Welcome Who are we? Where are we? Who is our Coach? What squads do we have? Where do we compete? Where and When do we train? How can parents/carers help? Child Protection Do we have a social life? What kit do you need? How should you behave? How do I find out things? Where can I buy equipment/club sportswear? Can I use my camera/video camera/mobile camera phone? Training Tips Training Times Fees_(as_at_January_2008)
RSC Officials 2008-2009 Club Shop Code of Conduct Download this as a pdf file
Founded 1898
Welcome
Welcome to Redditch Swimming Club (RSC). We are sure that as a new member you have many questions you would like to ask and we have created this welcome pack to help answer them. We are a friendly club so please don’t hesitate to ask if there is something we haven’t covered, however small it may seem. Top
Who are we?
RSC is affiliated to the ASA West Midland Region and Worcester County Swimming Associations and is the only competitive swimming club in the Redditch and Studley area. The Club is accredited with the ASA Swim 21 (Silver Standard) Award and the Sport England Clubmark.
It presently has 250+ members with swimmers ranging from beginners to National standard swimmers. Swimmers from RSC compete at County, Midland and National levels. Jamie Salter, Olympic finalist and Commonwealth medallist started his training at RSC and is still a member.
The Club has a full constitution in place and is run by a committee of volunteers who meet once a month to address the many interests of the club. Please feel free to approach any committee member (see list on notice board) to ask questions or discuss issues of concern.
We are a non-profit making organisation and any funds raised are ploughed back into the club for the benefit of the swimmers.
Where are we?
RSC is based at Hewell Road Swimming Pool in Redditch, Worcestershire. The Club uses swimming pools at:
· Hewell Road, Redditch
· King Edward’s School, Edgbaston
· Kingsley College, Redditch
· Studley Leisure Centre
· Woodrow First School
Redditch SC currently share the services of the Head Coach at Droitwich SC, Simon Hillson. Simon is assisted on the poolside by Chris Britt, who helps coach the younger swimmers, and by a willing band of teachers and helpers mostly trained by the club.
What squads do we have?
Approx. Age
Squads: (guide only)
- Senior Competition Squad 12+
- Junior Competition Squad 8 - 12
- Development Squad 7 - 9
- Widths/Lengths 4½+
- Adult
- Juniors
Progression through squads will be at the discretion of the Coach.
Widths/Lengths
We take youngsters from the age of 4½ and run beginners’ training
sessions for younger swimmers to learn the basic techniques needed to
swim the four strokes correctly. This important first stage of
swimming is all about having a good time while learning to swim properly
and confidently. The Club has adopted the National Teaching Plan for
Swimming (NPTS) and swimmers will be progressed through the widths and
lengths sessions following the NPTS Skill Level Awards, as well as
having the opportunity to gain distance badges.
With commitment and enthusiasm, swimmers should progress and be ready to enter our competitive development squad.
Development Squad
In the Development Squad you will be able to increase your training time (5 training sessions per week), building-up stamina whilst continuing to work on turns, dives, and relay takeovers. Some swimmers may be asked to swim for the Club in galas appropriate to them.
Junior Competition Squad
Once swimmers are competent in all strokes they may be asked by the Coach to move into the Junior Competition Squad where they will work to improve times and increase stamina, whilst maintaining correct technique (5 training sessions per week). These swimmers may be asked to swim for the club in ‘diddy’ galas (for children aged between 9-12), and will be working to achieve County, and possibly, West Midland Region qualifying times.
All swimmers are registered with the ASA on a club basis. However, when swimmers are 9 years old (as at 31st December) and are taking part in competition galas, County events and open meets they will need to register as individuals. There is a registration fee for this which is included in the annual membership fee payable in January.
Senior Competition Squad
The Senior Competition Squad is for competitive swimmers aged 12+. There are 9 training sessions per week for these swimmers who continue to work at maintaining technique whilst building speed and stamina. These swimmers will swim for the club in a variety of competitions, whilst working to achieve County, Midland and possibly National qualifying times.
Juniors
This group is for young swimmers who recognise the benefits of regular swimming, for fitness and health, but who have decided not to continue in our competitive squads.
Adult
We also run adult training sessions for older swimmers ranging from casual ‘keep fit’ swimmers to serious competitive masters swimmers.
The Club’s swimmers take part in a wide variety of competitions throughout the year, such as:
- Worcester County Age Group Championships and Sprint Competitions – Age 9+
- West Midland Region Age Group & Youth Championships and Short Course Sprints – Age 10+
- National Age Group & Youth Championships – Age 11+
- Speedo League – Age 11-Open
- Diddy League – Age 9-12
- Winter League – Age 11-Open
- Mercian League – Age 10-Open
- Trophy/Friendly Galas – Age 9-Open
- Open Meets – Age 9-Open
- Our own Club Championships – 8u-Adult
Club Galas
These are the Speedo, Diddy, Winter League and Mercian League competition galas that the club takes part in.
The team list will be posted on the notice board a couple of weeks prior to the event. This will include the selected teams of boys and girls in the appropriate age groups, the date of the gala, the venue, the warm-up time and adult helpers needed for the gala (time-keepers, stewards, etc.)
If your name is there and you are able to swim tick it off, or put a cross if you are unable to attend. If you are able to attend but have a problem with transport please let someone know so that we can arrange a lift for you. If you are not sure where the pool is for that gala, again please ask and someone will be happy to provide details, or a map. Occasionally the club may hire a coach if the gala is a long way away.
These Club Galas usually take place in the evening and may last 2-3 hours. You will need a drink on poolside and maybe a snack for afterwards.
Trophy/Friendly Galas
These galas occur throughout the year and may be either an ‘A’ or ‘B’ gala, depending on the teams taking part. There is normally a trophy for the winning team. These friendly galas give the club the opportunity to practice for league galas and are an ideal way to introduce younger/new swimmers to the excitement of competition.
Open Meets
These are competitions you enter yourself. The Open Meets Secretary will have details of some open meets and will put details on the notice board. These have varying age groups and events so you need to consider what you want to enter.
You will have to complete an entry form and may have to ask a club official to sign it, before sending it off with the appropriate fee. There will be a closing date for entries so you may not hear for some time whether or not your entries have been accepted.
Some open meets will be ‘Licensed’ and will have a ‘Level’ stated of 1, 2, or 3. Level 1 is aimed at National qualifiers, Level 2 at District qualifiers and Level 3 at County qualifiers. Licensed open meets will have lower and upper limit qualifying times for each event. These opens will provide swimmers with official qualifying times for Midland and National Championships. Remember that you must be registered with the ASA to enter an open meet.
If your entry is accepted you will normally receive entry cards for the events you are swimming a week or so before the gala. You must take these to the meet, as you will not be allowed to race without them. On arrival at the event, you need to find the box in which to ‘post’ your entry card (normally in the reception area of the pool). Some open meets may run without card entry, in which case you will receive a list of the events entered and cards will be handed out to swimmers at the event.
Popular open meets are sometimes organised as a ‘club entry’ and the completed forms and cheques are collected and submitted by the Open Meets Secretary. Details will be posted on the noticeboard.
Open meets can go on for some time, very often most of the day, or weekend! Make sure you take plenty of food, drinks, costumes, towels and maybe a book to read while you wait for your race.
There will need be an adult with a ‘coach’s pass’ from the club on the poolside to supervise swimmers and this needs to be checked when entering the competition.
Club Championships
All club members (whatever age) are entitled to enter, as long as you have been a member for 3 months. This is our own gala and swimmers are encouraged to enter as many events as they can.
You will be able to achieve entry times for other swimming competitions and hopefully gain qualifying times for the Worcester County Championships. You need to check with the Coach, or one of the teaching staff, if you are not sure which events you should enter.
You need to complete an entry form, enclose a cheque with the appropriate fee, and you will then receive entry cards. These cards must be brought to the event and ‘posted’ or handed-in promptly so we know you are here to swim.
There will be plenty of helpers on the poolside so don’t be afraid to ask if you need assistance.
The Club Championships will be run like a proper gala, with a referee, a judge and timekeepers. There will be a starting pistol to start the race, which can be quite loud! Cups are awarded for 1st places (except 50m events), medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and certificates for 4th, 5th and 6th places.
Worcestershire County Age Group Championships and Sprint Competitions
The Age Group Championships are usually held in February/March, at Wolverhampton and Worcester and the Sprint Competitions are usually held in September at Wolverhampton.
To enter the County Championships and Sprint Competitions you must gain a qualifying time. These times are available from a club official, the notice board or website. These do not have to be obtained at a Licensed meet, but must be official recorded times held by the club and achieved within the specified time limit.
You need to complete an entry form and pass this, together with your cheque, to the club official who will send this off. You will then receive entry cards, which need to be taken to the event and ‘posted’ in the entry boxes to enable you to take part.
The Club Championships are an opportunity to gain qualifying times and it is important you check which events you need to enter.
West Midland Region Youth and Age Group Championships and Short Course Sprints
If you attain a fast enough time at a Licensed meet you may qualify for the Midland District Championships or Short Course Sprints (qualifying times available from club official, noticeboard or website). WELL DONE! These are entered in the same way as the County Championships. The Youth and Age Group Championships usually take place in May/June at Coventry (50m pool) and the Short Course Sprints at Nuneaton usually in November.
National Age Group and Youth Championships
If you should be fast enough to attain a National qualifying time at a Licensed meet CONGRATULATIONS! This is entered in the same way as the Midland District Championships. These Championships usually take place in August at Sheffield (50m pool).
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The attached table Training Times shows pool session times, venues and fees for each squad/group. The club also offers a one-hour dry land training session to swimmers in Junior/Senior Competition Squads (aged 10+) at St. Augustine’s School, Redditch.
How can parents/carers help?
The Club encourages parents/carers to stay and watch their children train, but appreciate that this is not always possible. Please ensure that you spend a few minutes reading the notice board, particularly if there is a gala coming up as this is your chance to find out what is going on.
Please remember that the club is responsible for the swimmers while in the water or on the poolside, but is not responsible for them in the changing rooms or outside the actual pool area. Please look after your swimmers. We would advise parents/carers not to allow younger children to play in the area to the rear of the Hewell Road pool unless they are under close supervision.
Please encourage your child to listen carefully to the coach and assistant teachers. They are trained and know what they are talking about!
RSC relies on volunteers and encourages parents/carers to become involved with a whole host of activities and also offers training courses to those interested in taking this a step further, such as:
- Timekeeper/Chief Timekeeper
- Poolside Helper
- Swimming Teacher/Assistant Teacher
- Judge
- Starter
- Referee
- Child Protection
Our Welfare Officer maintains a register of poolside helpers and the Club ensures that all adults who come into direct contact with children are checked and approved by the ASA/CRB (Criminal Records Bureau), in accordance with the ASA’s Child Protection Policy
Do we have a social life?
The Club has various social events throughout the year and runs fund-raising initiatives. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned squad swimmer you are all welcome, together with parents/carers and other family members, to participate and contribute to these activities.
Check the notice board for details of forthcoming events.
What kit do you need?
For general training sessions (development, junior competition, and competition squads):
- Fins
- Goggles
- Hat – you must wear a hat if you have long hair
- Drink
- Float/Pull Buoy (club can provide)
For competition galas:
- Plain black costume or trunks
- Redditch swimming cap
- Goggles – 2 pairs
- RSC ‘tea bag’ team shirt or polo shirt
- Shorts
- 2 towels
- Pool shoes
- Plastic carrier bag to keep clothes dry on poolside
- Drinks (water, diluted squash or suitable sports drink)
- Jelly or jelly type sweets (optional)
All clothing/equipment should be clearly named, particularly black costumes, tea bags/polo shirts and drinks bottles. Chocolate and fizzy drinks will not be allowed on the poolside.
The Club has a Code of Conduct and swimmers in the Development, Junior Competition and Senior Competition Squads will be asked to read a full version of this, sign a summary copy and return it to show their acceptance of this Code.
Code of Conduct Top
- Notice boards – situated in the lobby at the Hewell Road pool
- Newsletter – quarterly
- Club website (www.redditchswim.org.uk)
- Ask a committee member
- Chat to other parents/carers
Where can I buy equipment/club sportswear?
Our swim shop, open on a Wednesday evening, has a wide range of equipment and club sportswear available at competitive prices. There is a current price list on our website (www.redditchswim.org.uk).
Can I use my camera/video camera/mobile camera phone?
Photography of any kind is not permitted at the Hewell Road pool. If you wish to take photos or use a video camera at a gala run by RSC at an alternative venue (which may allow photography) you must sign the register held by our Welfare Officer. Other Clubs hosting competition galas hold similar registers, and again you must sign and enter your details if you wish to use a camera or video camera. At some events the use of cameras and video cameras is not permitted.
Mobile camera phones are banned from most venues and must not be taken into the changing room area.
Training Tips
- Each training session is a chance to improve.
- Attend as many sessions for your squad as you can.
- Stretching exercises will help loosen your muscles for training. Practice some exercises before you get into the water. Ask the Coach if you are not sure which ones are suitable for you.
- Do not use easier short cuts in training as they become bad habits and it will not benefit you in the long-term.
- Drink plenty of fluids during training (not fizzy), to avoid dehydration.
- Practice your turns every time there is more than one length of the pool in a set. Correct turns are quicker, and incorrect turns will get you disqualified in a race.
- Finish each length correctly and swim fast in to the wall.
- Do all that is asked of you – cheating is not for winners.
- Remember your Coach, teachers and poolside helpers, are there to help you become a better swimmer – do what is asked of you.
- Eat a small snack after each training session to help restore lost energy.
- Keep a logbook so you can see how much you have trained and how you are improving in training, as well as competitions.
- Treat other swimmers with respect. Remember you have signed a Code of Conduct.
- ENJOY YOURSELF!
H&W Dev Camp 12 Feb 07 handout