in certain circumstances, schools, colleges and local authorities; and
national governing bodies of sport and third level education institutions, where it is evident that the proposed facility will contribute to the regional and/or national sporting infrastructure.
Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme
Grant-aid from the Exchequer is made available to local authorities and bodies supported by local authorities, towards the cost of providing new swimming pools or refurbishing existing pools.
Levels of Grant-aid
Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme grants of up to a maximum of €3.8 million are available towards the refurbishment of existing pools or the provision of new pools, subject in either case to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in designated disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost
All of these bodies and agencies help fund and organise the sport of swimming in the UK.
Incentive schemes and development plans
Together with Sport England, the ASA have development plans and incentive schemes to carry out. They are as follows:
Swim 21
The Amateur Swimming Association's national development plan which aims to ensure high standards of teaching and coaching by providing a network of development officers to work closely with local authorities and to try and encourage clubs to work constructively with local authorities and local education authorities.
From Arm Bands to Gold Medals
ASA's national facility plan for swimming together with Sport England, to encourage investment in pools, to develop a network to accommodate all the swimming disciplines, water polo, diving, synchronised swimming and swimming. This plan has yet to be published, and Sport England urges the ASA to do so.
Active Sports Programme
Sport England's development programme targeting 10 sports including swimming, and encouraging young people to become more involved in sport. The programme created 45 sports partnerships to assist in training and coaching and to promote easier access to facilities.
Supporting Grassroots Development
Through its partners, the Association is actively involved in developing opportunities at a local level, creating more clubs, more events, and ensuring an inclusive approach is taken by all.
Programs affected by individual differences
In swimming, training sessions are not decided on by age group or gender but by ability but how able they are depends on their age in some cases.
At Broadway Swimming Club, there is three different sessions. In the early session, the swimmers are beginners; they are aged around 4-6 years old and possibly 7 if they are less able than other swimmers in their age group. In this session, the beginners swim widths. They are just being introduced to the water for example kicking their legs with a float and putting their face in the water. In this session, the assistant coaches are actually in the water with the children guiding them across the pool. The aim of the teachers in this session is to build the confidence of the children and gradually remove their armbands and other aids to improve their swimming for the next session.
In the second session, the swimmers will concentrate more on technique to improve their ability for later stages if they wish to compete.
An example of a program for this session would be:
Session in a 20-meter pool
1 hour session
The 3rd session is for the advanced swimmers of the club who compete in swimming galas for the team and also the swimmers may wish to enter competitions where they represent themselves but under the clubs name example: County competitions. The training sessions work on speed technique and stamina.
An example of a training program in this session is:
Session in a 20-meter pool
1:45-minute session
Processes, Structures and Pathways Involved in Talented Performers Gaining Representative honours
To excell in swimming competitivley, swimmers should start swimming at a very early age. How ever not all people excell in the sport.
The Junior Development squad
In the junior development squad, childern are just learning to swim improving their technique and learning the basic swimming skills of all 4 strokes.
Junior Olympians
Ages: 10 and under
To be in this squad, swimmers need to be good at all four strokes and have good body position on freestyle and breathing techique the objectives of this squad are as follows:
Develop and nurture basic skills - spins/tumbles/skulling.
Introduce stamina work.
Heavy emphasis on technique.
Correct start & turns for racing.
Begin to look for most talented swimmers and learn to race.
Introduce to galas outside of club.
Achieve competitive start award.
Junior
Ages: 10-12 year olds and also talented 9 year olds
The requirments for this squad is that the swimmers qualify for county competition in a number of events by having appropriate times. They should also have potential to swim in district competitions. They should be attendin their training sessions at least 80% of the time and have a lot of enthusiasm. They should have potential to be in the youth team too. This is decided by who are the most talented 9/10 year olds.
The objectives of this squad are:
Develop stroke technique.
Introduce to County level events plus Open Meets.
Compete in inter club galas plus County Leagues
Begin serious stamina training.
Encourage competitiveness in training.
Junior County Squad
Ages: 10-12 year olds and also talented 9 year olds
To be in this squad, swimmers should be close to county qualification or even have qualifying times in a few of the events. They should also be very enthusiastic.
The objectives of this squad are:
Develop stroke technique.
Begin serious stamina training.
Encourage competitiveness in training.
Compete in inter club galas plus County Leagues.
Introduce to County level events plus Open Meets.
Pick up talented/motivated swimmers for Junior or Youth squad.
Provide competitive/challenging environment.
Promote fitness.
Senior County Squad
Ages: 12 years and over
To be in this squad, swimmers must be close to county qualification or qualified in 1 or 2 events. They must be very enthusiastic.
Objectives of this squad are:
Provide competitive/challenging environment promoting fitness.
Compete in Inter Club Galas plus County League and Open Meets.
Pick up late developers for advancement to Youth or Regional Squad.
Youth Squad
Ages: 12-14 year olds and talented 11 year olds.
To be in this squad, swimmers must have potential to swim in the national squad and they should also have district qualifications or be very close 2 achieving them. They should have County qualification on a number of events, strokes & distances. They should be dedicated to the sport and achieving in it and be self motivated, they should attend 80% of their trainig sessions to show dedication.
The objectives of this squad are:
Encourage rising stars.
Introduce quality competitions (good Open Meets/GrandPrix events).
Introduce District Competition.
Introduce importance of diet.
Educate on basic principles of training methods.
Regional Squad
Ages: 14 years and over
To be in this squad, swimmers must qualify for County Age Group Championships on a number of events and even have some district times.
The objectives of this squad are:
Keep swimmers interested and competitive.
Provide the backbone of the Club in Wiltshire Leagues.
Promote fitness.
Look for late dvelopers.
National Squad
Ages: 14 years and over and talented 13 year olds
To be in this squad, swimmers must have national times, and also many district qualifying times. The swimmers must be extremley dedicated to their sport and be self motivated. They must attent 80% of training sessions to show their dedication.
The objectives of this squad are:
Prepare for National/International competitions.
Prepare for district competitions.
Educate on physiology, diet, biomechanics.
Dominate County events.
Promote self confidence/belief & a positive attitude.
Senior Squad
Ages 16 and over
To be in this squad, swimmers should be Ex-National/District swimmers.
The objectives of this group are:
Represent Club at County & District level.
Maintain interest in sport.
Bridge gap between age group & masters swimming.
Disability and swimming
Swimmers need the chance to compete on equal terms, to measure their ability against others, and some welcome the opportunity to train for national and international competition with all the demands and discipline that this brings to their life
National Junior Swimming Championships
The National Junior Swimming Championships is presently held at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington. They bring together the elite juniors from the Regional and Home Countries Championships, which are held before the national event. This event is growing increasingly popular and successful.
National Open and Short Course Swimming Championships
The National Swimming Championships are divided into two events. The National Short Course Championships are held in the 25-metre pool at Ponds Forge in Sheffield and, as with the junior event, qualification is through the Regional and Home Country Championships. Competition for the team trophy creates a superb atmosphere.
The National Open Championships, also held at Ponds Forge, is the only event held in a 50-metre pool for swimmers with a disability in this country. This individual event highlights Great Britain's standing as one of the top nations in the swimming world.
Agencies involved with disability swimming
Disability Sport England (West Midlands)
Disability Sport England for the West Midlands is part of a National Disability Sports Organisation. The goals of Disability Sport England is to organise and develop a co-ordinated sporting events programme for disabled people to be able to compete in so that they don’t feel like they can take part in anything because they are disabled. The events are at a local, regional and national level. DSE West Midlands have an extensive programme of event, organised primarily by volunteers
Sport Groups For The Disabled
In Birmingham, there are a number of well-established sports groups available for people who are physically disabled. They all provide opportunities for people to participate in sport and leisure. Here are a few of the groups which provide swimming for the disabled athletes:
Birmingham Meerkats Sports Club
They provide swimming Wilson Stuart School in Perry Barr.
Dwarf Athletics Association (West Midlands)
This is a newly established group that provides sporting opportunities in Athletics and Swimming for people with restricted growth.
Wobblers and Wheelies Sports Club
This is a sports club for people who are physically impaired. They teach Swimming at their base in Foxhollies Leisure Centre.
City of Birmingham Special Olympics
This is a group for people with learning difficulties. It is based in Kingsbury School in Erdington. They provide Swimming lessons fort the mentally disabled at Stetchford Cascades in Stetchford.
Awards for All
Awards for All is a grants programme set up to help small groups. The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Arts Council of England, Sport England, the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund support it. The main aim of the programme is to fund projects (up to £5,000) which involve people in their community; bringing them together to enjoy arts, sports, heritage and other community activities. Priority is given to applications targeting disabled people. You can apply if the group you represent have a constitution or formally accepted set rules, and a bank account. The funding can be used for the development of sporting activities, coaching, events, training, coach education, hire of facilities, equipment and much more.
This could help with the provision of disability swimming as it can help some one start a group for swimmers with all different kinds of abilities within our local area.
