About The Club
The Club was formed in 1947 to develop competitive swimming in the borough. We are affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain via the Middlesex County ASA. The main income of the Club is from teaching and coaching fees although it also receives financial support from the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and small additional grants from time to time from other sources and sponsors. The majority of the Club's income is spent on pool hire and teacher/coach costs. Administration of the Club is carried out by parent volunteers to assist in the running of the Club. In the past two years the Club has had the benefit of its own administrative office and has recently taken on a part-time salaried administrator. In January 2006 we were 'Swim 21' Accredited by the ASA. This is the definitive professional operating strategy for clubs.
Our main training venue is at the Kensington Leisure Centre (Walmer Road, W11), Monday to Saturday (25m & 33m) and at the Chelsea Leisure Centre (Chelsea Manor Street, SW3) on a Sunday evening. Whole pool sessions are on Thursday (18.00 - 20.00) and Sunday (18.00 - 20.00) evenings. We have a Club noticeboard at each centre where you can view the latest information; further useful notices and reports also appear in our regular newsletter, free to all members. Additional information can be obtained from the Club desks which are open each Thursday and Sunday (where swimmers must also register).
The aims of the Club are two-fold. Firstly, our Learn-to-Swim Programme, each Thursday & Saturday afternoon, provides quality teaching to young people from the age of 4 upwards. Classes range from the complete beginners, through improvers groups, up to advanced classes. It takes about 3 years to become fully competent and confident on at least 3 strokes. All our teachers are ASA qualified. Secondly, we provide a total competitive squad training programme where swimmers can develop their full potential. We have swimmers who compete at County, District and up to National level.
All members of the competitive squad are expected to train a minimum of twice per week and to take part in competitions galas. Galas fall into three main categories:
- Team galas - where we compete against other clubs in pre-designated events, inclusion in the team is by selection, which is made by the Chief Coach
- Individual Open Galas - where swimmers compete individually in events which they select with guidance from the Chief Coach
- Designated meets e.g. County Championships - where swimmers must have reached a particular standard to gain entry
In addition the Club holds its own championships, in which all members are expected to compete for a wide variety of trophies and medals, presented by the Mayor of the Borough.
All our coaches are fully qualified with a great depth of expertise and experience. All four competitive strokes, plus Individual medley and competitive starts, dives and turns are taught.
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