Swimming clubs are a vital aspect of the sport of swimming, providing a safe and supportive environment for athletes to train and compete. It is important for the success and longevity of any swimming club to establish and maintain clear policies and guidelines regarding membership and athlete transfers.
Communication and transparency are essential to the success of our program. Therefore, we have established a policy that any swimmer who wishes to change clubs must first speak, as a matter of courtesy, with the head coach. This policy is in place to ensure that all parties involved have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or issues that may influence the desire to transfer.
We understand that there may be various reasons why a swimmer may want to change clubs, such as seeking a different training environment, moving to a new area, or pursuing different competitive opportunities. However, we believe that open communication with the head coach can help to address any concerns or issues and potentially find solutions that allow the swimmer to remain a part of our programme. Our coach team have developed relations with the coach teams of all the local clubs and squads and are well positioned to arrange structured links to other clubs to ascertain where, if and when a move is most appropriate. This managed process optimises the success of any move.
In the event that a swimmer decides to join another club, we would highly recommend that they move in a new season, usually this would be September. If a swimmer moves during the season, it may have a detrimental performance affect and can cause a disruption within the squad. We have also established a policy that they will no longer be able to train with the main squad. In addition to not mixing programmes, this policy is in place to prevent disruptions within the squad and ensure that training remains focused and effective. Additionally, the swimmer will no longer be able to access the FAST squad sessions, as these are reserved for members of our swim club who have the best attendance (within the club), attitude and ability combined. Finally, swimmers that choose to move during the season will be unable to compete for the club in team events, nor will they be able to compete in the Club championships.
We understand that this policy may be difficult for some swimmers and their families, but we believe that it is in the best interest of our program and the athletes who remain a part of it. We encourage all swimmers to speak with the head coach or chairperson if they have any concerns or questions about this policy or any other aspect of our swim club.
We take pride in our swimming club and the community that we have built. Our policies and guidelines are designed to support the growth and development of our athletes while maintaining a safe and supportive environment. We are committed to working with all members of our programme to ensure that we continue to provide the highest quality training and competitive opportunities for all swimmers.
