21 young volunteers aged 14 to 18 and from swimming clubs across the Tees Valley embarked on the new Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) Young Aquatic Organisers Award this month.

The volunteers had to complete a number of theory-based activities, including learning about the ASA, club structure, understanding the skills and qualities of an aquatic organiser and the health and safety implications of planning an event, before being set a practical challenge to plan and deliver an event of their own to a group of young swimmers from Eston Swimming Club.

The volunteers devised many mini-events such as; diving, land training, fun races, relays, water polo, rookie lifeguard and water skills – continually evaluating their own, and their peers’ performances, in order to develop their new knowledge and skills.

Course tutor, Fiona Miller, was delighted with the volunteers work;

“I am really impressed with the quality of young coaching staff in the area, they are all a credit to their clubs. The volunteers had some great ideas and were very professional in the way they planned and delivered each of their events. I am hoping we can run another course in this area in the near future.”

It is hoped that some of these fantastic ideas can now be linked into the next Tees Valley Disability Swim Festival and be delivered by some of the volunteers.   

Jane Roche, Tees Valley Sport’s swimming development officer and course organiser said;

”The course was brilliant for the young volunteers - they had some fantastic ideas and showed great team working skills. To complete the award they now need to complete a 3-hour placement in a local Swimming Club and assist at an aquatic event. Longer term we hope they will all continue to be involved in swimming and gain further experience through completing teaching, coaching and officials courses. So keep an eye out for this new generation of volunteers!”