THE AIMS OF THE ASA To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to learn to swim To support the pursuit of excellence, in all its disciplines and at all levels of the sport To provide the direction and effective management of the sport To provide a proactive communication service to its customers supported by a measured, efficient service in response to its customer enquiries To maximise the commercial opportunities available to the sport for the benefit of the sport To provide an effective programme for the training of teachers, coaches and tutors THE HISTORY OF THE AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATIONThe first recorded meeting of representatives of swimming clubs was held in the German Gymnasium, London, on 7th January 1869, when it was resolved that an Association composed of the London Swimming Clubs should be formed and have as its objects the promotion and encouragement of the art of swimming. Later that year the title of "Metropolitan Swimming Association" was assumed and a code of rules was drawn up in 1870 for the management of the Games of Football in the Water, proving that some sort of Water-Polo was then played.The only National Championship in 1869 was the One Mile. The 100 yards was instituted in 1878 with the 500 yards Freestyle, the latter being cancelled in 1935. In 1873 the name was changed to that of "The Swimming Association of Great Britain", although it did not include Scottish
clubs; in fact, an application in 1878 from an Association of Scottish Clubs to join was not entertained. In 1880 Horace Davenport became the Association's President, and this was a turning point in the history of the Association. The previous year, a race known as the "Lords and Commons Race" was handed over by members of Parliament who had presented a trophy for it, and is now known as the Long Distance Championship, swum for many years in the River Thames. At this time there were nine London and eleven Provincial clubs in the Association, but this number gradually increased ...
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clubs; in fact, an application in 1878 from an Association of Scottish Clubs to join was not entertained. In 1880 Horace Davenport became the Association's President, and this was a turning point in the history of the Association. The previous year, a race known as the "Lords and Commons Race" was handed over by members of Parliament who had presented a trophy for it, and is now known as the Long Distance Championship, swum for many years in the River Thames. At this time there were nine London and eleven Provincial clubs in the Association, but this number gradually increased each year.In 1883 copies of the Laws of Amateur Swimming were distributed in various parts of the Continent and in America. In 1884 the Otter Club resigned its membership over amateurism and eight other clubs followed and formed the Amateur Swimming Union. The President, Horace Davenport, resigned and for two years an almost continuous feud took place. When the position became intolerable, Mr Henry Benjamin of the Cygnus Club brought the leaders of both sides together. By considerable tact on his part, at a meeting in 1886, it was resolved that the Association should be called "The Amateur Swimming Association", a title it has retained ever since.The objects were revised to include the control of race meetings and the uniformity of rules, and to enforce the observance of the laws. A new definition of "amateur" was also made. Under its new constitution the ASA carried out its work through an executive committee instead of the whole body as in former years.Its power grew steadily and with the increase of work, provincial business was often delayed. This caused agitation in the provinces and when the ASA tried to form Local Centres in England and Ireland and enforce its laws, with the consequent suspension of some Manchester swimmers, the delegates of the Northern Clubs declared their intention to form a separate association. An ASA meeting was held on the same night in London and telegrams were despatched from one meeting to the other, with the result that three ASA delegates went to Manchester to confer with the Northern swimmers.After long and bitter arguments it was finally agreed that the scheme proposed by the ASA for the "Better Management of Amateur Swimming" should be accepted. It was the casting vote of the Chairman, Mr C G Plumpton of Barnsley, which decided the matter. The scheme allowed the Northern Counties to have jurisdiction over all parts of the country north of 53 degrees and until a Midland Association was formed the ASA would control the remainder.The Midlands then made representation with the result that in 1889 it was agreed that the ASA should be divided into three Districts, Northern, Midland and Southern. At the first Annual General Meeting in 1890 the Association consisted of 135 clubs, South 78, North 39, Midland 18. Its first President was again Horace Davenport, who remained in office until 1894 when one of the North's strong men, William J Read, father of the Association's former Honorary Solicitor, became President.In 1893 one of the most famous names in the history appeared, George Pragnall, later Sir George of Bristol, who became Honorary Secretary and the first President of the Western counties in 1901. Sir George remained Honorary Secretary until 1903 when he became President of the ASA. On accepting office he made a list of reforms he intended to bring forward, believing that it would only take two years. To his surprise he was bitterly opposed, but eventually won through, and after ten years handed over to George Hearn (another Westerner) who became the first Honorary Secretary of FINA in 1908.In 1891 two prominent members of the ASA - Archibald Sinclair and William Henry - because of the failure of the ASA to include the art of life-saving in its objects, formed the Swimmers Life-Saving Society, later to become the Royal Life Saving Society. In 1901 the Association was divided into five Districts in the manner we know today.The North-East took the eastern side of the Pennines, to include Yorkshire, Northumberland and Durham, and the Western Counties the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucester, Somerset and Wiltshire. The Association had the distinction of taking a leading part in the organisation of the Olympic Games in London in 1908 at the White City, and again in 1948 at Wembley.The British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held at Wembley in 1934 and the European Championships in 1938. The European Championships return to England again in 1993 at Sheffield. From 135 clubs affiliated in 1890, we now have around 1,600 representing something in the region of 300,000 swimmers.The first Women's Championship, the 100 yards Freestyle, was instituted in 1901. Diving came under the control of the Association in 1935 when the Amateur Diving Association was wound up and the ASA Diving Committee formed.Junior Championships were instituted in 1947 at Hastings. 1948 saw the ASA again taking a leading role in the organisation of the Olympic Games held in Wembley. In 1952 Alice M Austin of Beckenham Ladies Swimming Club, became the first woman President of the ASA. 1956 saw Judy Grinham become Britain's first Olympic swimming Gold Medallist for 32 years when she won the 100 metres Backstroke in Melbourne. Anita Lonsbrough won the Olympic 200 metres Breaststroke Gold Medal in Rome 1960 in a world record time. 1974 saw the district element phased out and National Development officers being introduced covering all disciplines of the sport but these were gradually phased out for various reasons except for David Hicks at Crystal Palace and Eddie Gorton at The Wolverhampton School. When Dave Hicks retired in 1990 the post at Crystal Palace was changed to Director of Courses Crystal Palace and Norman Binstead was appointed. This post is now self supporting. Eddie Gorton left in 1984 signalling the end of National Development Officers. This system was resurrected in 1993 under the name of Regional Development Officers.
