What do you compete? 

Artistic swimming competitions are in two parts:

1. Figures
2. Routine

For Junior, Senior and Masters swimmers, the figures component is optional/sometimes not required at a competition, but for Grade, 10 & Under, 12 & Under and Youth swimmers it is always compulsory. 

If figures are compulsory for your level, then it will go towards 50% of your final score at medal competitions (i.e. States and Nationals). 

Final score = 50% figures + 50% routine.

If it's a duet or team, the 50% figure score combines the results of all your duet or team members. 

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 will need to wear black bathers and a white cap. All swimmers wear the same outfit during figures in a bid to increase the objectivity of the judges scoring. Judges shouldn't be impacted by your club affiliation. 

For the routine portion of the competition, at competitions early on in the season, you may perform it as a "display" only and wear club bathers or black bathers. This routine swim is not judged and is for swimmers to gain experience and coaches to get feedback from judges before the routines are fully complete. 

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

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 (maybe a book?) 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.