Training and competition when having your period

Training when having your period

• Use drag shorts over your costume or shorts on pool side for land warm up. Have a conversation with other girls in the squad to help each other by all wearing shorts on poolside
• Gentle exercise is often good for pain relief so gentle swimming is a good way to ease pain. The coach may be able to change the session to reduce the intensity of the exercise.
• It may be useful for you to track and monitor the periods using an app or writing in a training diary
• Girls should try to talk to the coach so they are aware of when they are having your period.
• The coach should not penalise an athlete for having your period but should recognise it and manage it positively
• They may be able to alter the training session to account for the period.
• Your privacy and dignity should be maintained at all times by the coach and other team members

Managing your period during a competition

In all Swim England events it is now acceptable to wear period bikini bottoms under a race suit.

Click here for the latest guidance for Swim England events.

This is not accepted at British Swimming events and FINA/LEN events so in these cases the race suit should be worn alone without bikini bottoms.

Here are some tips for race day:

• Use a robe to put on after the race to cover up
• Use shorts on pool side to do exercises
• Inform the team manager and coach