Prior to COVID, all competitive aquatic meets held in the District and throughout Scotland, involving members from two or more clubs, were required to be licensed by the Scottish Swimming.
This was required by Scottish Swimming Governance to allow for the monitoring of competition and to ensure compliance with necessary rules and regulations.
During Lockdown a comprehensive Competition Review took place, and a number of recommendations were made, including the development and introduction of a Competition Framework and some development of the existing Calendar Planning process.
The Competition Review also recommended that barriers created by governance should be reduced or removed for competition where strict regulation is not necessary. This does not affect responsibilities for the competition organisers or Scottish Swimming for Health and Safety.
Acting on these recommendations, Level 4 competition will be introduced from September 2021.
Level 4 competition will not require a licence to be issued, nor will Level 4 competition be subject to any Calendar Planning regulations, however ALL Level 4 competition must be registered with the District prior to the event taking place.
What types of meets should be registered as Level 4 competition?
Only competitions that involve more than one club must be licensed or registered, and it is for the host club’s responsibility to decide which of these is most appropriate.
Level 4 competition is intended to provide clubs with an unregulated opportunity to run short sessions of low-level competition between a small number of clubs (maximum of 4) for those swimmers and occasions when the times achieved are less important than the racing.
Level 4 competition may not be suitable for the needs of all swimmers and is not a replacement for licensing.
Level 1, 2 & 3 licencing will still be available if set criteria are met.
Key benefits of Level 4 competition include the flexibility and inclusivity that is afforded by short term planning, low level officiating and the opportunity to race outside of the constraints of National or District Calendars.
For a competition to be registered as a Level 4 Meet, it must satisfy the following:
Maximum of four clubs taking part
A single session for two hours maximum
Restrictions on any times that are recorded at a Level 4 Meet are as follows:
Times cannot be used for entry into National Events
Times may only be used for District Events at the discretion of the District
If your competition does not satisfy the conditions above and/or any times achieved would be needed for entry into National or District Events, then you must apply for a competition licence.
How do I register?
Level 4 competition must be registered prior to the meet taking place. To register your Level 4 competition please complete the form by following the link below:
What happens if I run a meet and dont register it?
The Registration Form is very simple and takes less than 5 minutes to complete so is not an onerous task.
It supports the District and Scottish Swimming in collecting information about what competition is taking place which will inform future calendar planning.
If you do run a competitive aquatic meet in the District, involving members from two or more clubs which is neither licensed nor registered with us you will be operating outside Scottish Swimming governance which may invalidate your insurance.
What happens after the competition?
Your meet will be placed in a list of Registered Competition that will be held by the District.
You may be contacted by the District Licensing Application co-ordinator after the meet to ask about the competition. No formal report, set of results or lists of technical officials will be required.
If you have any questions about registration or licensing, please contact
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He helped put Scottish water polo on the map and ‘lit a spark’ under some of the country’s best players.
Thanks in no small part to a childhood house move near Dunfermline’s Carnegie Baths.
Jack Donaldson was born on February 19, 1933.
The son of railway inspector Wemyss Donaldson and his wife Susan (nee Adams) his infancy was spent in Edinburgh but at age two – in 1935 – he moved to Fife where he lived for the rest of his life.
Carnegie Baths
Living in Campbell Street, a young Jack would take advantage of the family’s tenement flat being near to Carnegie Baths.
The Commercial Primary School pupil would begin a life-long love affair with indoor watersports.
Later attending Dunfermline High School where he was the dux in geography, he would also represent the school in cricket and rugby.
National Service
From 1951 until 53 it was Jack’s turn for National Service with time spent in the Royal Air Force.
Stationed at Bishopbriggs and then at Norton Hall in Lincolnshire, even being conscripted couldn’t stop him finding a swimming pool.
While stationed in the outskirts of Glasgow he competed for former Scottish Cup winners, Dennistoun Baths Club.
Working in the equipment, provision and accounting section – known as EPAS – he got a taste for accountancy and his future career.
When his time in the RAF was over Jack opted for a salary over university, becoming a stock-taker in the Crombie Armaments depot before moving to the burgh’s chamberlain office in East Port, as a trainee accountant.
Courting at the Kinema
Despite a busy timetable working and swimming, Jack still had time for a night out at the Kinema Ballroom.
And it was here he met his wife Margaret McCutcheon.
Enjoying each other’s company they would attend swim meets together while courting.
The couple were then married in August 1958, at Erskine Church in Dunfermline before walking to their reception at the Co-op tea rooms in Randolph Street.
Their honeymoon in London and then in Southport while not the most glamorous of starts, must have set them up for a win as Jack and Margaret celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2008.
Starting a family
The couple’s first home was a small flat in Chalmers Street where, in December 1959, they welcomed their first son Alan.
Newly married and with a baby, Jack attended evening classes to achieve a professional qualification, earning his chartered accountant status in 1963.
By the time second son, John, was born in January 1964, the family had moved to Inchkeith Drive in Abbeyview.
Career progression
Jack eventually progressed to become director offFinance for Dunfermline District Council when previous director Eric Maxwell retired in 1986.
He was part of the team tasked with preparing the reorganisation and migration of local council services under the Fife Council banner.
In 1991 Jack retired aged 58.
Water Polo pioneer
Jack spent a large part of his life devoted to swimming and water polo.
If he could no longer play, he was organising. When he was too old to organise, he watched.
As an accomplished backstroke swimmer, he began his polo career as a junior goalkeeper with Carnegie SC.
Returning from service he rejoined Carnegie as a much better player, being part of a team that won the East District league on three occasions.
Commonwealth Games
As his playing days came to a close and with sons Alan and John now also swimming for Carnegie he was more involved in swimming club administration, serving as president for a spell.
He would also officiate at club, district and national galas.
In the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games Jack was also selected as a judge.
Legacy
Seeing a need for something more for the young people ready for a change of focus, Jack set up the junior water polo team of Dunfermline and Glenrothes. This included sons Alan and John.
Then, under his guidance players at senior level with Dunfermline ASC won the Scottish 1st Division title gaining promotion to the Premier League.
Dunfermline Water Polo Club
In 1979 Carnegie Baths closed for major refurbishment.
On reopening Jack helped found Dunfermline Water Polo Club (DWPC).
He served a secretary and then president of the club, as well as coaching the juniors and refereeing.
