Free resource for volunteers looking to help their artistic swimming clubs

Volunteers looking to help strengthen their artistic swimming clubs and take on a new fun and supportive challenge can sign up for a free resource launched by Swim England.

The Artistic Swimming Poolside Helper resource has been created in conjunction with the Artistic Swimming Leadership Group and aims to support the delivery of club sessions under the supervision of a qualified teacher or coach.

It details roles, risks and hazards of a session, basic artistic swimming skills such as sculling and figures, as well as ways to communicate with participants.

Also covered are the number of ways poolside helpers can assist coaches and clubs to deliver better, more efficient sessions.

Sarah Darragh, Swim England Diving Development Officer, said: “The sports development team has been looking at ways to encourage new volunteers onto poolside to support qualified coaches in their delivery during club activity.

“This support will help reduce ratios and increase the overall standard of delivery in the club environment.

“Although club activity is currently all land-based, this is the ideal time to sign up for the Artistic Swimming Poolside Helper Workshop, which is the first step onto the coaching pathway.

“We have listened to our Tutors presenters who have expressed a helper workshop would be hugely useful before attending an assistant coaching course.”

Strengthen your knowledge

Marcus Henson, Swim England Volunteering and Pathways Coordinator, said that the self-led online resource allowed those interested in stepping up to a more significant volunteering role in their club to complete it around family or work commitments.

He added: “Obviously, we are all eager to get back into the water but offering some content on upskilling and strengthening our volunteers skills during this downtime will help deliver more efficient and impactful sessions upon our return.

“This free online resource gives volunteers, both new and existing, an opportunity to take on a new challenge, the knowledge to assist the delivery of club training sessions under the guidance of a coach, and support the development of all swimmers involved in the club.”

To sign up for the Artistic Swimming Poolside Helper resource, click here.