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Sports development

Swimming development

The Swimming Development Team is a part of the sports development structure of the Council. They co-ordinate and operate the Calderdale Aquatic Development Scheme.

The scheme incorporates a variety of weekly and crash course lessons at Council owned pools throughout Calderdale. The lessons are available to children from three years of age through to adults. Children's lessons start with the Aquatots programme for children under five years of age with parents and toddlers taking the water together (there must be one adult per child for this and certain other sessions). The Swimming Development Scheme for children allows for progression through the Amateur Swimming Association National Teaching Plan for Swimming with children being rewarded with a range of badges. The range and type of lessons and skills available varies considerably according to the age of the swimmer. Each grade is made up of a number of targeted achievements that allow for natural progression. Your local swimming pool or the Swimming Development Team will be able to provide you with details of the various levels in the scheme.

The Swimming Development Team also co-ordinate the Diving Programme in Calderdale. Lessons are held in various styles of diving including from the pool side and from the boards. Lessons are available to children six years of age and above. The ASA Award Scheme is also in place similar to the swimming development scheme.

As a natural follow on to these courses there is also a range of Junior Lifesaving Courses available for children who wish to learn more about water safety and how they could help someone in distress. Again you can progress through the scheme both within age bands and with more formal and nationally recognised awards as you become older. The scheme culminates in the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification which is an essential criteria for people employed as lifeguards in the leisure industry.

Calderdale can also offer training towards the National Rescue Award for Swimming Teaching and Coaching. Endorsed by the ASA, the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, the Institute of Swimming Teachers and the Coach and Swimming Teachers Association, this is an assessment in practical lifesaving skills that may be needed by anyone teaching or coaching 'programmed' activities in a swimming pool.

Booklets and leaflets incorporating the swimming, diving and lifesaving programmes are available with more detailed information on the schemes including a full list of current lessons prices and any additional benefits. Copies are available from your local swimming pool or from the Swiming Development Team based at Spring Hall. Please note that although lessons are available at all pools the type of lesson and the days and times of them does vary from site to site.

During the school holidays the programme is extended to include a range of crash courses covering synchronised swimming, water polo, lifesaving and stroke skills. The days, times and venues of these sessions obviously change from one school holiday period to the next but leaflets are available through the usual outlets in the period leading up to each holiday.

The Swiming Development Team also has excellent links with swimming clubs in Calderdale many of which are based at Calderdale owned pools. The Team will be able to both recommend a club for you to join and provide you with the relevant contact details.

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