Long Term Athlete Development

a. Fundamentals – U/A (Unitary Authority) Lessons, Community Health & Fitness Clubs,  support from the Development Team.
 
b. Skill Development – U/A (Unitary Authority) 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.
 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Welsh Assembly Free Swim Initiative.

We have been involved in the Free Swim Initiative, we devised the Swim Wales 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.

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.

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.

Teacher / Coach Development.

We have an introductory coaching award, the Swim Wales Level 1. Our Regional Development Team deliver this programme. There are also courses run by the A.S.A. We organise seminars for the Continual Professional Development of Teachers and Coaches.

Schools Swimming.

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

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.

Competition.

a. The Aquatic Pentathlon. This has been developed in line with Long Term Athlete Development, to develop the younger swimmers, and to give them the experience of swimming all four strokes plus individual medley as opposed to the normal competitions, as they have to swim all five events.
 
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 their 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.

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.