• for the opportunity our kids have and will have to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of their achievements as we are.
• for the opportunities that swimming provides our kids with to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I missed the closing cut off date/time can I request a late entry?
Late entries are not permitted at SMNE meets regardless of the circumstance.

When should I enter a meet?
We recommend you enter meets at least 3 days prior to the closing date (or earlier in case the meet fills). This allows you time to sort out any unexpected issues or technical difficulties that may arise.

My swimmer doesn’t have the required QT can we still enter under a manual time?
In accordance with Championship rules all swimmers must have the relevant QTs to enter.  Manual entries are not accepted for Summer Champs or Winter Champs meets.  If your coach has determined you are suitable for the Distance meet you may discuss options with your coach who may get in touch with me. The Sprint 13/U meet in February each year does not require any QTs and occasionally we hold a development meet that doesn’t require entries. Check each event page for qualifying times.

Why won’t Swim Central let me enter even though my swimmer has a qualifying time?
Times used must be from an Approved and Verified Meet.  Check to see if the green tick is under the column vrfd in Swim Central. Note: not all Club run meets are official for approved times and therefore cannot be used to enter official meets.

What time is my race and when will the timeline be published?
It is impossible to predict the time of a race prior to the meet closing as timing always depends on how many people enter a particular event. Timelines are published after the meet has closed.  The timeline is a guideline only and subject to change and can be found on each event page.

How can I check my swimmer’s entries?
Log into Swim Central and either click on the Events section or Order History from your home page.

We can no longer attend, how do I scratch?
Click on the link or scan the QR code located in the event page.

My swimmer is sick/injured can I request a refund?
You may request a refund if your swimmer is unable to attend for medical reasons however, you must email a medical certificate to meetdirector@smne.org.au as soon as you become aware or no later than 24 hours after the end of the meet.  Medical certificates submitted after that will not be accepted and no refund will be given.  Refunds must be requested via Swim Central PRIOR to the end of the meet.

Why is Swim Central is using a slower entry time to enter but my swimmer has a faster QT?
At Long Course SMNE meets, meets are set up to accept LC times first (even if the SC time is faster than the LC time) but to allow SC times if no LC time is available.  At Short Course Meets, meets are set up to accept SC times first (even if the LC time is faster than the SC time) but will allow LC times if no appropriate SC time is available.

How will I know if my swimmer qualifies?
Swim Central will take the guesswork out of qualifying times in that if Swim Central allows you to enter a meet the swimmer has an eligible approved time in the database.  If there is no eligible approved time for that meet, Swim Central will not allow you to enter.

When will the results be available and where can I see them?
The results will be approved on Swim  Central 24 to 72 hours following the end of the meet.  They will never be approved the same day as the meet.  Results on the Mobile phone app Meet Mobile are not official and subject to change.

What is Meet Mobile?
Meet Mobile is a mobile phone app and many meet results can be seen live on the app during the meet.  The results on the app, however, are not official and subject to change.

What are the operating hours of SMNE?
SMNE is a not-for-profit community organisation which is solely run by volunteers, the majority of whom work full time jobs and perform the SMNE duties on their own time as a volunteer.  Therefore, there are no set office hours or operating hours.

Where can I get more help with Swim Central?
There are numerous Swim Central help guides available online – please click HERE

Can I telephone someone with my questions?
All of our behind-the-scene staff are volunteers, many balancing these responsibilities alongside full-time work commitments.  Swimming administration is managed in their own personal time, therefore we kindly ask that you patiently communicate via email as phone calls are not possible.

I have a question not answered above, who do I contact?
Please email meetdirector@smne.org.au for all competition related questions or see the SMNE website Contact Us page for the correct contact depending on your enquiry. As all our volunteers have other jobs with varying hours, we cannot answer your questions by phone.