Parents Forum Update & Club Updates

Club Captains & Vice Captains

Fundraisiers & Social

Young Volunteers

Open Meet Proposed Dates

This was the club’s second Parent’s Forum held at the Sports Centre on Monday 14th

January. The committee would like to thank those attended on the night. Jeff Williams

(Chairman) and Tone Phillips (Head Coach) led the open floor format of the meeting. A

summary of the discussion points are detailed below.

• Swim Mark Accreditation – the club have been submitting the revised and updated

documentation required to re-gain our accreditation status and they are aiming to

have this back in place by Spring 2019.

• A request for a club calendar was proposed so that dates for Open Meets & Social

Events could be put in the diary. This was to be reviewed by the Committee and a

list of all proposed Open Meets and dates for the diary have been included in this

newsletter.

• Land Training – this has now been started as a trial with Richard Nicholls. We are

currently looking to begin with a small number of swimmers and if successful can look

to hold more sessions or open to other swimmers. Update to follow post Easter. The

Club are also keen tio promote swimmers undertaking their own warm up stretches

on poolside before sessions. It is proposed that 4-5 basic stretches could be used

and swimmers could be shown how to do them correctly along with pictures and

photos poolside. It was suggested that the Senior Swimmers and those currently

attending land training sessions could lead by example.

• Communication – Jeff Williams is aware that clubs strive and grow on good

communication and would like to understand how parents feel the communication

from the committee and club is. Agreement that the Noticeboard is key and will

continue to be maintained with recent news and dates. Open Meet information will

also be displayed along with the use of Facebook. The noticeboard is important

for those not on social media. Letters will be sent out on more important dates and

events via poolsode

The Committee welcome suggestions for ways we could improve on communication.

• Fundraising – suggestions were requested for fundraising events and social events

for 2019. The Summer BBQ was agreed as a success and would aim to hold this

again but would need fundraising money in place to host this free of charge for all

members. A quiz and curry night was also a popular suggestion along with a trip to

the Dorest Water park.

All ideas have been taken on board and events are now in the calendar.

Thank you to all those that were able to attend, your feedback is welcome.

WARMINSTER & DISTRICT AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB

Swim Captains 2019

During the club’s AGM the Committee and Head Coach voted the new Captains and

Vice Captains for 2019.

They will represent the club during competitions and galas and also be leading

role models to our younger swimmers on poolside

Captains

Chandler Saer & Emily Symonds

Vice Captains Jasmine O’Neill & Aaron Coleman

`

Our names are Aaron Coleman and Tegan Gibson and we wanted to provide you with an

insight into what we’ve been involved with over the past few months and the future.

We have become involved with the Young Volunteer Programme which consists of aspiring

young people that want to improve their swim teaching skills.

You may have seen us supporting the main coaching team on poolside with our red folders

over the past few months wheres we have been creating and developing our own session

plans, completing stroke and skill assessments on our chosen mentors and writing risk

assessments for the club.

The next stage of our programme will be to participate in activities such as marketing and

promotion of the club’s activities, fundraising events and help run the club through club

management and continue helping with poolside activities.

We attemded a meeting with other Young Volunteers in Chippenham on 6th January where we worked on theory learning, gaining new information and skills and expanding our knowkedge of pool life. Last year for us as swimmers, coaches and vounteers has been amazing and we would like to say a special thank you to each and everyone who has helped us get to where we are. There are some amazing people in our club who give up their spare time to help us. If it wasn’t for every volunteer and all our coaches, this opportunity would not have been possible . Thank you

OPEN MEETS 2019 6th / 7th April – Calne 25m L3 20th/21st April – WSM 25m L3 28th April – Dorchester 25m L4 25th May – Trowbridge Sprint 25m L4 1st/2nd June – Salisbury 25m L3 20th /21st July – Tigersharks 25m L3 12th/13th October – Marlborough 25m L2 26th/27th October – COB Early Bird 50m L2 16th November – Calne 25m L3 30th Nov/1st Dec –Tigersharks L2 7th/8th December – Corsham 25m L3

For more information then please contact Mel Kelly or Chris Darling

who can guide you through how to enter, what times are needed

and provide you with entry forms.

County times (not 25m) can only be obtained through swimming in

official Open Meets.

County times for 2019/20 will be posted soon on the Noticeboard.

Formally called swim21, SwimMark accreditation is

Swim England’s quality standard for clubs. It recognises

high standards of governance, sustainability and

effectiveness, it is a valued club development tool and

will ensure we provide the best environment for all our

swimmers and club members.

There are 16 essential elements that the Club are

required to develop and maintain to demonstrate their

compliance – this includes the Club’s development plan,

equality, budget, safeguarding, codes of conduct,

membership, risk assessments, personal development

plans and coaching programmes. The Club are working

towards ‘Essential’ status and will ensure that we achieve

good governance, grow membership, develop

volunteers and ensure our activity is sustainable. The club

will also benefit from discounts and vouchers towards

training courses, grants and elegibility towards sports

specific funding pots.

Our Committee has been working hard on all aspects of

Swim Mark and all elements have now been submitted

pending approval – we will keep you posted.

If you have any questions relating to our Swim Mark

status then Sarah Coleman (Club Secretary) is leading

this project and would be happy to discuss any questions

you may have.

Open Meets are external swim competitions designed to give all our competitive

swimmers the chance to show their true potential. The club formally enter a number

of events from April – December for all swimmers registered to Cat 2. They are

used for swimminers to improve their times, experience swimming and competing in

different pools against different clubs and any times registered during these open

meets are entered against the swimmer on the ASA register and can enable them

to obtain a county qualifying time for 2020.

There are 4 levels of open meet

Level 4 – These are your entry level events for swimmers new to competing and

normally swam in a 25m pool. They are for inexperienced swimmers seeking their

first competitive meet outside their normal club environment. If times are good (I,e,

swim quicker then permitted times) they progress to the next level.

Level 3 – These are swam over both 25m and 50m length pools and are used as

platforms for swimmers to avhieve their regional and county times.

Level 2 – Swam in short course pools (25m) and are used to achieve qualifying

times in national, regional and county championships in short course.

Level 1 – Long course (i.e. swam in 50m pools). Their purpose is to achieve

qualifying times for entry into national, regional and county championships.

Category One Membership is for individuals who are part of a club and are learning to

swim or are swimming at any level within the club network i.e. Club Championships, Time

Trials, Squad Galas. The annual cost is £36.00 per swimmer.

Category Two Membership is for individuals who want to compete and be part of a

structured competitive pathway i.e. entering open meets & county time trials. The annual cost

is £50.00 per swimmer.

Category 3 is for those involved in the club not covered as above i.e. violunteers

In line with the Sports Centre rules, may we remind all parents that swimmers under the age of 8 years must not be left unattended whilst they are training. In addition, the club would like to request that swimmers 16 and under must not leave the sports centre unless their lift home is waiting outside. Coaches and committee are always available to ensure that junior swimmers are picked up safely and we would like to kindly ask that parents/guardians meet swimmers in reception where possible.

The Masters take on the Iron Man Challenge

Five of our Masters – Diane Hier, Judith Dando, Guy Farrell, Paula Farrell and Ian Parker took part in the Weymouth Iron Man 70.3 in September 2018 – where they were ready for their 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run but hadn’t planned on Storm Helen with its 30mph wind, torrential rain and 2 metre swell. The organisers had no option but to reduce the swim to 950 meters because of the dangerous conditions and delayed the start to see if the weather would improve, but it didn’t and by 8am all of our Masters were swimming amongst the busy rescue boats! Safely all ashore the bike stage of the race began with the challenge of the cold winds and rain, slippery roads, numb fingers and punctures, but the run on the sea front lined with cheering crowds was blessed with sunshine and blue skies. Sadly Paula Farrell had a nasty crash on the bike just 1 ½ miles from the finish and couldn’t run but all the other Masters got their medals with Diane Hier finishing second in her age group and just missing out on a qualification place/time for the World Championships. Congratulations to all of you!

Youth Advisory Panel

Emily Symonds has been selected to sit on the Youth Advisory Panel and travelled to Swim England in Loughborough for her first meeting for the panel in January where they discussed current issues within swimming and ways that these issues could be prevented. Areas that were covered included:

• Safeguarding • Mental Health • The 150th Anniversary of Swim

England • New Award Schemes

The meetings are held four times a year with Emily being the only representative from the South West and primarily she will attend national events as part of the meetings. Emily will be able to participate in key changes and improvements within youth swimming and will update the club as appropriate.

Dates for your Diary

Visit from Wilts County ASA President Friday 29th March 18:30 – 20:00 Sponsored Swim @ Warminster Sunday 12th May 16:30-19:00 Morrisons Bag Packing Sunday 19th May 10:00- 16:00 Fundraising Quizzes Available to Purchase Easter Holidays Wiltshire County Sprints - Milton Road Sunday 10th June The Big Summer BBQ Saturday 6th July 2019 Summer Holiday Club Closure 5th – 19th August 2019 Inclusive Water Park Trip Social Event Saturday 7th September 2019

AGM (venue to be confirmed) 11th September 2019

A swimmer at some point in their swimming career will face some form of injury that could hinder their performance and progression. Helping to treat injuries will enhance the physical performance capability of the swimmer. We are offering all club members the route to a physio at Progression Physiotherapy.

• Progression will offer our members a discounted rate of £35 per session for all sessions. (usual rates are £45 for initial assessment and £40 for treatment sessions)

• A communication pathway (with consent from the patient and the parents of the patient when a minor is involved) with the Warminster coaches regarding the rehabilitation of the patient and the best way to manage the swimmer in and out of the pool.

• A route of communication to a trained physio and a relationship between club and physio who have a strong understanding of our sport.

Contact Details are:

Scott Dupuy

Practice Manager

Progression Physiotherapy Ltd

01985 218301

www.progressionphysio.com

Please remember to quote your

ASA membership number.

Session Times

Monday 18:30 – 19:00; 19:00- 19:45 & 19:45 – 20:30

Masters: 20:30 – 21:30

Tuesday 07:00 - -8:00 – Masters & Senior Swimmers by Invite Only

Thursday 19:00 – 19:30; 19:30 -20:30

Masters: 20:30 – 21:30

Friday 18:30 – 20:00 – Squad Training – by Invite Only

Sunday 16:30 – 17:15 & 18:00 – 19:00

Masters: 17:15 – 18:00

Trial sessions for new Junior (Aged under 18) Swimmer members on 1st Sunday of every Month. Bring

swimming costume, towel and drink at 16:30.

Land Training – we have been delighted to start a trial for Land Training run by Richard Nicholls (Richard is dad to one of our youngest swimmers) and a fully qualified fitness instructor with years of experience and knowledge in the industry. The trial will be run for 6 weeks working primarily with the Squad Team on a Friday. Followingthe completion of the trial the Committee will be re-assessing the situation and review whether to continue with this form of land training and/or expand the opportunity. We shall also be reviewing the cost vs the output of these sessions.