What do you compete? 

Artistic swimming competitions are in two parts:

1. Figures
2. Routine

Figures = a set of movements performed individually in front of the judges for a score.

Routines = choreographed to music and performed solo or with others for artistic impression, difficulty and execution scores. 

Who needs to do figures? 

Figures are compulsory for Grade, 10 & Under, 12 & Under and Youth categories.

The final 'Championship' score at State and Nationals championships for these categories is:

• 50% figures
• 50% routines 

Which means - figures are just as important as routines for the younger swimmers! 

Junior, Senior and Masters swimmers can choose to compete technical routine elements as figures at the first few competitions of the season. We would encourage swimmers in these age groups who want to track their personal progress to do so.

When do you start doing routines at competitions?

In a regular season, we normally start doing parts of our routines as a display from the December competition onwards.

At these early competitions, we get feedback from the judges to improve our routines in preparation for the important competitions from March (States and Nationals). 

At States and Nationals, a full, proper swim through of the routine must be swum with hair gelled and routine bathers, if applicable. 

What do I need to bring?

Swimmers must wear their club uniform, and bring along spare goggles, nose clips, swim caps, snacks, drink bottle, stuff for hair gelling, make up, routine bathers and so on. It depends on what you will be competing on the day.

If you are doing figures, you must wear black bathers and a white cap. All swimmers wear the same outfit during figures in an effort to increase the objectivity of the judges scoring. 

How long does the competition go for? 

Competitions can go for a while, so make sure you come prepared with something to do during the down-time and food for the day. 

Most of the time, warm up for all events and with all swimmers is at the start of the day for 1 hour.

After that, swimmers hop out and wait around for their event, with a second mini-warm up being done just right before it's their turn to compete. 

While waiting, coaches might ask swimmers to stretch or land drill, or do other things to keep preparing for their event. Or it might just be a case of sitting around and chatting with friends.

Who runs the competitions? 

You! Competitions are run solely by volunteers, mostly parents and adult swimmers. 

There are many roles that need to be filled, some that require zero experience like marshalling, time keeping or announcing, or some that need a bit more experience like judging, technical controlling or scoring. 

The competition manager will likely send around information and ask for volunteers prior to the event, and on the day if low on a certain position. If your able to volunteer, please let coaches know or the competition manager.