1) starting.

All competitors swimming in competition galas at Eastbourne Sovereign Centre should note the following:
A) The height of all starting blocks is 700 millimetres from the surface of the water
B) At the changing room end of the pool (the shallow end) the water depth is 0.9 metres.
C) At the end furthest from the changing rooms (the deep end) the water depth is 1.9 Mt.
D) Events 1 to 8 and 13 to 20 start from the deep end, whilst events 9 to 12 and 21 to 24 start at the shallow end.

It is the responsibility of competitors, coaches and clubs to ensure that all swimmers are competent, to the standard of the ASA competitive start award, to dive start under the above conditions. Alternatively, swimmers are reminded that they may start from the side or in the water. In the event of a false start, swimmers should perform a safe entry and not fall into the water.

2) warm up.

There is to be no diving into the shallow end during the warm up.

Swimmers and coaches must ensure that they (and swimmers in their charge) take no action which would endanger themselves or others. The instructions of the gala officials and poolside staff must be obeyed immediately.

Due to the large number of entries, for safety reasons the warm ups in the competition pool have been split into two groups as follows:

                 Morning session:    9.15 am-9.35 am ladies
                                     9.35 a m 9.55 am men
                 Afternoon session:  1.15 p.m.1.35 p.m. men
                                     1.35 p.m.-1.55 p.m. ladies

Please note the following warm up arrangements below:
                 Lane 1- one way sprint - deep too shallow end.
                 Lane 2 - continuous swimming - anti-clockwise.
                 Lane 3 - continuous swimming - clockwise.
                 Lane 4 - continuous swimming - anti-clockwise.
                 Lane 5 - continuous swimming - clockwise.
                 Lane 6 - continuous swimming - anti-clockwise.

In addition, during the Gala a limited warm up / swim down facility is available in the diving pit. It is pointed out the diving pit does not have lanes, and swimmers are responsible to keep a look out for each other

Note: no diving is allowed during the sessions in the diving pit.

General safety

A) Everyone attending the Gala must familiarise themselves with the locations of emergency exits, telephones etc.

B) Anyone observing anything they consider to be a safety hazard must report it to the Gala Referee, Gala Secretary or Gala Announcer.

C) Everyone attending the Gala must take all steps to insure their own safety and the safety of others.

D) Swimmers are not allowed to run along the poolside.

E) Swimmers are not allowed on to the spectator area and must not under any circumstances climb over the wall between the spectator area and the poolside.

Last Revised: 21 Jan 98