What is Swim 21?

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 focusses 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. Clubs work steadily towards the attainment of a series of outcomes, all of which are seen as essential if the right level of support is to be provided at each stage of an athlete's development.

The Swim 21 process is as follows:

• A club will audit their current position against a series of questions that are linked to nationally determined outcomes of good practice.
• The Regional Development Officer will assess the audit and recommend a level of Swim 21.
• Based on these findings and assessment, the club will produce an improvement plan that details the steps they need to take to address the gaps in their provision.
• When these have been addressed, the club can apply for Swim 21 accreditation by submitting an evidence file to the RDO.

Swim 21 Accreditation is available to ASA clubs of any aquatic discipline that sign up to Swim 21 and are positioned at one or more of the four levels:

• Teaching
• Skill Development
• Competitive Development
• Performance

Within each Swim 21 level, criteria for assessment for all aquatic clubs will focus on the same three development areas:

• Compliance - generic to all disciplines with an emphasis on good management.
• Workforce Development - generic to all disciplines with a focus on the training and development of people within the club.
• Athlete Development - specific to each aquatic discipline with a concentration on the needs of the athlete.

A new level of Swim 21 accreditation has recently been introduced for clubs who do not fit within the existing four levels of Swim 21, as above. Swim 21 Foundation has been produced as a 5th tier of Swim 21 for clubs that have not traditionally had the structures, ability or capacity to achieve Swim in it's current format. The following different clubs are examples of those that would now be applicable to achieve Swim 21 Foundation:

• Social Clubs/Groups
• Recreation Clubs/Groups
• Masters Clubs/Squads
• University Clubs/Squads
• Disability non-competitive Clubs/Groups
• Disability competitive training Squads
• School Clubs/Squads
• Small non-competitive Swimming/Diving/Synchro/Water Polo clubs
• Open Water Clubs/Groups

Swim 21: Benefits/outcomes

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:

Swimmer Achievement

Enables clubs to help swimmers achieve their full potential Swim 21 is a planning tool based upon the needs of swimmers and strives to provide them with the best possible environment.

Recognition

National recognition that you are providing a quality service for all your members National recognition is received through the achievement of Swim 21 accreditation. As such all Swim 21 accredited clubs will be listed here (under 'Accredited Clubs') and in ASA publications.
Recognition by Sport England that your club is safe, effective and child friendly through achievement of Sport England Clubmark Resources
Resource materials on best practice available to your club - ensuring that your club shows good practice throughout its daily activity. Upon completion of your Audit your 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 your club through the Swim 21 programme and beyond - your RDO will direct you to the resources that best match the needs of your club.

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 it's cost, as your work towards Swim 21 may help achieve their objectives in terms of quality service provision.

Other benefits that Swim 21 will provide for your club include:

Publicity/ promotion/ recognition & profile
More members 
More coaches 
More officials/ volunteers 
Increased opportunity to secure funding 
A more organised & resourced club 
School/club links 
Greater support from ASA & other networks 
Club sustainability/ longevity/ development 
Swimmer achievement/development 
A successful method of spreading a club's workload

If you would like further information on Swim 21, the new Swim 21 Foundation, or need assistance with your club's Swim 21 application, please contact Debbie Deane, Regional Development Officer for ASA West Midand Region on 01527 517508 or by email on debbie.deane@swimming.org.

To download a Swim 21 registration form, please CLICK HERE and forward to Debbie Deane at the West Midland Regional Office.

CLICK HERE to view the list of Swim 21 accredited and revalidated clubs in the West Midland Region.

CLICK HERE for Swim 21 Resources

CLICK HERE to access the Club Resource Module

CLICK HERE for the Good Club Guides