Teaching Plan (Back)
The Otters club has 5 swimming sections - all
of which are equally important. We currently have 25 volunteers on the coaching
team that enable the sections to run, a brief description of the sections is
below - click on the link for more information.
We follow the ASA National Plan for Teaching
Swimming. It is a comprehensive teaching programme, which:
- teaches the swimmer to develop a wide range
of water skills
- provides a measurement of skill performance
- accurately assesses at what level a swimmer
is and rewards accordingly with a badge and certificate, following a formal
assessment.
This scheme not only determines the stroke
skills it also teaches general water skills. There are 7 stages to the scheme,
each of which has 2 badge levels, these are:
| Badge Level |
Description |
Main Aims |
Club Section |
| 1 & 2 |
Non Swimmer |
Develop water confidence,
mainly through informal play (includes submerging and opening eyes, floating
and using arms and legs through the water |
LTS |
| 3 & 4 |
Beginner |
Building a foundation
(includes developing control in water breathing, experimenting with
different limbs to obtain movement in the water) |
LTS |
| 5 & 6 |
Improver 1 |
Building Competence in basic
methods of strokes (includes streamlining, breathing control, treading water
and swimming underwater) |
LTS |
| 7 & 8 |
Improver 2 |
Consolidate the aquatic skills
(includes use of the basic technique on three of the main techniques and 10m
for butterfly, tumble turns and a foundation for safe diving) |
Dev |
| 9 & 10 |
Advanced 1 |
Development of more efficient
swimming techniques |
Dev |
| 11& 12 |
Advanced 2 |
Further development of
swimming techniques (includes basic stamina training, integrated with
swimming speed) |
Dev |
| 13 & 14 |
Advanced 3 |
Even further development of
swimming techniques |
Comp |
A register is maintained for every session so
that we know who's where and at what stage and keeps the teachers informed of
who's in their group and any medical notes on their swimmers.
Learn to Swim (Back)
Most members start their life with Otters here
- you can join once you're over 5 (p.s. we are a popular club - it's worth
getting your folks to put your name down early) .
Classes are currently held on Sundays and Thursdays at
the Lime Kiln Centre, sessions are taught in width classes (7
metres).
Once you're in you get put in the most suitable
group and then you're continually assessed by your teacher and Learn To Swim
co-ordinator. You progress at your own rate and you are tested for the LTS
Badges and moved up the groups as you improve. You will be moved when it is
suitable for you to move, this ensures you do not 'held back' or 'pushed too
fast'.
Our aim is to develop strong, confident
swimmers who will continue to enjoy the sport throughout their life.
Every year we hold a sponsored swim to raise
funds for the club to maintain / replace equipment. This is an opportunity for
the members to earn distance badges and swim a lot further than they expect.
Members aged 7 and over, following an
assessment can also take part in the Annual Club Championships.
NOTE: this is an extremely popular
section of the club and there is always a waiting list, if you decide to leave
Otters or your child cannot attend for more than 4 consecutive weeks the please
let us know otherwise your child's place may be at risk.
Once you've got to the right level you move on
to the Development Squad.
Development (Back)
This section of the club has 2 sub-sections:
This is where members join from the Learn
To Swim section.
Training changes from widths to lengths -
quite a big step, and more technique work is introduced
Members are further schooled in techniques
and competitive skills (tumble turns, diving etc.) to see if they are
suitable candidates for the Competition Squad
Competition (Back)
Introduction
The gala squads are
progressive and designed to optimise potential, if the commitment is made from
the swimmer and parent. All the swimmers will work their way through the system
and their training times and competition performance will be monitored and
recorded.
Some swimmers develop their
talents early, some are naturally talented and can be spotted straight away, and
a lot develop much later. All need the commitment, dedication and desire to
achieve their full potential. The competitive training programme takes all
these factors into account both on a group and individual basis.
All the gala squads will be
working according to various cycles, which are linked to key events (club
championship, the Wiltshire’s etc). The components of these cycles are pitched
towards ability, age and maturation principles. The main emphasis for the junior
squads (ages 8 – 13) will be to build high quality technique in skills and
strokes with increased endurance.
The main emphasis of the
senior squad (age 14+) programme will be endurance based with high quality
technique. In order to apply correct and uniform techniques a selection of
drills and skills will follow through all the groups. Both will be completing
sprint work and attending open meets and league events to put their training
into practice.
It should be noted that the
age range is a guide and the emphasis will be based on ability. Finally, it’s
about teamwork, you show us the effort and commitment and we will do the same.
Squad Ethics
- regular attendance
- arrive in time - allow for dry side
warm-up, be ready to get in the water at the start of the session
- be positive
- make an effort - achieve your
personal goals
- be prepared - bring all the necessary
equipment
- remember - not everyone can win galas
or come home with medals - success is achieving your personal best knowing
that you have performed to your full potential.
- maintain your Personal Bests in your
Club PB log
- ENJOY your sport - the club is here
to help YOU achieve YOUR full potential
Training and Awards
Training will cover:-
Drills for improving stroke
length.
Drills for improving balance and floatation.
Drills for improving specific stroke components.
Speed drills.
Sculling drills.
Speed and endurance kick drills.
Starts – speed of take off, entry position, streamlining and u/w transition.
Turns – acceleration into and out of turn, speed of rotation during the turn.
Finishes – acceleration into the wall.
Swimmers need to be thoroughly aware of using pool markers for competitive
skills.
All swimmers will be expected to do a minimum of 5 power kicks from a dive start
for free, backstroke and fly and off every turn.
We will endeavour to
‘enforce’ that every turn is a perfect one and no turns are ever missed out -
there is no excuse for poor skills.
Demonstrations will be used
whenever possible to ensure that every swimmer understands the concept of each
skill or drill.
All swimmers in
Pre-Training Squad will be working towards this award. Swimmers who are
selected for the junior teams will need this award prior to league competitions.
The award concentrates on racing starts and transition to stroke with emphasis
on correct technique. The test will be performed in both deep and shallow water
from the blocks. Only swimmers who can demonstrate a competent racing dive with
the appropriate start/transition will be tested for the award. This will only be
taught once the swimmer has reached the ASA NPTS level 11.
Each month, one swimmer
from the coaching squads will be chosen to receive a certificate for most
improved swimmer and for highest attendance. Swimmers will be chosen through
their commitment, dedication to both training and competition and effort in
their aspirations to achieve.
These are targeted at junior
development swimmers, to be completed in either time trials or competition.
Time trials will cover distances of 25m and 50m. Longer distances can be
achieved during competitions such as Club championship or open meets.
A badge and certificate is available to
purchase for awards.
PC Squad (Pre-Competition) - age 8 years +
late developers
Entry Criteria:
-
Competent on 3 strokes,
front and back crawl and breastroke, development of butterfly, starts, turns
and finishes.
-
Be able to complete 100m on
each of 3 strokes holding technique.
Targets:
-
Enthusiastic: 85%
attendance.
-
Legal on all four strokes.
-
Good body position on
freestyle and breathing technique
-
Develop and nurture basic
skills - spins/tumbles/sculling.
-
Correct start & turns for
racing.
-
Heavy emphasis on
technique.
-
Introduce stamina work.
-
Achieve competitive start
award.
-
ASA speed awards Bronze -
Silver 25 - 200m all 4 strokes.
Commitment:
Entry criteria:
-
Competent on 3 strokes,
starts, turns and finishes + good execution of butterfly over 50m distance.
-
Be able to complete 200m on
each of 3 strokes holding form.
-
Achievement of targets from
PC squad.
-
Targets:
-
Enthusiastic: 85%
attendance.
-
Develop stroke technique.
-
Increase stamina training.
-
Encourage competitiveness
in training.
-
Compete in inter club galas
plus Leagues.
-
Introduce to Open Meets.
-
ASA speed awards Silver -
Gold 25m, 50m + 100m all 4 strokes
-
Team place selection
Commitment:
IC Squad (Intermediate
Competition) - age 13+ years
Entry criteria:
-
Competent on all 4
strokes, starts, turns and finishes
-
Regular team place
selection
-
Progression to this level
from junior development
-
Achievement of targets
from JC Squad
Targets:
-
Dedicated.
-
Enthusiastic: 85% plus
attendance.
-
Provide
competitive/challenging environment promoting fitness.
-
Compete in Inter Club Galas
plus League and Open Meets.
-
ASA speed awards Gold -
Honours 25m, 50m + 100m all 4 strokes
-
ASA middle distance Silver
– Gold 200m all 4 strokes
-
Regular team place
selection
-
Attendance at open meets
Commitment:
Entry criteria:
-
Competent on all 4
strokes, starts, turns and finishes
-
Regular team place
selection
-
Progression to this level
from IC squad
-
Achievement of targets
from IC Squad
Targets:
-
Dedicated.
-
Self Motivated.
-
Enthusiastic: 85% plus
attendance.
-
Role model for junior
squad members.
-
Provide
competitive/challenging environment promoting fitness.
-
Compete in Inter Club Galas
plus League and Open Meets.
-
Educate on basic principles
of training methods.
-
Keep swimmers interested
and competitive.
-
Attendance at open meets
Commitment:
N.B Movement between squads
will be at the desecration of the head coach in consultation with the relevant
lane coaches. Ability plays a large part in the moves but swimmers all round
outlook and maturity is also considered. Age is a guide only.
Lifesaving (Back)
Lifesaving Website
The lifesaving branch of the
club has been a real success story. Membership increases regularly and in 2001
we were awarded:-
“The most successful club in Avon and North
Wiltshire in promoting the
Royal Lifesaving Society during 2001.”
This award is given to the
club that has achieved the most awards and qualifications during the year.
The Life Saving club caters
for age groups of 10 to 16 + years, the age group that they are in indicates
which award level they will be taught: -
|
Approx
Age
|
Award
|
Description
|
|
10 - 12
|
Personal Challenge Award
|
Bronze, Silver & Gold
Acquire/improve wide
range of water skills and stamina in preparation for moving into lifesaving
awards
|
|
12 – 13
|
Lifesaving Awards
|
Levels 1,2 & 3
Basic aquatic lifesaving
skills
|
|
14
|
Bronze Medallion & Life
Support 1
|
Advanced Lifesaving
|
|
15
|
Award of Merit & Life
Support 2
|
Advanced Lifesaving
|
|
16 +
|
NPLQ
|
National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
Professional life
guarding qualification
(Subject to numbers and
teaching availability)
|
Masters (Back)
We do have a Masters section
in the club, they meet every Sunday morning at the Lime Kiln Centre.
The masters follow a planned
training session each week, similar to the children. The training is also
progressive.
Masters not only offers you a
chance for a regular workout each week but also the opportunity to take part in
competitions, galas and championships if you want to. This includes the Annual
Club Championships.
Membership starts at 19,
currently there is a mix between men and women and goes right across the age
groups. So if you would like to swim for fun, to keep fit or want a more
intensive and competitive work out then contact the Masters Co-ordinator Sue
Parson.