Entering three teams into the National Arena Swimming League is a deliberate and important part of the Bluefins pathway. It is also no small undertaking. Ask any head coach what it takes to field just one Arena League team and they’ll tell you — the task is enormous. Selection planning, eligibility checks, availability juggling, relay construction, squad balance, logistics, travel, and contingency planning all sit behind the scenes.

The marshalling area is the place where swimmers are organised before their races. It helps the officials make sure the right swimmers reach the correct heats and lanes. Your Team Manager will tell you when it is time to report. At Bluefins, Team Managers wear bright blue tops with Team Manager written on the back. Stay close enough to hear them and do not leave poolside without telling them.

You see a familiar name on the start list. You used to beat them, but now the race feels close. Instead of looking forward to it, you worry about losing or what people might think. Past results can create an expectation: “I beat them before, so I should beat them again.” That can make racing feel like something you have to prove.

A personal best, or PB, is your fastest recorded time for an event in a particular pool length. It is worth celebrating. It is also your best performance so far, so you should not expect to beat it every time you race. The finishing time cannot show every improvement. It combines your start, swimming, turns and finish. One part can improve while another still needs work.

Yes, your goals can differ, but they should connect. Training gives you opportunities to develop your swimming. Racing gives you a chance to put that preparation together. A training goal should match the purpose of the set. During technique work, you might focus on making a stroke change at a controlled speed. During race-pace work, your goal might be to maintain that change while meeting your target times.