SWIMGYM Swimming & Gymnastics Clubs are committed to the physical development of all youngsters that can be met within the skills and qualifications of the coaching teams, and will seek professional medical guidance to meet individual special needs as required. Liaison with outside professionals involved with the child’s learning & development may be necessary to raise awareness and fully inform the coaches of any specific individual needs.
The Club has a Voluntary Welfare Officer who assists the Clubs to put in place and implement plans for child Protection, equity and welfare.
The SwimGym Club provides:
Swimming lessons on Monday & Friday evenings starting 4:30-8:00pm and Adult classes (Strokes Ahead) on Tuesday evenings 7:30-9:00pm
Children may choose to join both Clubs or each individual Club. The Gymnastics Club has two Award Classes and the Swimming Club has two beginners’ classes to cater for those children wishing to train at both Clubs on the same evening.
Recreational Gymnastics Training for Gym-tots age children 3yrs+ at 4:30pm and Award Gymnastics for children age 5-14+, at 5:00-6:00pm & 6:00-7:00pm in the Sandringham School Gymnasium on Friday evenings.
Programme of Training
The Swimming Club provides lessons, on Mondays & Fridays at Sandringham School, for children aged 5yrs through to adults. Instruction starts at a beginner’s level, learning basic strokes & skills and progresses onto distance badges and challenge awards. The children are then offered courses in Lifesaving. All key coaches are fully qualified and affiliated to IOS (institute of Swimming), STA (Swimming Teacher’s Association) and the RLSS (Royal Life Saving Society).
Training is also offered for older children to assist in the water during classes. At 16yrs of age, they are encouraged to attend formal courses to study for their Assistant Teacher’s Award Level 1. This qualification enables them to assist in the teaching of the lessons.
The Club also provides an adult class once a week called ‘Strokes Ahead’. This provides training for parents of current children, wishing to learn to further their own development.
Gymnastics lessons begin at a basic level, in half hour sessions, developing co-ordination and body & spatial awareness. The children are then promoted to the Award classes which run for the full hour. Children over 5 years old, may enter directly into these classes if considered more appropriate for their ability or experience. This encompasses a thorough half hour warm up and conditioning session and then a skills session on beam, vault or floor. Children are divided into apparatus groups according to age and/or ability and cycle around the apparatus on a weekly basis.
The Club has developed its own RAINBOW award scheme to develop gymnastic skills. This is complemented by a conditioning award scheme to promote concentrated work on exercises required for progression through the skills badges. These are also designed to encourage gymnasts to exercise correctly at home in order to improve their strength and flexibility. One week per term is dedicated to working specifically towards the Conditioning Awards.
The termly courses also offer: group routine work which encourages social interaction and leadership, as appropriate to their age and abilities and also display work on Vault & Floor. All children are encouraged to perform skills that have been learnt in their weekly training sessions, to the best of their ability.
In order to raise self esteem and confidence in children who may take a little longer to achieve the skill awards, each Coach nominates two gymnasts from their training groups per term for an award for effort and progress. The runner up receives a certificate and the first nominated a medal and a certificate. The Senior-age girls are also offered an additional course in Sport Acro. Gymnastics, working in groups and pairs. This runs in parallel with their individual skill work in the Rainbow Awards.
Children who show above average aptitude by the age of 6years are encouraged to transfer to Competitive Gymnastics Clubs. SwimGym has developed links with SAADI (St. Albans & District) Gymnastics Club held at Redbourn Recreation Centre. SAADI has run successfully for many years and is well established in the County & Region. Girls transfer successfully in both directions and the award scheme is designed to stretch the youngsters in preparation for a higher level of skill and commitment to gymnastics.
Talented boys are also encouraged to transfer to competitive Clubs but unfortunately these Clubs are further a field and require a commitment to travel.
In a similar way to the Swimming section, youngsters showing aptitude for teaching are encouraged to assist the fully qualified staff during sessions and gain qualifications to become Assistant L1 Coaches. At 16 they are offered British Gymnastics (BG) courses to enable them to gain formal qualification at Level 1. 18 year olds who have passed L1 are encouraged to attend SAADI Gymnastics Club, to train for their Level 2 and above Awards.
Swimgym Enquiries:
Gill Callow Tel: 01582 833 513
gill.callow@btinternet.com
Valerie Graham-Clare Tel: 01727 864 563
valeriegrahamclare@googlemail.com
Club Welfare:
Rosie Dolling Tel: 01727 830 658 rosie.dolling@swimgymkids.co.uk
