Returning to swimming

Unfortunately it is quite common for people (especially older adults) to have had negative experiences of swimming in the past.  However, with the right opportunities and support lots of people who were afraid of swimming or had been put off are now venturing back to the pool to find that things have changed.  Why not join them?

We have been working hard with pool providers and swimming clubs to make swimming enjoyable – so if you haven't tried it for a while why not give it another go. Swimming can be a fun activity or a serious sport. You can give it a go on your own or with a class or a team.

Swimming for fun

If you haven't been to your pool for a while then it’s time to give your local venue another try. Many have taken great strides in improving the facility, access and pool programmes.

Many leisure centres now offer ‘open days’ where you can see what is on offer and in Telford the council even took the pool to the people by providing a temporary pool in the town centre at the start of the 2008 summer holidays to show what kind of activities were on offer.

If you just enjoy lane swimming for fitness, some centres have swim trainers available on pool side to help offer support and advice with your lane swimming. There is also SwimFit, our web based programme powered by British Gas, to help you monitor your own swimming progress.

Most authorities also offer easy to try and low cost sessions. If you are over 60 and under 16 your local pool may now offer free swimming sessions thanks to a new government initiative.

Swim for health

Many pools offer adults-only sessions, lane swimming and sessions where there is someone on poolside to give you tips or a programme without having to join a club. 

CLICK HERE to find out about the benefits of swimming.

Competitive swimming

We know that many people take an active part in swimming clubs in their youth but begin to lose interest in competition and galas for a number of reason as they mature.

If you are one of those people then the ASA is working hard to engage you in swimming again. We already have a thriving Masters competition system. Unlike mainstream swimming, masters competitions rarely impose a qualifying standard, so if you wish to take part in a masters event you can … you simply join a club and send in your entry. Competitions are almost always seeded on the basis of ability, and therefore no matter what standard you have reached it is likely that you will be in the pool with people of similar ability.

We are also endorsing events like the British Gas Great Swims - a series of mass participation, one mile open water swims in the UK.

If you no longer wish to be involved in competitive sport yourself why not consider becoming a coach or teacher for your club or become a volunteer and get involved with things like time-keeping? CLICK HERE to find out more about volunteering opportunities.