Swimming NZ competition structure and Balance is Better alignment.
Swimming New Zealand released its policy on events and its new structure of having "Designated meets" and "Development meets” in 2021. The regions have consequently aligned their competition calendars and meets to this new structure. Regionally, Swimming Wellington has also taken into consideration the changing environment of competitive sport, understanding the broader environmental strategies in play associated to competitive sport and its role in society.
To that end, Swimming Wellington supports swimming both adapting and responding to this environmental shift and therefore supports the restructure of Swimming Wellington competitions into ‘Designated’ and ‘Development’ meets in line with Swimming New Zealand’s policy. The structure means ‘Development’ meets (meets run at Tier 3 or below) focus on the joy of competitive racing and skills development, with ‘Designated’ meets providing the opportunity for swimmers to achieve qualifying times for national events and a greater emphasis on performance.
See below list of meets that are 'Designated' within the Wellington region in the 2023/24 year (Regional Championships, Tier 1 & 2 meets):
Please note the 2024 calendar year (January - December) is currently under review, some events below are TBC due to pool availability.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
Event Name | Wellington Long Course | Wellington Relays | Wellington Short Course | Wellington Juniors | Tier 1 Meet 2 | Wairarapa T2 | PCA/Tawa T2 |
Dates | 1 - 3 December 2023 | 16 September 2023 | TBC 2024 | 23 - 24 September 2023 | 8 July 2023 | 2 September 2023 | 14 October 2023 |
Venue | Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre | Coastlands Aquatic Centre | Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre | Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre | Coastlands Aquatic Centre | Trust House Recreational Centre | Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre |
LC/SC | 50m | 25m | 25m | 25m | 25m | 25m | 25m |
| | | | | | | |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
Event Name | Otaki T2 | T2 designated | T2 designated | T2 designated | T1 designated | T1 designated | Wellington Long Distance |
Dates | 28 October 2023 | 10 February 2024 | 24 February 2024 | 27 April 2024 | 16 March 2024 | 25 May 2024 | TBC |
Venue | Coastlands Aquatic Centre | TBC | TBC | TBC | Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre | TBC | Coastlands Aquatic Centre |
LC/SC | 25m | 50m | 50m | 25m | 50m | 50m | 25m |
What is a Designated event? And who is it aimed at?
This event targets the competitive swimmer who is aspirational and has an emphasis on performance. These athletes are typically at an advanced stage of their development. These events tend to provide opportunities to qualify for national championship events and recognition into SNZ HP athlete development programmes. These events are officiated to a national and international standard.
What is a Development event? And who is it aimed at?
This event targets the competitive, club and recreational swimmer who is developing their skills as a competitive swimmer. These events recognise that participants do the sport for different reasons and allow clubs and SW to structure events that align to the participants needs. It also offers competitive swimmers the opportunity to practice aspects of their performance in a non outcome focused environment, before progressing onto the designated events.
Development events provide the athlete and coach a safe environment to build more than just sport skills by taking away the focus of results on the scoreboard and focusing on the development of the person and concepts associated to growth mindset and psycho social skills and behaviours.
If you have any questions on the new structure for the events in our region please do contact Louise Tresch at Louise@swimwn.co.nz to discuss further.
