GreaterSport has a dedicated Aquatics Development Officer (Louise Preston), and works closely with Swim North West, the local region of the Amateur Swimming Association, to support the development of the sport across Greater Manchester.
(‘Aquatics’ refers to the disciplines of Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Water Polo.) For further information on the different disciplines of Aquatics, click here.
If you're interested in getting involved in Aquatics, the information below should help you find what you're looking for.
If you need further help, or would like more information added to this page, please contact Louise Preston by e-mail louisep@greatersport.co.uk or call on 0161 223 1002.
Want to get into swimming? Click here
National Governing Body: The Amateur Swimming Association
The Amateur Swimming Association is the English national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, open water, and synchronised swimming.
It organises competition throughout England, establishes the laws of the sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for teachers, coaches and officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme.
The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure.
The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
NGB website:
Regional Offices
The ASA has eight Regions which will lead the Association into a challenging new phase. Each Region will have full time professional staff to build the necessary infrastructures and partnerships to enable the ASA to deliver its vision.
The Regions will be underpinned by good corporate governance, but will focus on:
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improving talent pathways
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getting more people involved in all of swimming disciplines
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providing more and better coaches, volunteers and officials
At the forefront of those initiatives is Swim 21 the club development and accreditation programme. Currently about one third of all ASA affiliated clubs are now signed up to the Scheme with more and more joining all the time.
NGB contact details for Greater Manchester:
North West
Swimnorthwest
Belle Vue Athletics Centre
Pink Bank Lane
Manchester
M12 5GL
tel: 0161 953 2671
e-mail: swimnorthwest@swimming.org
Club Accreditation Scheme: Swim21
Swim 21 is the ASA's Club Development model - a planning tool, based on the principles of Long Term Athlete Development, enabling clubs to help athletes, teachers, coaches and administrators to achieve their full potential. It focuses particularly on the needs of athletes - striving to provide them with the best possible support and environment.
Swim 21 Accreditation is a 'Quality mark'. It recognises nationally and regionally the clubs that are committed to providing safe, effective and quality services for the benefit of their members.
Clubs work steadily towards the attainment of a series of outcomes all of which are seen as essential if the right level of support is to be provided at each stage of an athlete's development.
Swim 21 Accreditation is available to ASA clubs of all aquatic disciplines that are positioned at one or more of the four levels of:
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Teaching
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Skill Development
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Competitive Development
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Performance
The ASA has a commitment to achieving its equity targets throughout the sport. Swim 21 is no different and the Association is keen to support clubs in the shared objective of widening the participation base and hence the performance of the sport as a whole.
More about Swim21 from the ASA website
