Important - Joining Instructions

You can enter by adding swimmers names to the list online using the form that appears on this page when registration is open - from three weeks prior, and up to one week before, Pointscore.  Please DO NOT ask Coaches or administrators within the week preceding Pointscore as late entries are not accepted.

Want to check your swimmer's entry?  Go to the Accepted Entries page in the Members Area to find the list of swimmers currently entered into next Pointscore (only available during the entry window).

2026 Pointscore Goal and Rules  

Object

The object of the competition is for swimmers to compete against their own times on a regular basis, under competition conditions. This allows swimmers to challenge for places in teams, and prepares them for competition. They will be gaining experience of racing. Points are scored for any improvements gained and are aggregated for the purpose of making periodic and annual awards. The competition is open to all members of the Club.

Rules

1.      Each swimmer competes against their “Pointscore time” and points will be awarded when a swimmer equals or betters their previous times.

2.      The swimmer’s “Pointscore time” is the fastest time they have achieved at Pointscore in the event being swum.

3.      The competition is split into three groups – bronze, silver, and gold.

4.      All swimmers joining the Club start in bronze group.

5.      Silver and gold groups swim the same events and swimmers from these groups will be seeded together.

6.      Promotion between groups is gained by achieving three qualifying times in three different events for the group the swimmer is currently in.  The qualifying times are in a table at the end of this document and on the Club website.

7.      In the event of swimmers achieving a qualifying time for the group above the group they are currently swimming in (ie a bronze swimmer may achieve a silver qualifying time) then that time will “carry over” and remain a silver qualifying time once they achieve promotion to the silver group, counting towards their promotion to gold group.

8.      Once a swimmer is in gold group, they can then go on to achieve gold times. Once gold times have been achieved in the event being swum, 10 points are awarded to a 1.0+ second reduction in time, regardless of event distance.

9.      Once gold times for all Pointscore events have been achieved a cup is presented.  The swimmer can then go on to achieve all the platinum times. 

10.   Similar to above, if a gold group swimmer achieves a platinum time before ALL gold times are achieved, that time counts toward the gold cup and the platinum times.  Once platinum times have been achieved in the event being swum, 10 points are awarded to a 0.5+ second reduction in time, regardless of event distance, whether or not all gold times have been achieved. 

11.   Once all platinum times are achieved a further cup is presented.

12.   Points are awarded based on how much time a swimmer reduces their Pointscore Personal Best by, in accordance with the table below

13.   For the first Pointscore event of the year only, where bronze group only swim two events, and the silver/gold groups swim four events, bronze group points will be doubled to maintain a fair ratio to the other groups of points awarded/events swum.

14.   A swimmer may compete in all events open to their competition group at any one Pointscore meet.

15.   A swimmer may only compete in events for their own Pointscore group.

16.   Awards will be presented to the swimmers in each category (open/male and female) in each Pointscore group who has gained the most points from the previous Pointscore.

17.   In order to be eligible for such an award, a swimmer must have gained a minimum of 10 points.

18.   In the event of a tie, the award will be made to the swimmer who has reduced their Pointscore personal bests by the most time.

19.   A further Award will be presented to the swimmer in each category (open/male and female) who has gained the most points overall, subject to a minimum of 10 points.

20.   In the event of a tie, the award will be made to the swimmer who has reduced their Pointscore personal bests by the most time. 

21.   Medals are presented to swimmers when they move from one Pointscore group to the next.

22.   Annual awards will be presented to the top three swimmers in each category (male/open and female) gaining the most points throughout the Pointscore competition year.

23.   All Pointscore meets will be run under Swim England laws.

24.   Club Records can be achieved at Pointscore for the age group the swimmer is in as at day of competition (“age on the day”), subject to the Club’s Policy on Internal Competition (which can be found under “Policies” in the Members Area of the website, and in the Pointscore Conditions).

25.   Entries for Pointscore will open three weeks prior to the event date and close one week before the event; no late entries accepted.

26.   Entries will be via Swim Manager and will automatically use their actual PB time recorded with Swim England to ensure the seeding of events is at its most competitive.  Points awarded are NOT calculated against the Swim England PB time, but against the Pointscore PB time in accordance with rule 12.

27.   Any swimmer who enters Pointscore but subsequently wishes to withdraw must do so before 3pm on the day of competition, failing which they will be excluded from the following Pointscore event.

Results will be posted on the Club website and uploaded to Swim England Rankings the day after competition.  In accordance with Swim England guidelines, Timekeepers will not give swimmers any times on poolside. 

Each swimmer will be allocated a “House” which will be their team for Pointscore; the top-scoring swimmers’ points from each Pointscore will be added to their House’s scores with the winning House being announced at the end of the competition year.  The number of swimmers’ points that are used in the calculations will be the top XX bronze/silver/gold count depending on the number of swimmers in the smallest House/team in attendance at each Pointscore.

If session times permit, there may be additional cannon relay race at the end of the session to boost House points.

GROUP QUALIFYING TIMES

DOWNLOADABLE COPY OF POINTSCORE RULES

All Licenced swimming events require minimum numbers of qualified Officials in attendance.  A British Swimming Official is a voluntary role and we are always keen to recruit more Officials into the Club.  To become an Official, you do not need any prior experience or swimming knowledge as all training is provided.  If you are interested in getting involved do This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - please don't wait to be asked.