South Mainland Amateur Swimming Club was formed in 2003 to bring together amateur swimmers living in the South Mainland of Shetland. The South Mainland is the boxed area shown on the map.The Club is run entirely by volunteers who all give their time voluntarily to help and organise how the club is run. We have a committee who meet every 6–8 weeks to decide on different issues. We are always looking for new recruits to join us and help in any way.
Club sessions are held at Sandwick Pool on Thursday afternoon from 4.30–5.30 and 5.30–6.30. Members are asked to arrive at the pool early enough to change, use toilet and shower before their session begins. The 4.30 session swimmers should be ready on poolside at 4.15 and the 5.30 session swimmers should be ready on poolside at 5.15, to ensure time for loosening up exercises before entering the water. Swimmers in this session should have a water bottle drink to keep hydrated. S
wimmers with long hair should have their hair tied back and preferably wearing a cap. Goggles should be adjusted before swimming session starts. This can always be done well in advance at home – water test new goggles in the bath or basin of water! Swimmers should not enter water before they are told. Pool rules must be adhered to for everyone's safety. Swimmers should ask to leave the water for toilet breaks etc. Swimmers - try your best at all swim sessions – listen carefully to instructions and advice. Respect poolside staff/coaches/helpers and all other swimmers. Swimmers should do their best in all swim sessions. Those perceived as not trying or disrupting others may be asked to leave the pool. Getting into good habits is important – everyone in the club has to be able to swim at least two lengths before they can join – swimmers are therefore expected to complete lengths without putting their feet down on the bottom of the pool or walking.
Swimming Galas, Meets & Competitions in Shetland
Swimmers who are members of South Mainland Amateur Swimming Club have the option to swim competitively – the galas and events that a swimmer may enter will depend on ability and age; Coaches will advise swimmers which events they can enter.
Shetland Swimming Association Junior Age Group Sprints / Championships
The first swimming galas that a young swimmer may enter. Held at the Clickimin twice a year the championships are split into three age groups 10, 9, 8 and under. Individual races in all strokes (not all need to be entered) are 25m (1length) for 8 & 9 years, 50m for 10yrs and there is also a 9 & under 50m freestyle. Medals are awarded for the fastest three times and trophies for the swimmer with most points in their age group.
Shetland Swimming Association Senior Age Group Championships
Swimmers 11 yrs & over (+10 year olds at the discretion of Shetland Swimming Association) can enter. Age groups are 11 /12, 13/14, 15/16, 17 & over. Races are 100m in all strokes and 200 Individual Medley.
Shetland Swimming Association Senior sprints
Age groups are 11 /12, 13/14, 15/16, 17 & over. Races are 50m in all strokes.
Shetland Swimming Association Time Trials
These are distance events of 200m +, Generally for swimmers 11 and over but 9/10year olds may be considered at the discretion of SMASC coaches.
Beta League
A series of galas held during the winter months, in which all the Shetland clubs compete. These Saturday morning events, held at the Scalloway Pool are fun, friendly but fiercely competitive events consisting of individual races of 50m and 100m and relays (lots!) Swimmers are selected for the team on a ‘fastest time’ basis nearest to ‘cut off’ times. Age is also considered. Competitors in each race can be any age, and male or female, so it’s quite possible to have a 10yr old boy and a 15 yr old girl competing in an event. As swimmers progress, and normally when they have ‘swam out’ of Beta League events, by having times that are too fast, the next level is the...
Alpha League
Again, all the clubs in Shetland take part. There are two age groups; 13 & under and 14 & over. Some swimmers who are chosen to swim in the Alpha League are still able to swim some events in the Beta League.
Other swimming events held in Shetland are, Marc Medley Head to Head and Intercounty.
Swimming Events out-with Shetland
To gain experience, swimmers can compete elsewhere in the country and often the first swimming club trip will be to a Graded Meet. This is a gala organised by a club, where races are set with entry times; usually ‘no faster than’. South Mainland has taken part in the Inverness Graded Meet. The committee has decided that only swimmers who have at least 2 times (one up to 12 sec, 1 up to 15 sec of cut off time) are given the opportunity to enter this event. Swimmers are age 8-14.
As swimmers progress, they may find that they are too fast for some graded events but have reached a stage where they are eligible for Club / District Meets, such as the Buckie Age Groups and North District Age Group Meet. Usually (but not always) events are held where swimmers must have ‘consideration times’ which are ‘equal or faster than’. Even when a swimmer meets this criteria, due to number of entries, they may not get accepted. For all trips south, the committee have agreed that swimmers must be accepted for at least 2 races. Swimmers are normally 10 years + and will have already been selected for the Shetland Development Squad. The next levels of competition are for swimmers who have normally been selected for County Training Squad. These include; North District Age Group Championships (youngest age group is 12&under); Scottish Age Group Championships; Scottish Open Championships.
