Everything you need to know for the 2026 Cotswold League rounds.
A quick overview for parents and supporters.
League Format
The season has 4 preliminary rounds, then Finals. After Round 4, teams are placed into Final galas (A, B or C) based on season performance.
Events Per Gala
Each gala includes 53 races, covering individual swims and relays across all age groups.
Galas vs Open Meets
League galas are team competitions where clubs race head-to-head for points. Open meets focus on individual entries, personal bests, and finals by qualifying time rather than club match scoring.
Events are grouped as 11/u, 13/u, 15/u and Open. Swimmers race in their eligible age band, helping keep races fair and competitive across the gala.
In this league, each event has a time limit. If a swimmer goes faster than that limit, they can be disqualified from scoring points for that race.
In freestyle relays, each swimmer completes their leg in freestyle before the next teammate dives. Relay takeovers are crucial, and smooth changes can decide close races.
Medley relay order is always Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, then Freestyle. Each swimmer does one stroke, so team balance across all four strokes really matters.
Get the full race list, time limits, and printable gala notes in one place.
Best viewed on mobile before the gala, or printed for poolside use.
View all round fixtures, venues, and Finals location details on the dedicated Season Draw page.
You can also access live results links from the Season Draw page.