Newark Swimming Club

Useful information

You may find the following information useful.  It includes details about Competing in a gala, as well as Frequently Asked Questions.  Our club policies are also listed here.  Simply click on the policy to link through to it.  Policies currently available are: Gala Selection, Members Charter, Code of Behaviour, Expectations of Parents, Child Protection issues, Anti Bullying Policy, Equal Opportunities, Accident & Incident, Data Protection, Uncleared Volunteers, Lost or Uncollected Children, Partnership with Parents.

We will regularly be adding to this information, so please make sure you vi sit regularly.

If you have a question that you'd like answered, then please email it through to us and we will give you an answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t my child get selected for inter club galas?

As a competitive club we always base selections on our swimmers personal best times, and our policy is to select the strongest possible team for each event.  In some age groups we have a wealth of talented swimmers, and unfortunately not all will get the chance to swim at every gala.  Please don’t be disheartened if you don’t get picked.  Continue to train hard and make sure that you enter the Club competitions in April and October/November so that you can improve on your personal bests.  We do enter teams in the development galas which are specifically designed to provide a chance to compete.

Why hasn’t my child moved up a lane?

There are a number of factors we look at when deciding to move swimmers between lanes including training effort, personal bests, stroke technique, behaviour and attitude.  It’s important not to worry too much about which lane your child swims in, as you will usually find that several lanes are following the same training programme.  Also, we may move swimmers up or down during a session in order to ‘balance’ out the numbers in each lane.  Rest assured that we do regularly look at the performance of each swimmer and aim to make sure each is in an appropriate lane.

What are the County Championships?

In February and March each year the Nottinghamshire ASA hold their County Championships.  Swimmers who achieve qualifying times (see Notts ASA website) can enter these galas and compete against the best swimmers in Nottinghamshire in a range of strokes/distances.  Entries for all qualifying swimmers are submitted by the club in Late December/early January.

What is Nova Centurion?

Able swimmers have the opportunity to trial to join the Nottinghamshire squad, called Nova Centurion.  Swimmers then attend additional training sessions with the Nova squad, which is made up of swimmers from many clubs.  Swimmers still compete for Newark in competitive galas, but take advantage of the additional training of Nova.  Swimmers usually trial for Nova's Newark development squad initially.

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Competing in a Gala

Taking part in a Gala (either at the Club championships or inter club) is both exciting and fun.  However if it is your first one then there are a few things you might want to know:

At the end of your race, always stay in the pool until the referee tells you to leave the water (basically after every swimmer has finished the race).
If you have passed your competitive starts award you can dive in, if you haven’t passed, it is perfectly okay to start from in the water.
The team manager will be on poolside and will let you know which events you are swimming in.  It's a good idea to stay near to them.  Don't wander off without letting them know.
Remember to take a water bottle, towel and t-shirt onto poolside so you can keep warm and refreshed between races.

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Gala Selection Policy

Team is priority.  League galas are about overall team results.  Trying to get the best result for the team is priority.  Therefore the swimmers with the best times will be selected (regardless of age)
For the good of the team we may ask swimmers to swim their less favoured strokes.
Ideally swimmers will have a maximum of 4 or 5 swims depending on availability of swimmers and gala.
We use novice galas as a way of introducing swimmers to competitive galas.  Swimmers may be asked to swim only relays as practical way of introducing them to competitive swimming standards.
Gala squad swimmers will be expected to enter league galas and friendly galas when selected and encouraged to enter open galas and County championships.
Gala squad swimmers will be encouraged to swim on squad training night Wednesday 8.00 – 9.00

If you are keen to swim in Galas, then you should:

Always enter the Clubs Age Group Championships (held in April) and the Club Championships (held in October/November).  These allow you to set a ‘time’, so that you can be compared against your peers.
Attend training regularly, listen to your coaches and train hard whilst in the pool.

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Members Charter

The committee is proud of Newark Swimming Club and wants all members and their families to be similarly proud.

The main purpose of the club are:

Teach members to swim
Improve, learn new techniques
Work towards representing the club competitively
To make friends
Enjoy time spent swimming
Give support and commitment to Newark Swimming Club and fellow members.

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Code of Behaviour

At all times swimmers are expected to:

Be polite and helpful to trainers, pool-side staff, parent helpers and fellow swimmers.
Do as they are instructed first time and always behave sensibly
Be kind to each other and encourage others to follow the code
Look after their own belongings and respect others property
Keep the pool-side and changing rooms tidy and litter free

Swimmers who do not observe the code may be:

Reminded of the code by the trainer
Asked to leave the pool for the rest of the session by the trainer and issues discussed with parents
Be referred to the committee
Receive a written warning from the committee
In exceptional circumstances be suspended from the club for a specific period of time
If there is no improvement in behaviour have their membership withdrawn

Newark Swimming Club will do all it can to

Safeguard and promote the interests and well being of children with whom it is working.
Take all reasonable steps to protect them from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment.
Respect members individual rights, wishes and feelings
Protect members from bullying

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Expectations of Parents

Parents are in partnership and an essential part of Newark Swimming Club.  Parents are expected to:

Ensure their children are at the poolside in good time for their session.
Be responsible for their children in the changing rooms
Ensure they are ready to collect children as they leave the changing areas.
Ensure the club and trainers are aware of any medical or health conditions, which may effect  their child.
Parents must provide an emergency contact number, be available at the pool or at the given number.
Support the swimming club and encourage their children to follow the code of behaviour and assist in their understanding of the clubs anti bullying policy and child protection procedures.
Support the swimming club at galas.

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Partnership with Parents Policy

A Pledge to Parents

Parents are welcome at swimming club sessions at all times.
We aim to keep all parents constantly informed of their child’s progress, training techniques, fees, fund raising events by various means of communication both verbal and written.
We will ensure that all aspects of the child’s achievements, progress and experiences will be shared and discussed with parents.  Under no circumstances will we release any personal information.
Permission will be sort for Video or photographic opportunities.
We will always be ready to listen to parents’ views and opinions to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of children and parents.

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Child Protection Issues

Newark Swimming Club is committed to protecting all children from abuse.  It follows and subscribes to the ASA recommendations on these matters.

All members should feel supported and valued and be confident to share any concerns of worries they may have.
To access the ASA document on Child Protection then please click here. This pdf document 'Child Welfare in Swimming' sets out how to report any problems as well as signs to look out for regarding child abuse..
If you have any concerns about Child Protection, then please discuss them with our Welfare Officer.

All ASA volunteers who work with children are being encouraged to be more aware of child abuse, sexual, physical and emotional.  All volunteers should take note of the following points.

If you suspect abuse of any kind from marks on the body in unusual places, or from mood changes, or from any other indicators that you feel may be significant, please inform the clubs welfare officer immediately, they will then be obliged to contact social services.
Please be cautious about touching children at any time.  However, it is understood that it is difficult to avoid particularly with younger children and whilst teaching especially in the small pool.
Never allow yourself to be alone with a child, always have another volunteer/parent or another child with you.

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Anti Bullying Policy

Newark Swiming Club will not tolerate bullying and it is the responsibility of all to tackle any issues of bullying and follow the club anti bullying policy.

Encourage an ethos of mutual respect for difference throughout the club
Give positive encouragement and promote the value of self and others
Raise awareness of all to the possible cause and effect of bullying
Make it clear that bullying will not be tolerated and is unacceptable, but both bullies and victims will be given the necessary support.
Enable swimmers, coaches to understand that no form of bullying be it physical, verbal or emotional will be tolerated by the club or ASA.

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Lost or Uncollected Children Policy

If a parent/carer fails to turn up to collect a child once the session has finished, the child must stay inside whilst a volunteer makes enquiries to the delay.
All contact and emergency numbers are available at front desk.  If contact cannot be made with any of the numbers stated then the child must remain until arrangements are made.
Never take the child home yourself.

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Equal Opportunities Policy

We welcome children of all religious beliefs, faith, culture and abilities, and believe each child attending Newark swimming club is of equal value.
Discrimination will not be tolerated and will be dealt with immediately by the committee.
The club aims to develop the children’s positive self-esteem.  Volunteers are expected to set a good example by treating one another and the children with respect.

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Accident/Incident Policy

Parents/Carers will be notified in the first instance, and kept fully informed as to the procedure taken.
Every accident/incident will be reported to the parent/carer who will be asked to read and sign the appropriate form.
Any injury within swimming club will be recorded, noting the time and date of the injury and who it was reported to, the member of swimming club/leisure centre staff who responded and/or administered treatment given and any witness information.
1. Assess situation, secure from danger.
2. Treat injury, perform any treatment necessary
3. Call for assistance if necessary (e.g. Doctor)
4. Inform Parents/Carers

• Any serious accident will be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
• Newark Swimming Club has valid Public Liability Insurance Cover.

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Data Protection Policy

Newark swimming club is required to keep and maintain certain records to comply with ASA registration under the 1989 Children Act.

The ASA are registered with the data protection agency under the Data protection act 1998 and comply with its principles, which state that personal data must be:

Obtained and processed fairly and lawfully
Held for the lawful purpose described in the data users entry
Used only for those purposes, and disclosed only to those people, described in the register entry
Adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which they are held
Accurate and where necessary, kept up to date
Held no longer than is necessary for the registered purpose
Accessible to the individual concerned who, where appropriate, has the right to have the information about themselves corrected or erased
Surrounded by proper security

All volunteers and parents must be aware of this policy

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Uncleared Volunteers Policy

All poolside volunteers are to complete a criminal record bureau form as required by the ASA.  All copies are checked and kept by the clubs Welfare Officer.

If the criminal bureau records has not checked poolside volunteers then a cleared member should always be present.

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Lost or Uncollected Children Policy

If a parent/carer fails to turn up to collect a child once the session has finished, the child must stay inside whilst a volunteer makes enquiries to the delay.
All contact and emergency numbers are available at front desk.  If contact cannot be made with any of the numbers stated then the child must remain until arrangements are made.
Never take the child home yourself.

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