Torquay Leander Swimming Club.

Joining Procedures and Progression through to Competitive Swimming

· Applications are invited from children of school age up to adult.

· Initially please make contact with any of the club coaches and/or committee and arrange a trial. This takes place at one of our training nights, usually at the start of a squad session .  Contact can be made either in person at the pool, by telephone or through our website and e-mail links at www.torquayleander.com

· The applicant  will be asked to demonstrate their ability by swimming one width or length of the pool in at least three out of four strokes; front crawl, back crawl, breast stroke and butterfly.

· Torquay Leander offers learn to swim sessions in its Junior Academy Squads and works closely with learn to swim schools and Swim Torquay to offer further skill development and a route into the sport of competitive swimming.

· After your trial the coach will inform you whether your swimming has already reached the desired standard and whether any further practice is necessary before entry to the club is given.  

· Occasionally there may also be a waiting list. 

· When you are offered a place you will be provided with information sheets including Club and ASA membership forms which you should complete and return with your fees at your first session. Details of the charges the club makes and training times for specific squads are given separately on this website. 

· Dont be overawed by the prospect of a trial, we are a friendly club and will make the process as easy and enjoyable as possible. Swimming is a fantastic sport which offers many benefits in the friendships children make and the shared sense of purpose; and it will make you fit ! 

· If you would like to observe any of our sessions before joining please do not hesitate to come along to any one of the squad sessions, make yourself known to the coaches, see what goes on and discuss your needs.

Progression through the Club.

Progression through the club is ability based, by attaining certain skills and reaching benchmarks before progression to the next level.

Our Junior Academy is organised into ability sets and new swimmers begin swimming widths and progress onto part lengths and then lengths, gaining confidence and skills in accordance with the National Plan for Teaching Swimming. By the end of Junior Academy it is the aim that swimmers will be competent and have attained level 10 of the NPTS plan.

 Swimmers may then be invited to join the Junior squad.  There is no automatic progression into the Development, County and Performance competition squads.  Torquay Leander is a competitive swimming club and as such must give preference to swimmers who show promise, the right attitude, the necessary time commitment to appropriate training programmes and who will represent the club at galas and competitions

Success is attained, like most sporting disciplines’ through practice; the number of hours of training input and the experience and confidence gained from the galas and competitions attended.

Torquay Leander strives to make available training hours appropriate to the swimmer and access to a range of competitive galas to suit all abilities. Our Chief Coach is a volunteer and with help from his ASA teachers at Level 1 & 2 and a number of poolside helpers who are all voluntary, administers our training programmes through the Club and oversee the teaching provision.

Each stage of the National Plan takes the form of a course which runs for some 10/12 weeks. Each swimmer should try to attend at least 85/90% of the lessons to give them the confidence to complete the tasks and move on to the next stage. Normally there is no final assessment day as the swimmers will be continually assessed in the last few weeks and they will be presented with a club certificate confirming that they have passed and have been promoted to the next stage. The main aim of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) IS TO DEVELOP A WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS. The content prepares the swimmers to participate in a variety of disciplines and in doing so develops a more rounded and skilful performer. This will increase the range of opportunities open to the swimmer in terms of future development whilst at the same time provides a sound skills basis for those wishing to progress to the competitive aspect of the sport

A Brief Overview of Stages 1 to 7

Stage 1 – Developing basic safety awareness, the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmers may use aids e.g. arm bands, floats etc.

Stage 2 – Developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating, swim and rotation unaided to regain upright positions. Swimmers may use aids e.g. arm bands, floats etc.

Stage 3 – Developing safe entries including submersion, travel up to 10 metres on the front and back, progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge.

Stage 4 – Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes, and swimming 10 metres to a given standard as directed by the ASA.

Stage 5 - Developing ‘watermanship’ through sculling and treading water skills, and complete rotation, also performing all strokes to the given standard as directed by the ASA.

Stage 6 – Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing, developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise.

Stage 7 – Developing quality stroke technique up to 100metres, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1 to 7.

Once the Swimmer has developed the core range of skills required to be confident, competent and safe in water through Stages 1 to 7, the Swimmer may then have the choice to take part in different aquatic disciplines.

FUNDAMENTAL SPORT SKILLS, STAGES 8 to 10 of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming are available in competitive swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and rookie lifesaving (subject to availability at leisure facilities).

 We have produced many very competent swimmers over the years who have won honours at County and Western Counties level, and a select few who have gone on to compete at National level. If you have any questions regarding your child or the progress they are making you are welcome to discuss this with your squad coach at the end of a training session.

Once a swimmer has achieved level 10 or has shown such potential and commitment and ability to be recommended by the chief coach, the swimmer can join our squad structure for competitive swimming. All the entry and exit criteria for the clubs squad are shown in the attached tables. Please note the promotion criteria set out are for guidance and that the final decision on squad movements is with the coaching and teaching staff and specifically authorised by the Head Coach.