Event Information

All students must have been selected at their regional swimming carnival to compete at MN Diocesan Swimming Carnival

Date
Wednesday 25th February 2026

Time
9.45 - 2.30 approximately.

NOTE: No students are to enter the pool prior to 9.00am. They must meet their regional team managers at their allocated regional area in the grandstand from 9am.

No spectator entry prior to 9am, this will be enforced by staff. Spectator fee charged by the facility is $3. Spectators are welcome but are to remain in the area outside the pool entry doors. Spectators may enter to watch the event their swimmer is competing in from the sectioned off viewing area and then will need to exit the area. This is a venue rule due to venue capacity.

Venue
The Forum Aquatics Centre - 130 University Drive, Callaghan

Parking
The Forum Parking Guide Click Here. Parents are requested to park in the allocated parking bays on this guide. 

Dismissal
There are four (4) time slots for Parents to enter the stand and sign out their child. The First break is after the 50m Free. The Second break is at after the relays, the third break after the Butterfly and the final dismissal is at the end of the carnival. No students can be collected outside of these times. During these short 5 minute breaks races will cease to allow parents time to enter the stand to sign their child out. Once signed out students must immediately leave the venue. The break after the butterfly will be a longer break as Staff/Officials will have a break at this time. 

Criteria to Nominate

Entries: are on a Regional basis only. Each Region is entitled to 3 entries per event, except for relays (2).

Please note that any child turning 13 in the competing year would be ineligible to be selected in the NSW PSSA team at any PSSA championship.  The child would however be eligible to participate in the respective PSSA event (i.e. eligible to represent Polding).

Multi class swimmers:  All Multi-Class swimmers are to have completed paperwork with Classification and sent to Bernadette Duggan 1 week PRIOR to the Diocesan carnival (multiclass application).  They must be on the National Master Classification List.                                     

Eligibility: For age events a competitor is eligible for that age event for which his/her significant birthday occurs during the year. Age groupings where applicable shall be:

SENIOR 12, 13 years,

11 Years,
JUNIOR 8, 9, 10 Years
except relays & IMs which will be: SENIOR: 11, 12, 13 Years and JUNIOR 8, 9, 10 Years                                                                 
All Multi-Class events- JUNIOR 8,9,10 and SENIOR 11, 12 ,13 Years. This includes 50m freestyle event.

Please note there are qualifying times for the Diocesan carnival in the following events:

100 free- 1:35:00
13yrs 50m free- 0:45
Breaststroke - jun 1:10:00,    11yrs 1:05:00,  12/13yrs 1:00:00
Backstroke -   jun  1:00:00,   11yrs  57:00,     12/13yrs  55:00
Butterfly -        jun  1:05:00,   11yrs  1:00:00,  12/13yrs  55:00
Medley -          jun  4:30:00            senior  4:00:00
Relay -              jun  3:35:00            senior   3:15:00  Small School 3:59:00

If your child finishes 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd in an event, please ask your child to see their school sport coordinator the following day.

Cost

$20 per student to be paid through your schools payment system 1 week prior to the diocesan trial.

Please contact your school sport coordinator for any questions & further information.

A copy of the Order of Events will be available under “order or events/rules” closer to the carnival 

Limited programs will be available on the day for $2.

Click here for 2026 Order of Events  

DIOCESAN SWIMMING CARNIVAL RULES AND CONDITIONS

1. ENTRIES:

Entry forms must be lodged with the Education Officer Sport at the Catholic Schools Office by the specified date.

Entries are on a Regional basis only – entries will not be accepted from individual schools.

Each Region is entitled to 3 entries per event where they meet QTs, except for relays (2) where they meet QTs. All Multi-Class swimmers are to have completed paperwork with Classification and sent to Bernadette Duggan 1 week PRIOR to the carnival. Swimmers in multiclass events must be on the National Master Classification List.

2. ELIGIBILITY:

For age events a competitor is eligible for that age event for which his/her significant birthday occurs during the year. Age groupings where applicable shall be:

SENIOR                12, 13 Years

11 YEARS             11 Years

JUNIOR                 8, 9, 10 Years
Except relays & IMs which will be:
SENIOR:11, 12, 13Years  

 JUNIOR: 8, 9, 10 Years

All multi-Class events MC JUNIOR 8, 9, 10 Years MC SENIOR 11, 12, 13 Years

A competitor may not compete out of his/her age group except for Open events.  Qualifying times for Diocesan entry are below:

3. COMPETITION RULES:

The Carnival will be conducted in accordance with the rules set down by the Diocese of Maitland- Newcastle Primary Schools Sports Association. The one start rule will operate. Any student starting before the starting signal has been given, shall be disqualified. If the starting signal sounds before the disqualification is declared, the race shall continue and the swimmer/s shall be disqualified upon completion of the race. If the disqualification is declared before the starting signal, the signal shall not be given, but the remaining swimmers shall be called back and start again. All swimmers must compete with their regional swimming cap on (provided by regional TM). Girls are not permitted to wear two piece costumes. Breaststroke kick is NOT permitted in butterfly. Students must compete in all events registered for. If a student withdraws from an event they may be disqualified from entering further events that day.

4. TIMED HEATS: No Finals.

The fastest times from all the heats in any one event shall determine the places.

5. PROTESTS:

All protests must be submitted in writing by the team manager to the convenor, within fifteen (15) minutes of the incident or of official results being posted.

6. ORDER OF EVENTS:

Events shall be held in the sequence and at the times indicated, however, the President, Primary Schools Sports Association, or their nominee, may vary if necessary.

7. COACHING:

Parents, coaches and other unauthorised persons are not allowed in the stands, marshalling or time keeping areas. Once participants are in the hands of officials controlling the event, they shall not receive any coaching or advice. There is a viewing platform available to watch races.

PENALTY – DISQUALIFICATION FROM ALL REMAINING EVENTS

8. NUSPORT SPECIFIC RULES:

“Crowd management is essential to ensure the safety of all participants and guests. The Aquatic Centre has a maximum capacity of 500. · NUsport has the right to limit access to spectators into the Aquatic Centre based on venue numbers. · For large events, in particular event swimming carnivals, spectators will be asked to enter the Aquatic Centre for their nominated event only. Spectators should exit the Aquatic Centre following their nominated race.”

“NUsport has a strict NO photography / filming policy in the Aquatic Centre. For event carnivals, NUsport NO photography / filming policy applies”

9. TEAM MANAGERS:

Each region representative team must be accompanied by at least 2 Team Managers, not more than 3 per team. Staff to student ratios are to be adhered to.

10. NSWCPS:

Paperwork will be emailed to school sport coordinators the day after the event. Results will also be posted on the Diocesan Sport website - https://csnsw.sport/maitland-newcastle/primary/sport/swimming

Swimmers must register online by the due date. If a student is unable to compete at the NSWCPS carnival please notify Bernadette Duggan on the day of the Diocesan carnival or within 3 days of its completion.

The fastest THREE swimmers will be selected to represent the Diocese in each event, except relays which is the fastest TWO and IMs as determined by CSNSW. This is the same for swimmers in Multi-Class events.

Congratulations to the below students who have been selected to represent our Diocese at the Polding Swimming Championships.

Please see your school sport coordinator for the progression/instruction letter.

Registrations close 4th March 

Congratulations to our 2026 Age Champions 

Congratulations to the Following Maitland Newcastle students who will represent our diocese in the Polding Swim Team 2026: