OVERVIEW

The Thames Valley Junior League is a hotly contested competitive swimming league between swimming clubs in the Thames Valley region. Clubs must be part of the ASA Berks and South Bucks sub-region. Currently there are 9 member clubs, fielding 10 teams, although in 2009 this will expand to 12 teams from 11 clubs.

It aims to promote and develop competitive team swimming in children between the inclusive ages of 9 to 12 years old. Age groups are based on the date of the third round gala. As such, it is referred to as a development league.

The league runs with three separate rounds (of two simultaneous galas), usually held January - April. Each gala date currently has two simultaneous galas at which teams compete. The teams swim relay, medley races, with each swimmer covering 25m. In addition the 10, 11 and 12 year old swimmers swim individual 50m races for the four strokes, whilst the 9 year olds swim a mixed freestyle and medley (consisting of 2 girls and 2 boys).

The final event is a very exciting squadron relay, consisting of 8x25m, with a girl and a boy of each age group, swum in ascending age order.

The events are scored by awarding (in a six team gala) 6 points to the first team and so on.  Totalling these points for each teams, then league points are allocated for each team in a similar manner.  League points are totalled across rounds, and these totals determine which gala they attend later in the league.

In the final round, the top teams swim against each other, and so on.  Gala points are doubled for that round, and the top gala teams are awarded bonus league points each to ensure separation.

Full details of the scoring are found in the League Rules.

The management of the league is handled by alphabetical rotation of member clubs. The 2008 league is managed by the Windsor Swimming Club. 2009 will be Wycombe.