i believe it truly is the sport for life.€¦ · providers to deliver quality adult swimming...
TRANSCRIPT
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Swimming in Scotland has never had a higher profile. Following on from an outstanding Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 at which our Scottish swimmers excelled, there has never been a better platform on which to develop swimming and other aquatic sports. Swimming as a sport and physical activity provides significantsocial, physical and mental benefits as well as lots of fun, enjoyment and achievement for both children and adults. I believe it truly is the sport for life.
I am passionate about ensuring every child in Scotland has this wonderful skill and has the opportunity to continue to develop their swimming skills to their chosen level or use swimming to learn and develop skills in other aquatic sports and activities. Having strong partnerships, a network of community clubs and a quality workforce to teach, coach and nurture our young people are central to achieving this.
As we look to the future, we have taken into account the external and internal environments in which we are working
and considered how this may impact on the development of our sport. We are mindful of the financial pressures facing key partners, the Scottish demographics of an aging population, changes in consumer behaviour and the competition from other sports and activities as they develop and grow. We have analysed our membership profile, taken time to better understand what our members want, as well as look at how we can best address the key challenges facing our clubs.
In developing this plan we have considered all of the above and identified a number of focus areas and several key actions which must be achieved if swimming in Scotland is to continue to grow and flourish at all levels.
Sharon MacDonaldDirector of Development
Foreword
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Scottish Swimming’s corporate plan outlines our vision, mission and strategic objectives for the next 6 years. Our vision is Everyone Can Swim, our mission is to inspire our members and partners in the development of aquatics, providing leadership and expert support, resulting in more people taking part and reaching their full potential and our strategic objectives are to:
• Increase the number of people of all ages and abilities participating in swimming for health, fitness and fun.
• Support and develop stronger, more sustainable clubs that will provide increased and quality opportunities for people to participate at all levels.
• Enhance the aquatic pathway, ensuring high performance results through effective athlete development and quality coaching. (Please see separate performance plan).
Each of these areas are underpinned by quality teacher and coach education and training.
Our key performance indicators for Development are;
By 2021 Scottish Swimming will:
• Increase swimming membership to 19,000
• Increase non-swimming membership to 7,000 including teachers, coaches, technical officials and volunteers
• Have 120 strong, sustainable clubs with swiMark Plus
• Have 32 Local authorities (LAs)/Trusts delivering a National Swimming Framework underpinned by an aquatics plan
• Increase the number of children learning to swim
• Establish an adult recreational membership with over 1,000 members.
This plan provides the detail on how we will achieve this. This plan is underpinned by individual development plans for each aquatic discipline (Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming, Diving, and Open Water Swimming).
Introduction
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Participation for Health, Fitness and Fun
Scottish Swimming wants to engage with and support aquatic providers to develop their aquatic programmes to ensure that there are opportunities for all ages and abilities to learn, compete, gain fitness and swim recreationally. In addition, we want to support aquatic providers to create an environment that demonstrates best practice and provides a quality environment to aid the progress of participants and give an excellent aquatic experience.
Strategic Objective:To increase the number of people of all ages and abilities participating in swimming for health, fitness and fun with a focus on
• Ensuring Every Child Can Swim
• Getting more adults physically active
• Quality swimming teaching environments
• Effective water programming
Ensuring Every Child Can Swim
Swimming is a life skill that’s not only fun and good for a child’s health; it can also increase their water safetyawareness. Swimming provides children with knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future. With 40% of children leaving primary school unable to swim, ensuring every child is given the opportunity to learn to swim remains a high priority for Scottish Swimming. This can be achieved in several ways:
Early Years Swimming Programmes
The earlier a child gains water confidence and basic swimming skills the better. Research suggests that babies and pre-school children who learn to swim in their pre- school years have better social, physical and motor skills. Start to Swim, Scottish Swimming’s Early Years Swimming Programme provides training and resources to support learn to swim providers to deliver quality adult and child and pre-school swimming classes. The programme also seeks to increase physical activity levels and address health inequalities in disadvantaged areas of Scotlandby providing parent education and structured lessons. Working in partnership with a number of agencies and key partners we have provided opportunities for over 3000 young children to learn to swim. Our work with the Lothian Family Nurse Partnership, Dundee Family Splash programme and our pre-school nursery programme in Glasgow and Falkirk are all excellent examples.
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School Swimming
For some children, school swimming will be their only opportunity to learn to swim. Triple S (Scotland Safe Swimmer) Scottish Swimming’s school swimming programme has two key components – the Triple S National School Swimming standard and a training and resource programme to support local authorities and leisure trusts to increase opportunities and further enhance the quality of school swimming programmes. Scottish Swimming had been successful in gaining political support for school swimming which resulted in £1.8 million being invested in the Top Up swimming programme (2010 – 2015). This funding enabled local authorities to enhance their current school swimming programmes and resultedin more children learning to school. Following a funding review within the Scottish Government the top up funding was not continued. Despite this school swimming will continue to be a priority for Scottish Swimming and securing a swimming entitlement is a key ambition.
Community Learn to Swim Programmes
The majority of children learn to swim in a community programme delivered by a local authority/leisure trust or private swimming provider. Currently there are over100,000 children learning to swim in programmes across Scotland. We need to raise awareness of the importance of a child learning to swim and highlight the many benefits being able to swim can bring.
Disability Swimming Programmes
Swimming is used as a therapy for children of all ages and abilities. It is particularly beneficial for children with a disability. The weight bearing properties of water can aid better co-ordination, improved relaxation and a sense of freedom. Swimming can also improve communication,enable greater self-control and enable a feeling of equality. Scottish Swimming works in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport to support and encourage local authorities/ trusts to work inclusively with swimmers with a disability through appropriate education, development and local disability sport structures. The main focus is to ensureLTS programmes enable swimmers with a disability to be integrated into the mainstream programme, acknowledging any additional support needs and the need to have teachers appropriately qualified and trained.
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Swim Social: More Adults Physically Active
Swimming is a fantastic exercise for an adult’s physical and mental well-being. Our recent work in this area has shown that there are opportunities for growth and developmentin the adult swimming market. There is growing interest in open water and ‘challenge’ swimming, structured poolswimming programmes for all levels of adult swimmer and masters’ swimming clubs. As more adults look for different ways to maintain and improve their health and fitness and challenge themselves, swimming is increasingly being chosen as a way to do this.
Swim Social our new adult swimming and aquatic fitness programme is a key priority for us and includes:
Adult Swimming/Aquatic Programmes
Swimming is the second most popular leisure activity after walking for adults in Scotland , however feedback from our adult survey identified that there are a lack of opportunities for adults to develop their swimming ability and fitnessout with a club environment. Scottish Swimming’s adult swimming pathway provides guidance and support as well as training and resources to support learn to swim providers to deliver quality adult swimming lessons and coached swimming classes. We have developed a regional swim series to provide adults a taste of coached swimming classes.
Open Water Swimming
Open Water swimming is growing in popularity in Scotland. The Great Scottish Swim has over 2000 adults taking part, with this number growing annually. In partnership with Triathlon Scotland, Falkirk Community Trust and Nova International, Scottish Swimming held our first Come and Try Open Water event in 2014 which was a great success. Feedback from participants was they wanted more coach led open water swimming opportunities and in 2015 we further developed our open water come and try events.
Masters Swimming
Masters swimming completes the adult swimming pathway that allows swimmers to join a club for fun, fitness, friendship and competition.Scottish Swimming’s aim is to support these clubs and to ensure there are local clubs available for all those wishing to attend.
Adult Recreational Subscription
Scottish Swimming wants to better engage and support the thousands of recreational adult swimmers. Our recent work with adult, coach led pool based sessions and the Come and Try Open Water event has enabled us to understand better what adults want. We have developed a new recreational subscription for ages 18+, aiming to retain swimmers exiting club level who wish to continue participating in swimming, while also attracting new recreational swimmers to become members.
Aquatic Fitness
Aquatic fitness classes play a significant role in helping to keepadults of all ages physically active. Scottish Swimming has developed training in a variety of aquatic fitness programmes to support pool providers to provide aquatic fitness classes for all ages and abilities.
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Quality Swimming Teaching Environments Learning to swim is the first step of the swimmer pathway and consequently it is vitally important that children are taught to swim in quality environments. A quality learn to swim programme (LTS) is one which provides:
1 A progressive pathway providing opportunities for skill development
2 Taught by qualified and experienced/ licenced teachers
3 Delivered in a safe, fun and enjoyable manner
4 Regular feedback and monitors progression
5 Excellent customer care, enabling easy booking and payment solutions.
6 Links to aquatic clubs and/or other aquatic activities
The majority of children and adults learn to swim in a community learn to swim programme. These programmes are delivered by several different aquatic providers across Scotland. As a result there is a variation in the quality, content and approach in delivery. Scottish Swimmingwill support aquatic providers to deliver quality teaching environments by:
Supporting the Implementation of a National Swimming Framework
Scottish Swimming has developed a National Swimming Framework. This framework provides an all-inclusive pathway providing opportunities for everyone to participate in any aquatic discipline they choose at whatever level they aspire to. It is supported by a quality education programme (UKCC swimming teaching qualifications and CPD programme) and provides support to maximise pool space ensuring an aquatic programme for all ages and abilities. Our ambition is to have all 32 local authorities/trusts and any Scottish Swimming affiliated swim school delivering the National framework.
swiMark for Swim Schools
swiMark is Scottish Swimming’s accreditation programme for swim schools. The aim of swiMark is to provide a nationally recognised standard that will enable swim schools to develop safe, effective and child friendly environments, based on good practice; Improve swimmers experience through well trained teachers and volunteers and encourage lifelong participation through effective links with aquatic clubs.
Swimming Teacher Education
A key component of delivering a quality LTS programme is having a quality workforce. A quality workforce is one which has appropriately qualified and experienced teachers who receive ongoing support and training to deliver the highest quality lessons. A consistent workforce is also essential. Scottish swimming provides education and training support to LTS providers through a UKCC and CPD programme.
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National Standards for Swimming
The many different aquatic providers of learn to swim programmes means that it is difficult for parents/carers of children to know and understand what standard theirchild should be aiming to achieve. To address this Scottish Swimming has developed a set of National standards for Swimming in Scotland which provide guidance on the skills and standard a participant can expect to achieve regardless of the programme and provider.
Sharing Best Practice
As we work in partnership with key partners and agencies both in Scotland and beyond we are well placed to share best practice, facilitate networking and bring the most up to date research and information to the attention of partners. Our annual conference and networking days have been successful in this regard.
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Stronger, Sustainable Clubs
Aquatic clubs provide fun, safe environments for children and adults to train and compete. Clubs and their members remain Scottish Swimming’s core membership group. We currently have 167 affiliated aquatic clubs and 21,050 members of Scottish Swimming. A membership analysis carried out in 2014 highlighted that:
• The majority of our clubs have between 100 to 200 members.
• We have 15,362 swimming members and 5,688 volunteers, technical officials, coaches and teachers.
• There are many young people involved, many more girls than boys.
• The average age of a swimming member is 12 years.
• Membership retention is a challenge, Scottish Swimming has very few swimmers aged 13+ years, (only 30% of members are aged 13–18 years).
• We have a committed and dedicated volunteer and coach workforce.
Scottish Swimming’s membership has grown steadily over the last 10 years. We want to continue to support clubsto sustainably grow their membership by increasing the opportunities they offer to both recruit new and retain existing members taking part in club swimming or other aquatic disciplines. In addition, we want to support clubs to create an environment where the required coaching, practice time and attitudes are fostered and displayed to support the progression of athletes aspiring to world class performance.
Strategic Objective:To support and develop stronger sustainable clubs that will provide increased, quality opportunities for people to participate at all levels with a focus on
• Quality coaching environments
• Membership recruitment and retention
• Volunteer support and development
Quality Coaching EnvironmentsScottish Swimming will support clubs to understand and meet the needs of their members. We will support clubs across all aquatic disciplines to deliver quality coaching environments which provide:
• Safe, enjoyable and challenging experiences
• A clear pathway of opportunities for swimmer development
• Effective coaching practice delivered with a swimmer centred approach
• Improved and effective support systems, training and development for coaches, volunteers, athletes, administrators and officials
• Stronger and sustainable club structures
• Sharing of best practice and improved communication between all partners
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To achieve these outcomes, clubs must have a clear vision which is underpinned by an effective development plan. These plans must show how a club will become and continue to be both outstanding in its operations (to members, within its community and in its management) and sustainable. The Regional Team will provide support through delivering the following:
Club Workshops
To support clubs to operate effectively and develop their programmes and members, Governance and Planning workshops will be delivered across clubs. The Governance workshop outlines ideas for improving club governance and provides templates and examples of best practice. The Planning workshop supports clubs to set goals and plan for long-term sustainability and better understand strengths, weaknesses, external opportunities and threats. It also assists clubs to benchmark and understand membership trends, gaps in provision and explore opportunities for development.
National Club Accreditation Programme
Scottish Swimming has revised, re-developed and strengthened swiMark as a development tool for all aquatic clubs. To support the revised programme, online resources will be available for clubs, in addition to the practical support provided through the RSDM network.
Child Protection
Ensuring our young people are participating in safe environments is a key priority for Scottish Swimming. We are committed to providing continuous support, training and guidance to our volunteers and staff within this area. Having a trained child protection officer is a fundamental requirement for all our clubs.
Coach DevelopmentQuality coaching at all levels within clubs is imperative to keeping young people engaged in our sport. Ensuring our coaches have access to quality education and training is critical. Technical excellence is fundamental for success at performance levels.
Local Aquatic Forums and PartnershipsClubs will be supported to form partnerships with other local clubs, local authorities and other agencies,through a network, to consider pool access and effective programming to ensure a pool programme which benefits everyone in the community. The aim of the forums is to share and adapt good practice; enable a smooth transition from school and learn to swim, to the club environment and enable their members’ journey along their chosen pathway.
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Membership Recruitment and Retention
The annual club survey highlighted that many of our clubs have the capacity to grow and welcome new members. However, of the children ready to leave a learn to swim programme approximately only 5% transition into an aquatic club (approximately 5,000). Many children and their parents are not aware of the opportunity to join a local club or the benefits being a member of a club can bring.We need to improve links between learn to swim providers and clubs, raise awareness of our club network and highlight the benefits of club membership, resulting in more children taking part in our fantastic sport.
Whilst we gain approximately 5000 new members each year, at the same time we lose approximately 4000 members. The majority of these members are aged 11 to 12 years. A recent survey of our lapsed swimming members highlighted that the main reasons for leaving are the multiple training sessions being too much of a commitment, little progress being made and it was no longer fun. The key influences to remain in swimming areclubs having a better social atmosphere, less pressure to succeed, a better standard of coaching, less training and increased opportunities to compete. For those swimmers who have remained in the sport for longer the main reasons they have continued is because they enjoy it, it keepsthem fit and healthy and they like the social aspect and friendship.
If we are to continue to grow our membership we need to work with our clubs to identify different ways of encouraging new members as well as supporting ourclubs to deliver programmes which meet the needs of their existing members to retain them in the sport for longer.
Managed Learn 2-Club Links (All Disciplines)
Our aim is to establish and strengthen the formal links between learn to swim providers and local clubs. We want to support learn to swim providers to put in place a managed, progressive development pathway into clubs where parents are fully informed and clubs are working in partnership with teachers and coordinators.
Disability
Scottish Swimming continues to work in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport to support and encourage mainstream clubs to work inclusively with swimmers with a disability through appropriate education, development and local disability sport structures. We are committed to developing and maintaining quality opportunities for swimmers with a disability.
National School-Club Link programme
Historically school-club links have been weak with some pockets of good practice. To strengthen links, we will develop a National School-Club Link Programme which will support our clubs to establish and develop strong and formal links to local schools. In addition, we will support sportscotland in developing the national School-ClubLink Database. This tool will support the regional team to identify and match current activity within schools and clubs.
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Club CampaignScottish Swimming will continue to nationally promote the benefits of club sport in various ways including further development of the website, social media through our#getinvolved campaign.
Development of Recreational Swimming Opportunities within Clubs and/or LAs and Trusts and Appropriate Competition ProgrammeMany lapsed members would have liked to continue in the sport for fun and fitness but were less interested in the competitive environment. Many clubs have recognised this and introduced ‘club’ or ‘fitness’ squads to ensure athletes who want to remain participating can but without the pressure of competing.
Discipline Sub SectionsMany clubs have developed sub sections over the last few years as a means of retaining members or creating adevelopment pathway into other aquatic avenues. Discipline sub sections can create a new and exciting environmentfor athletes and coaches to develop their skills and keep interested in the sport.
Performance Development PathwaysIt is important we have performance development structures and environments within our clubs to enable swimmers to progress and perform at the highest level. Scottish Swimming will continue to support the delivery of effective and positive performance development pathways in our clubs and composite club structures.
Educate Swimmers, Parents and Coaches to Understand Swimmer DevelopmentOur research suggests that some of our youngsters may have remained in the sport for longer if there had been less pressure to succeed. This pressure came from their parents, coaches and themselves. It is important thateveryone involved in a swimmers development understands about swimmer development and how having a growth mindset is a key determinant for possible future success.We will deliver a new workshop on Understanding Swimmer Development to our clubs.
Partnership with Scottish Student Sport (SSS) Scottish Swimming has very few swimming members aged 16 to 25 years. As part of our strategy to grow and retain our members working in partnership with SSS could help to achieve this through; actively encouraging and targeting student swimmers to become members of Scottish Swimming by promoting our National and Masters events; having a more professional student swimming programme across Scotland; having more effective club to university links and developing pathways for graduating students.
Membership CommunicationTo improve the interface between Scottish Swimming and our member clubs, volunteers, athletes and technicalofficials we will build on current methods of communication and develop a welcome pack for new clubs and members.
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Annual Retention Survey and AnalysisScottish Swimming would like to gain a better understanding of why members leave the sport. Working with our services team, we will send out a survey to all lapsed members every April asking for some information on why they left the sport. In addition, we will send an information pack to lapsed members on other aquatic offerings including disciplines, coaching, volunteering and officiating.
Direct Investment in ClubsFollowing the success of the performance development model, in 2014 we invested directly into clubs who have the ambition to grow their membership by recruiting and/ or retaining members. We supported 15 clubs via 6 Club Development Coordinator (CDC) posts to deliver against the following principles: impact; sustainability; holistic approach; high standards and added value.
In addition to the CDC programme, we supported 9 clubs to achieve Direct Club Investment as part of sportscotland’s investment in club sport. To date, over £280,000 investment has been secured for swimming clubs and programmes across Scotland to support membership growth and improve swimmer environments.
Recognising and Rewarding Good PracticeThe Club of the Year Award, awarded to an accredited club who has demonstrated good practice and an outstanding contribution to their community through the following areas; Well Organised, Better Connected; Well Promoted & Sustainable; A Club that Develops People.
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Supporting and Developing Our Volunteers
Club swimming in Scotland could not operate without the thousands of volunteers who give up their time to teach, coach, officiate and administrate in our clubs. Not only do our volunteers operate within our clubs, many take on roles in our Districts and on National Committees. Our volunteers are critical to the development of aquatics in Scotland. We currently have 5,808 volunteer members;3,138 club volunteers, 1,740 teacher/coaches, 871 technical officials and 59 life members.
The majority of our volunteers are parents of swimmers, divers or polo players who are aged between 40 to50 years, with more females than males. Whilst some volunteers continue to volunteer in swimming long after their child has left the sport, a large percentage stop when their child stops. If we are successful in attracting more swimming members we need to also recruit new and retain existing volunteers. We will do this in the following ways:
Volunteer Strategy
We need to review the volunteer strategy and put in place a plan to recruit, retain, recognise and reward our volunteers.
Young Aquatic Leaders Programme
We have very few young people aged 16 to 25 years volunteering in our sport. To enable young peopleto become involved in a voluntary capacity Scottish Swimming will develop a young aquatics leader’s programme. This programme will provide a pathway and additional support to encourage more young people to become involved in a voluntary capacity.
Technical Official Development Plan
We need to support the National Technical Official Committee and Discipline Committees to develop a workforce plan to ensure we have enough officials at all levels to support our competition structures from Novice to Performance.
Volunteer Development Toolkit
Scottish Swimming understands that the best clubs are those with strong leadership, clear plans and thesupport of committed volunteers. We need to ensure that existing club leaders are supported and future leaders are identified. We will develop a volunteer toolkit to assist clubs to recruit new and retain existing volunteers.
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Quality Teacher and Coach Development
Quality swimming teaching and coaching are at the heart of our sustainable success. A key role for Scottish Swimming is to provide a quality education and training programme for our key partners and members to ensure we have an appropriately qualified, skilled and effective workforce to both teach and coach swimming in Scotland.
Strategic Objective:To deliver a quality teacher and coach education programme that will ensure we have a workforce that meets the needs of the sport.
Ongoing teacher and coach support and development is paramount if we want a workforce that meets the needs of our sport. Several local authorities/trusts and clubs are facing workforce challenges. Many don’t have enough teachers and/or coaches of the appropriate standard to deliver their aquatic programmes. We will support local authorities/trusts and clubs to improve the quality, recruit new and retain existing teachers and coaches by:
Reviewing existing courses and resources
Access to quality resources is key to providing tutors, teachers and coaches with the opportunity to deliver quality programmes. We will continually review and add to the resources that we provide for UKCC qualifications and CPD workshops and invest in technology to enhance access to upskilling opportunities.
Developing new courses and resources
We have identified the need to develop a number of new courses and resources to support the delivery of quality swimming teaching including new CPDs and resources to support PE teachers delivering swimming as part of the PE curriculum, a level 2 diploma for teaching, and development of CPDs to support the delivery of the National swimming framework. New programmes are also required to support our coaches including a new coach mentoring programme, providing support locally to develop coaches knowledge, skills and technical expertise.
Sharing of Information
To help our teachers and coaches to keep up to date and abreast of new developments in swimming teaching and coaching we need to share information and develop a network for teachers and coaches to engage virtually.
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Annual Education Calendar
An annual education will be developed and implemented regionally to ensure that there are opportunities available for teachers and coaches to gain UKCC qualifications and CPD to ensure the standard of the workforce across Scotland.
A Skilled Tutor Workforce
We need a technically competent and dedicated tutor workforce to deliver a quality learning programme and encourage lifelong learning. Scottish Swimming is committed to providing ongoing training to our licensed tutors to ensure they have the required skills and aptitude to inspire teachers and coaches in their learning.
Sharing Best Practice
As we work in partnership with key partners and agencies both in Scotland and beyond we are best placed to share best practice, facilitate networking and bring the most up to date research and information to the attention of partners. Our annual conference and networking days have been successful in this regard.
Maintaining ADC status
Scottish Swimming is an Approved Delivery Centre (ADC) for both Swimming UKCC qualifications and 11 partner sports ensuring adherence to SQA Qualitystandards for qualifications on the SQA framework. We will work with SQA to ensure that we are up to date with all requirements and that all partner sports are aware of their responsibilities. Scottish Swimming will be subject toSystems Audits and External Verification visits from SQA to ensure compliance.
Developing a Licenced Workforce
It is important that we have a consistent standard of delivery of teaching and coaching across Scotland and the benefit of a licensing scheme is that it recognises both qualifications and upskilling opportunities undertaken byteachers and coaches, promotes high standards of delivery and provides a framework for continuous improvement.This scheme will support swiMark and the target for each club to be led by a Licensed Level 2 coach/teacher.
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Undertaking a National Workforce Audit and Supporting LAs/Trusts and Clubs to develop and implement a Workforce Audit Plan
The last Workforce Audit plan was commissioned in 2006 prior to the implementation of the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate qualifications. We need to re-assess the landscape to ensure we have the right workforce in place with the right skills to service the current and future demands of the sector. We also need to support LAs / trusts an clubs to put in place workforce developmentplans to ensure they have the appropriately qualified staff to deliver their programmes.
Teachers and Coach Retention
Every year we train thousands of swimming teachers and coaches but we do not how many of them are still actively teaching or coaching. Scottish Swimming needs to develop a system to track and monitor a teacher or coaches’ progression and actively encourage them to continue to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise and retain them within the sport.
Implement the sportscotland Bursary Scheme
sportscotland operate a bursary scheme which provides financial support for individuals training to be swimming teachers and coaches. We need to continue to promote this programme to affiliated swim schools and clubs to increase the number of teachers and coaches.
Aquatic Plans and Effective Water Management
Local authorities and trusts face the challenge of ensuring they are providing balanced pool programmes which meet the needs of all aquatic users as well as optimizing the income which can be generated from many ofthe programmes.
Having an aquatic strategy which outlines the vision, objectives and outcomes is central to achieving this and ensuring that the swimmer pathway from participation, through to club development and performance swimming is achieved. Scottish Swimming will provide support to local authorities and trusts to help them develop strategies and water management plans.
Actions, Timescales & Outcomes
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Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome by 2021
1 To continue to deliver early years training and Ongoing PO 30 Aquatic Providers delivering resources to learn to swim providers Start to Swim
2 To work with partners to share best practice and where funding allows, Ongoing PO Increase the number of babies and children to continue to implement early years outreach programmes in early years swimming programmes. 3 To continue to work with local authorities and trusts to implement Ongoing PO 32 LAs delivering Triple S (School Swimming) Triple S. Increase the number of children achieving the Triple S standard. 4 To develop new resources to support teachers delivering school 2015 WDM New resources created. swimming programmes
5 To deliver a new training programme aimed at PE teachers delivering 5 LAs p.a. WDM 32 LAs received school swimming CPD curricular swimming. No. of PE teachers received school swimming CPD.
6 To continue to work with the Scottish Government to secure continued 2015 DOD Investment in National Top Up swimming programme. investment to enhance school swimming programmes and continue Continued political support from Scottish Government. discussions on a swimming entitlement. Make contact with SG Education Ministers to discuss swimming entitlement.
7 Work with the marketing team to create a strong new visual identity 2015 MCM/PO Raised awareness of learn to swim opportunities. and on and offline resources to support the National swimming framework.
Actions, Timescales & OutcomesEnsuring Every Child Can Swim
OBJECTIVES:1 To increase the number of children who can swim.2 To support and enhance the delivery of Early Years, School, Disability and Community Learn to Swim programmes.3 To raise awareness of the importance of children learning to swim.
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CEO Chief Executive OfficerDOD Director of DevelopmentDOP Director of PerformanceCDM Club Development ManagerMCM Marketing and Communications ManagerNC National CoachRSDM Regional Swimming Development Manager(s)PO Participation OfficerWDM Work Force Development ManagerSC Swimming Committee
Lead Abbreviations:
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8 Develop a National Learn to Swim week or month. 2016 PO Increase the number of children in community learn to swim programmes.
9 In partnership with RNLI/RLSS develop a water safety programme 2016 PO Educate children about the importance of water safety. to be implemented in schools and community LTS programmes 10 To continue to support LAs/Trusts to ensure there are opportunities for Ongoing RSDMs Increase the number of children with a disability learning children with a disability to learn to swim to swim. Increase the number of opportunities for children with a disability to learn to swim.
11 To provide disability training for swimming teachers 5 courses p.a. WDM Increase the number of swimming teachers with and skills to be able to teach children with a disability. All LAs received opportunity of disability training for teachers.
12 To use International events to raise the profile of the benefits and Mar 2015 RSDMs/ To raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities opportunities that swimming has to offer. WDM of swimming. IPC World Swimming championships in Glasgow 2015 to raise awareness of the benefits and increase the opportunities of swimming for a children with a disability.
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Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome By 2021
1 To work in partnership with LA/Trusts to ensure there is an adult Ongoing PO 32 LAs/Trusts delivering Scottish Swimming adult swimming pathway in place for recreational swimming from learn to swim LTS programmes through to Masters.
2 To support the delivery of adult learn to swim and new adult coached 3 to 4 p.a. PO 20 LAs/Trusts delivering adult coached swim sessions. swimming classes – Skills and Drills and Powerswim through provision of training and resources.
3 Work in partnership with key agencies to develop a National Series of 3 to 4 p.a. PO Open Water Come and Try Event Series established. Open Water Come and Try coached sessions for adults. 300 number of adults taking part in open water come and try events per annum
4 Work in partnership with masters clubs and LAs/Trusts to develop masters 4 p.a. PO Increase masters members by 5% p.a. swimming communities in each local authority area. Develop 24 Masters swimming communities.
5 Develop and implement a new recreational swimming membership. Pilot 2015 PO 1400 new adult recreational swimming members.
6 Continue to deliver aquatic fitness training to pool providers including Ongoing PO/WDM Training offered as part of National Education Calendar. hydro spinning, aqua natal, aqua circuits, aqua jogging.
More Adults Physically Active
OBJECTIVES:1 To increase the number of adults swimming for health, fitness and fun.2 To support and enhance the delivery of adult learn to swim programmes, coached swimming programmes and open water come and try events.3 To increase the number of masters swimming members by 5% per annum.4 Establish an adult recreational swimming membership with over 1,000 members.
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Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome By 2021
1 To support LAs/Trusts to implement the National Swimming Framework 5 p.a. PO 32 LAs/Trusts implementing the National Framework for Swimming
2 To support affiliated swim schools to achieve swiMark. 5 p.a. PO/RSDM 30 learn to swim programmes swiMark accredited
3 To support LAs/Trusts to develop and implement a workforce 5 p.a. WDM 32 LAs/Trusts with a workforce development plan. development plan.
4 To support aquatic providers to follow the new National Standards Ongoing PO Aquatic providers recognising Scottish Swimming for Swimming. New National Standards.
5 To organise and host a series of networking days for aquatic providers. 2 p.a. WDM Networking and information sharing between aquatic providers.
Quality Swimming Teaching Environments
OBJECTIVE:1 To support LTS providers to deliver quality teaching environments.
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Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome By 2021
1 To deliver governance workshops to all affiliated clubs supporting them Annual RSDM/ All affiliated clubs to achieve swiMark. to gain and maintain SwiMark accreditation. CDM
2 To continue to ensure all affiliated clubs have a trained Child Protection Ongoing RSDM/ All clubs with a trained CPO. Officer in place. CDM
3 To continue to offer support and advice to clubs ensuring relevant child Ongoing RSDMs protection policies and procedures are in place.
4 To deliver club planning workshops to all clubs progressing through Annual RSDMs 120 swiMark plus accredited clubs/composites. swiMark plus (diveMark plus, poloMark plus and synchroMark plus). 20 p.a.
5 To support clubs to develop and implement a coach support programme. 2015 WDM/ All affiliated clubs to be led by a minimum licensed level RSDM 2 Coach/Teacher. 6 To create and develop local aquatic forums in each local authority Ongoing RSDMs consisting of clubs, the local authority/trust, schools, swim schools, college and universities and any other key stakeholders. All local authorities to have an Aquatic Forum in place.
7 To conduct the club survey annually. Annual CDM Up to date information on clubs to help to inform future development.
Quality Coaching Environments
OBJECTIVES:1 To support clubs to deliver quality coaching environments.2 To develop and support partnerships to share good practice.
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Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome By 2021
1 To work in partnership with swim schools and clubs to develop a Ongoing RSDMs 120 clubs to have a managed learn to swim club link in managed link to increase the number of children transferring from place measured through swiMark plus. lessons/come and try sessions to swimming, diving, water polo and Increase the number of children transferring from synchronized swimming clubs. Learn to Swim to club from 5% to 10%.
2 To continue to work in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport to Ongoing RSDMs Increase the number of children with a disability in support and encourage mainstream clubs to work inclusively with through joint mainstream clubs. swimmers with a disability through appropriate education, development annual action Every local authority to have a disability swimmer pathway and local disability structures. plans in place. All club coaches to have opportunity to attend disability training. All Scottish Swimming affiliated clubs to offer opportunities for athletes with a disability.
3 To work in partnership with the Active Schools network to develop 2017 CDM More clubs with links to schools. a school club link programme.
4 To consider how clubs can benefit most from the community 2016/17 CDM Increase the number of clubs which are part of a CSH. sports hub network.
5 To continue to nationally promote the benefits of club sport in various Ongoing CDM/ Increased awareness of the benefits of club swimming. ways including further development of the website and social media MCM Clubs using promotional material for recruitment and through the #getinvolved campaign. retention strategies. 6 To support clubs to develop recreational swimming squads. Approx RSDMs 120 clubs with recreational squads measured by 10 to 20 p.a. swiMark plus.
7 Explore developing a new team based competition structure for 2016 DOD/NC/ club/fitness squads. SC 8 To support clubs to increase the number of clubs with discipline Ongoing RSDMs 40 clubs with discipline sub sections. sub sections. Increase in number of Water Polo/Synchro and Masters members.
Membership Recruitment & Retention
OBJECTIVE:1 To increase the number of Scottish Swimming Members to 19,500 by recruiting new and retaining existing members.
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9 In partnership with sportscotland, deliver the Understanding Swimmer 10 to 20 p.a. WDM Understanding Swimmer Development workshop Development Workshop to swimmers, parents and coaches. delivered to 120 clubs.
10 Work in partnership with Scottish Student Sport to enhance student Ongoing RSDMs All Scottish Student Sport swimming and water polo clubs swimming programmes across Scotland and encourage more students through joint affiliated to Scottish Swimming. to become members of Scottish Swimming. annual action plan. 11 To review and maintain existing performance development structures. Ongoing DOD/ Effective performance development pathways in place. Identify and develop new as appropriate. CDM 12 Develop and implement a young technical officials pathway and programme. 2015/2016 CDM Increase the number of under 25 technical officials. Every District offering a young technical officials programme.
13 To continue to invest directly into clubs through CDCs and club Ongoing DOD/CDM/ Increase number of clubs with CDC posts in place. development projects and continue to support identified clubs with RSDMs Increase number of clubs securing DCI funding. projects eligible for DCI. Monitor and evaluate funded clubs.
14 To continue to provide the club of the Year Award and introduce Annually CDM Recognition of good practice. a community coach of the Year Award.
15 To develop a welcome pack for new clubs and members. 2016 CDM/ Improved communication between Scottish Swimming Membership and members.
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Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome by 2021
1 To review the volunteer strategy which outlines how we will support clubs 2016 CDM Volunteer strategy re-launched. to recruit, retain, recognise and reward our volunteers. Increase in the number of volunteers in clubs. 2 To create a volunteer development toolkit that clubs can use to engage, 2016 CDM Volunteers supported and recognised within clubs. support and recognise volunteers. Increase in the number of volunteers in clubs.
3 To support our National Committees and districts to develop a technical 2016 WDM Increase in the number of technical officials at all levels. official workforce plan.
4 Implement a young aquatic leaders award. 2015 WDM/CDM/ Increase the number of volunteers aged 25 years and under RSDMs Every club running a young aquatic leaders programme as part of their retention strategy.
Volunteer Support & Development
OBJECTIVES:1 To support our existing volunteer workforce.2 To increase the number of volunteer teachers, coaches, technical officials and club helpers and officials to 7,000.
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Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome By 2021
1 To review all UKCC teaching and coaching courses and CPDs. 2015 WDM Up to date and relevant education courses. Bi-annually
2 To develop new CPDs to support delivery of the National swimming framework and a CPD/workshop for LTS pool management. Mar 2015 WDM Additional new CPDs to support the delivery of quality. teaching environments.
3 To develop new resources and CPDs to support school swimming. 2015 WDM New resources to support the delivery of school swimming.
4 To develop a ‘virtual’ network for teachers and coaches to share information. 2015 WDM/MCM An online networking site for teachers and coaches.
5 To develop and implement an annual education calendar. Mar 2015 WDM All education courses delivered on a regional basis. Annually
6 To develop and implement a tutor support programme and succession plan. Mar 2015 WDM Upskilled and knowledgeable tutor workforce.
7 To develop and implement a coach support programme. 2015 WDM Coaches with technical excellence at all levels.
8 To organise an annual coaching conference and networking days for Sept 2015 WDM Sharing of knowledge and networking between teachers swimming teachers. and coaches.
9 To comply with requirements to maintain Approved Delivery Centre status. Ongoing WDM Remain an ADC for 12 sports including swimming.
10 To develop a licenced workforce. Mar 2015 WDM Technically competent, qualified and knowledgeable workforce.
11 To support LAs/Trusts to develop and implement a workforce 5 p.a. WDM 32 LAs/Trusts with a workforce development plan. development plan.
12 To create a teacher/coach retention programme. 2015 WDM Better retention of teachers and coaches 25% Level 1 to level 2 25% Level 2 to level 3
Quality Teacher & Coach Development
OBJECTIVES:1 To support and develop teachers and coaches2 To recruit and retain teachers and coaches
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Aquatic Plans & Effective Water Management Programming
OBJECTIVES:1 To support LAs and Trusts to ensure they are providing balanced pool programmes which meet the needs of all aquatic users.2 To support LAs and Trusts to put in place an aquatic strategy which outlines how they will deliver the swimmer pathway from participation, club development to performance.
Actions Timescale Lead Output/Outcome By 2021
1 To deliver facilitated planning sessions to LAs/Trusts to put in place 5 p.a. CEO/DOD 32 Trusts/LAs with an aquatic strategy aquatic strategies and effective water management plans. DOP 32 Trusts/LAs with water management plans
