SOUTHEND ON SEA RECEIVES SWIM 21 STATUS
Southend-on-Sea Swimming Club is the first club in the country
to achieve Swim 21 accreditation for both swimming and diving
under the Amateur Swimming Association's (ASA) club development
programme.
Launched in 2002 and amended at the beginning of 2006 to
incorporate all aquatic disciplines, Swim 21 links in with
Sport England's Clubmark scheme and is the ASA's quality mark
for clubs.
Based on the principles of Long Term Athlete Development,
Swim 21 encourages clubs to specialise in one of four disciplines;
Teaching, Skill Development, Competitive Development and Performance.
The club caters for 200 swimmers and 30 divers and began
the application process in 2006. And was accredited for Competitive
Development this month, which means the club focuses on age
group and junior athletes. It identifies athletes and nurtures
them to ensure they achieve their potential on the national
and international stage.
British Diving National Development Officer for the South
of England Jo Calvino is delighted to see the first diving
club gaining accreditation under the revised scheme.
"Southend-on-Sea is quite a small club in comparison
to most of our elite clubs but it has managed to develop national
level divers for many years," she said. "The whole
club is very well organised and they really have made the
best of what they have got."
"It is really good to see a small club leading the way
in Swim 21 accreditation for diving. As only a section of
a club, it is sometimes difficult for diving to come to the
forefront but Swim 21 has allowed the diving section to perform
more like a club."
"Everyone at the club has a strong sense of pride in
the achievement, the process has allowed new people to get
involved in the sport and it is good to see their development."
British Diving High Performance Manager Kim White is pleased
to see a diving club recognised for its development programme.
"I am delighted that Southend-on-Sea Swimming Club is
the first diving club to have achieved Swim 21 accreditation,"
he said. "I know this will initiate others to follow
suit and work towards the development programme."
"I worked as a coach for Southend-on-Sea for many years.
They deliver a quality programme and I think it is great they
have this reward for all of their hard work."
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