Swim Wales

A UNITED, DYNAMIC GOVERNING BODY OF SPORT LEADING THE WAY FROM LEARN TO SWIM TO COMMONWEALTH MEDALS & INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP FROM A - Z

• CHILD PROTECTION POLICY & PROCEDURES – These have been recently reviewed in order to ensure that teachers, coaches, swimmers and parents benefit from the latest information available, and each club will be issued with a copy. We also fully support the “Child Safe in Sport Wales” initiative.
   
• COMPETITION - Clubs are required to affiliate to the governing body in order to compete. Competition allows the success of a club and their swimmers to be seen by others. We now have policies in place to ensure appropriate competition is provided in relation to the development stage of the swimmers.
   
• CONTINUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) – we are a registered provider for CPD and will assist clubs and members to organise CPD seminars.                                                                                                      Our Development Team also organise and deliver CPD seminars on a wide ranging number of topics, in order to keep all our clubs and members up to date on the latest developments in our sport.
   
• CLUB SUPPORT – our Development Officers are there to help and provide support services to our affiliated clubs and also to visit the clubs on a regular basis. To contact the Development Officer in your area, please contact the Swim Wales office.
   
• DATABASE – We have a database of all our registered swimmers, teachers, coaches, officials and volunteers. The database is fully integrated with the British Swimming database which enables Swim Wales, amongst other things, swimmers ranking lists to be produced.

• DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

1. Long Term Athlete Development

a. Fundamentals – U/A Lessons, Community Health & Fitness Clubs, support from the Development Team.
b. Skill Development – U/A Lessons, Development Clubs, support from the Development Team and the National Coaching Co-ordinator.
c. Training to Train – Performance 1 Club, support from the Development Team and the National Coaching Co-ordinator.
d. Training to Compete – Performance Club 2, support from the Development Team and the National Coaching Co-ordinator.
e. Training to Win – Performance Club 3, support from the Development Team, National Coaching Co-ordinator and the National Coach.

2. Dragon Mark Quality Assurance for Swimming Clubs.

This has been developed to ensure our clubs operate to the highest standards with regard to administrative procedures and develop swimmers in line with the principles of Long Term Athlete Development. This also identifies the training requirements of a club and can be used to support grant applications and requests to the Unitary Authorities for more pool time.

3. Dragon Mark Quality Assurance for Local Authorities.

This has been developed to identify Unitary Authorities which have quality learn to swim programmes with clear links to the clubs in the area. It recognises that the schools programme is of a high standard and they are supporting the Junior Schools Challenge. It also recognises that the health issue is being addressed through the Fit Swim Wales programme.

4. Fit Swim Wales.

This programme has been devised to address the health issues that are currently high on the agenda of the Welsh Assembly and the Health Authority. The programme caters for adult learn to swim through to fitness training. The staff at the leisure centres are trained to produce programmes individually, by using a simple test. There is also a fitness index.

5. Junior Fit Swim Wales

This programme has been devised to cater for swimmers who do not wish to join a swimming club, but who want to train to keep themselves fit.

6. Welsh Assembly Free Swim Initiative.

We have been involved in the Free Swim Initiative, we devised the WASA Challenge, which the Unitary Authorities are obliged to build into their programme. We also host an Aquatic Festival from the results of the Summer Programme.

7. Water Dragons.

The Water Dragons is designed to recognise that a swimmer has reached a predetermined standard, and to inform them of the benefits of participating in the sport of swimming via a swimming club.

8. Junior Schools Challenge.

The Junior Schools Challenge is a three event relay gala for primary schools. Each team comprises of ten swimmers, and the idea is to give them a fun based competitive experience.

9. Teacher / Coach Development.

We have an introductory coaching award, the WASA Level 1. The Development Team deliver this programme. There are also courses run by the A.S.A, and there is a Coach Education booklet available from the office with information on the qualification structure and a summary of the course content.

We organise seminars for the Continual Professional Development of Teachers and Coaches.

10. Schools Swimming.

We have produced the ‘Spectrum Pack’ as resource to asssist Teachers deliver a swimming programme. We are available for support and advice to PE Advisors.

11. Mini Water Polo.

Through the local authorities and clubs, we have introduced mini water polo. Many authorities use mini water polo as part of their free swim initiative programme.

12. Masters Swimming.

We have been involved with coaching sessions for Masters Clubs, to aid their development. We are also encouraging clubs to establish masters sections and are looking to link with the Fit Swim Wales programme.

13. Competition

a. Dolphin Challenge & Club Team Championships. This has been developed in line with Long Term Athlete Development, to develop more swimmers, and to give them the experience of swimming for a team as opposed to just the normal individual competitions. There is a booklet available which gives details of these championships.
b. Meet Licensing & Calendar Planning. This has also been developed in line with Long Term Athlete Development and British Swimming. The aim is for swimmers to swim the correct events as there bodies physically develop through puberty and maturation. Also for the competition structure to ensure progression from Club to Area to Welsh National to British Nationals. There is a booklet available ‘Competition for All in Wales’ to explain this.

14. Performance Pathway

The performance and development teams have a programme of training camps at Area, LTAD ID Start, LTAD Youth and Senior in order to ensure our swimmers can be developed to reach their full potential. Standards are set at each level, swimmers are selected against the standards, also taken into consideration is their work ethic, commitment and determination to succeed.

• DIVING – for contact details please contact the WASA Office.
   
• GRANTS - there a number of grants available to affiliated clubs and we have an information leaflet available from the office explaining them.
   
• HEALTH & SAFETY – our policy document on Health & Safety ensures our clubs have the up to date information to operate their club to the highest standards and need to adhere to the policies laid out within the document.
   
• INSURANCE – all swimmers, teachers, coaches & volunteers are covered for insurance purposes by being a registered member of the WASA. All clubs have been issued with a synopsis of cover in their Club Resource Pack.
   
• LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT – we have fully adopted the principles of Long Term Athlete Development in the activities of the association. The WASA Development Performance Plan and the Club Guidance Pack have been produced to assist clubs to work in line with LTAD. Our competitive structure has been revised in order to provide our swimmers with the correct performance pathways related to their growth and development More details can be seen under Development Initiatives.
   
• MASTERS SWIMMING – for contact details please contact the WASA Office.
   
• RESOURCE MATERIAL – an information leaflet detailing all our resource material can be obtained from the WASA Office.
   
• SUPPORT STAFF – We have a Performance Team comprising of the National Performance Director Martyn Woodroffe, who can be contacted via the WASA Office. Then we have a Development Team comprising of three Regional Development Officers:-
  North Wales – TBC
  South East Wales – Rhys Mullan
  e mail rhys.mullan@welshasa.co.uk
  South West Wales - TBC
  
  
• SWIMMING OFFICIALS – we have a training and development programme for our swimming officials. For details please contact the WASA office who will put you in touch with our Officials Organiser.
   
• TEACHER / COACH EDUCATION – we have a booklet “Coach Education” which outlines all ASA and WASA qualifications that are available and the route to gaining each. The WASA Level 1 course is an introductory course, which has been devised to attract more poolside helpers into clubs. It is particularly attractive as it is normally delivered in a club environment, by our Development Officers.
   
• VOLUNTEERS – we have produced a volunteer management booklet for our clubs, which can be found in the club resource pack or available from the WASA office. Training for volunteers can be accessed through the local sports council network.
   
• WATER POLO – for contact details please contact the WASA Office.
   
• WEB SITE – our web site is www.welshasa.co.uk; current information for our members is on the site and is regularly updated. For competition information, this is available on www.nofiocymru.ndo.co.uk.
   
• WELSH ASA OFFICE – the office is available as a point of contact for all swimming related matters and is situated in the Wales National Pool, Sketty Lane, Swansea, SA2 8QG. Phone Number 01792 513636, e-mail secretary@welshasa.co.uk