Taking part in disability swimming competitions
There is a wide range of disability swimming competitive opportunities from local to international level.
From school-based competition to the Paralympics, there are many opportunities for people with a disability to get involved in organised competitions.
LOCAL
Local competitions range from school competitions to club competitions. The newly introduced School Games is inclusive of swimmers with a disability.
COUNTY
The ASA runs mainstream County Swimming Championships that are inclusive of classified swimmers with a disability who hold a current Functional Ability Card. In addition some ASA Counties also run pan disability County Championships that are open to both classified and non classified swimmers.
REGIONAL
The ASA runs mainstream Regional Swimming Championships that are inclusive of classified swimmers with a Disability who hold a current Functional Ability Card.
Disability Regional Championships are hosted annually in each ASA region, and provide an opportunity for any swimmer with a physical, visual, learning or hearing impairment to take part in a swimming competition. Championships are open to any swimmer with or without a formal British Swimming/IPC Swimming Classification
NATIONAL
The ASA/British Swimming runs mainstream Swimming Championships that are inclusive of classified swimmers with a disability who hold a current Functional Ability Card.
In addition, in partnership with the English Federation of Disability Sport, British Swimming run two National Pan -Disability events a year which include the Open SC Swimming Championships and the Junior and Youth National Swimming Championships as well as the British International Disability Swimming Championships.
INTERNATIONAL
Major International championships are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Swimmers are selected based on their performances against current British Swimming selection policies. For current policies click here.
International Competitions include:
Paralympic Games
World Championships
Commonwealth Games
European Championships
The IPC competitions can be found on their website www.ipc-swimming.org.
IMPAIRMENT SPECIFIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Each National Disability Sport Organisation organises its own impairment specific swimming championships.
The National Disability Sport Organisations are:
| British Blind Sport |
| Cerebral Palsy Sport |
| Dwarf Sports Association |
| Wheelpower |
| Mencap Sport |
| British Deaf Swimming |
| Special Olympic GB |
Calendar of competitions
If you are looking for a swimming competition please click here.
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