Swim 21

Kelly Gaffney
ASA Regional Development Officer
 Who can be Swim 21?
• Swim 21 is available to ALL aquatic Clubs
• Clubs are positioned at one or more of the
following levels

- Teaching
- Skill Development
- Competitive Development
- Performance
- Foundation
 Swim21 Aims
To help clubs provide appropriate opportunities for their
swimmers, in order that they will achieve their full potential.

• A flexible process not a product

• A planning tool to enable your club to:

- audit the existing programme
- identify strengths and weaknesses
- write a club action plan
 Swim21?
The ability to change and develop is the Key
Skill required to complete Swim 21

Swim 21 is about developing your club and

planning for its future.

It’s about putting the swimmers first and looking

at how your club puts itself in the best place
to help everyone.
 Why Swim21?
• Nationally recognised club development
programme
• To encourage and assist long term planning
• To encourage ‘Working Together’
• Provide clear pathways for individuals
through the club structure
• Incorporate a partnership approach to
delivery of swimming locally
Amateur Swimming Association
 Key Factors
Swim 21 has been created with two key
principles in mind:

• Long Term Athlete Development – the

framework for athlete development and
pathways
• CLUBMARK – Sport England Accreditation
Scheme – seeking to ensure that young people
are participating within a safe and friendly
environment
 Swim 21 Swimming Framework
Swim21

Performance Training to Win

Competitive Training to Compete

Competitive
& Skill Training to Train

Skill SwimSkills

Teaching &
PESSCL FUNdamentals

The Swimmer & Club

 What will it mean in your
club?
• Changes in how the club is run - administration,
recording of information, communication, the way
forward
• A ‘quality stamp’ of approval
• Changes to the swimming programme in line with
LTAD
• Qualified and committed coaches, teachers and
administrators
• Volunteers and Delegated workloads
• Links with other clubs
 Modular Process

Module 1: Compliance

• General Club Management

• Core Module for all disciplines and level of club

• Basic Policies, Procedures and Management in

Place – I.e, Child Protection, Equity, H & S

• Compulsory Evidence – Must be IN place

 Modular Process
Module 2: Workforce Development

• Development of Club Coaches, Teachers and

Volunteers

• Core Module for all disciplines and level of club

• Child Protection, Equity, Disability Awareness, Team

Manager Training

• Some compulsory elements, others can be ‘partially

implemented’ as part of action plan
 Modular Process
Module 3: Athlete Development

• Specific to Aquatic Discipline

• Specific to Level of Club
• 4 Levels of Development: - Teaching
- Skill
- Competitive
- Performance

• Some evidence compulsory, others can be

‘partially implemented’ as part of action plan
 S21 Process Step 1
Registration

• Club receives registration form

• Club returns registration form to ASA South West –

RDO

Completed Today!
 S21 Process Step 2
Audit

A checklist, a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ Questionnaire

A ‘Snapshot’ of where your club is currently

• Club receives Audit Pack includes:

• Club completes and returns Audit to ASA South
West
Complete today!
 S21 Process Step 3
Audit Feedback and Action Planning

• RDO assessment of club audit identifying areas to be

included in action plan
• Club receives audit feedback including:
- Feedback Letter
- Audit Assessment Results
- Improvement Planning Pack and Templates
- Original Audit
- Swim 21 Lever Arch File
- Resources Disk / Access to Website

• Club completes Action Plan based on feedback

• Club sends Action plan to RDO
• RDO Assessment of Action Plan and gives go ahead!
 S21 Process Step 4
Evidence Compilation
• RDO returns Action Plan with feedback if necessary
• Club receives Evidence Pack including:

- Action Plan feedback letter

- Evidence File Dividers
- Labels
- Evidence/Score Score Sheets
- Evidence Guidance Notes

• Club puts action plan into practice and begins

collecting all evidence for minimum criteria
 S21 Process Step 5
Evidence Assessment

• Club submits completed evidence file to RDO

• RDO Support / Assessment of File
• Missing evidence submitted if needed
 S21 Process Step 6
Accreditation

• Evidence File submitted to Regional Panel

• Regional Panel – Volunteers represented
across the SW assess file and decide action
• Accreditation submitted to National Panel

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
The Hard Work is Done
Now a regular programme and Maintenance
needs to be in place
 S21 Process Cont….
Revalidation
• Club completes:
Revalidation proforma
Evaluation of current Action Plan
New Action Plan for coming year

• Revalidation submitted to RDO for

assessment
• Revalidation submitted to Regional Panel
• Revalidation submitted to National Panel
 S21 Process Cont..
Re – Accreditation

• 4 Years from initially accreditation date

• Club completes process again – from the
‘Audit’ Stage and continues through the same
process
• If club has maintained development, and
followed 10 top tips then re-accreditation is
smooth and simple
 10 Top Tips
1. Do not be afraid of going slowly, only be afraid of standing still

3. Try not to be too ambitious

5. Allow plenty of time when involving others

7. Some dates are inflexible so put those in the calendar first

9. Include S21 on your committee meeting agenda

11. Update/Evaluate status of action plan every month

13. Keep S21 file up to date – with new documents / info

15. Work together – it is a WHOLE club scheme not a ‘one man’ band

9. Ask for Help! RDO will support you 100%

10. Have a rolling programme for courses / workshops

 Benefits
Recruit and Retain much needed Volunteers
• Specific roles, Recognition, Training opportunities.
Help the Club Become Financially Secure
• Budget control, planning, external funding opportunities
Provide the BEST for your Swimmers
• LTAD, training programmes, progression, networks and resources
Partnerships – ‘Working TOGETHER’
• Support and advice from other clubs, feeder clubs and swimmer
pathways, support from sports agencies and organisations
Access Funding and Demonstrate Forward Thinking
• Funding and Initiatives from ASA, CSP’s. LA’s will prioritise accredited
clubs

A Manageable, Equitable, Safe, Enjoyable Club!

 Case Study - Benefits
A club in the SW who has held S21 accreditation for 4 years has had the
following benefits:
• PESSCL funding from ASA - £1000
• Three coaches funded on a coach apprenticeship scheme offering
numerous CPDs at no cost
• Subsidised CPD places to the club via CSP
• Aquaforce Young Volunteers project
• Funding for a ASA Level 1 course
• Opportunity for talent ID as a result of schools galas, funded through
the County Sports Partnership
• Inclusion and publicity via the County Sports Partnership as a club
providing access to those with disabilities
• Swimmer development camp opportunities funded through the County
Sports Partnership
• Discounted places on ASA South West CPD and seminars
• Opportunity to access local authority grant aid funding when first
accredited
• Parents seminars delivered by the Partnership Swimming Development
Officer
 Contact
Kelly Gaffney
ASA South West
Tel: 07917 007657
Email: kelly.gaffney@swimming.org