Swim 21 Accreditation
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.
The benefits of becoming a Swim 21 Accredited Club are mainly seen through the process itself. The programme enhances club management, strengthens the structures and unites the club with a philosophy and programmes that ensures the best environment is available for our swimmers.
Some key outcomes and benefits are listed below:
Recognition
· National recognition that we are providing a quality service for all our members. All Swim 21 accredited clubs are listed (under 'Accredited Clubs') and in ASA publications.
· Recognition by Sport England that our club is safe, effective and child friendly through achievement of Sport England Clubmark Resources
· Resource materials on best practice available to the club - ensuring that the club shows good practice throughout its daily activity. Upon completion of an Audit the club will have access to a wide array of resource materials - in the form of Information Sheets, Templates, Resource Packs and Workshops. These will assist the club through the Swim 21 programme and beyond .
Funding
· Enhanced access to various sources of funding Clubs who are working towards or have achieved Swim 21 Accreditation may be looked upon more favourably when applying for sources of funding. For example. Swim 21 Accredited Clubs are prioritised to form links with local schools and PESSCL (Physical Education, School Sport Club Links) funding is available to support school-club link projects. In addition it can be used as a negotiation tool with Local Authorities, in terms of seeking additional water time or a reduction in its cost, as your work towards Swim 21 may help achieve their objectives in terms of quality service provision.
Other benefits that Swim 21 may provide for the club include:
· Publicity/ promotion/ recognition & profile
· More members
· More coaches
· More officials/ volunteers
· Increased opportunity to secure funding
· A more organised & resourced club
· Improved School/club links
· Greater support from ASA & other networks
· Club sustainability/ longevity/ development
· Swimmer achievement/development
· A successful method of spreading the club's workload
On behalf of the whole Club, I would like to thank Sarah, Helen, Keith and Holly for all the hard work which has got us this far. The challenge now is to build on this and ensure the Club continues to progress!
Richard Tomlinson
Chair
