Stuart Henson – Club Head Coach
Braunstone Swimming Club is one of only a few clubs in Leicestershire that run both a Learn to Swim scheme for the local community as well as Skill Development. We adopt different approaches to these two aspects of swimming.
Teach to Swim Scheme -
This scheme aims to attract youngsters from all sections of the local community and introduce them to swimming. We actively adopt the ASA National Teaching Plan and follow their awards scheme Levels 1-8.
Our instructors follow a ten week plan constructed by the Head Teacher covering all the requirements to equip our swimmers with the necessary skills to develop in the water. At the
end of the 10 week cycle the swimmers are assessed as they look to achieve their distance / skill awards at the level of the group they belong to. Swimmers need to achieve 8 out of 10 swim/skills to be able to progress onto the next stage. The success of this scheme is largely due to the commitment and skill of Braunstone’s team of qualified staff and the opportunities the club offers to young swimmers. We offer a progression route onto the Improvers Squad in Skills Development for those swimmers who reach the required level. There is the opportunity to take part in a sponsored swim for the Kelloggs Frosties ASA Award Scheme distance badges. For those who can swim at least one length, swimmers can enter the Jubilee Cup – a gala that introduces swimmers to competitive swimming.
Skill Development - Swim 21 accredited
This scheme aims to provide the opportunity for individuals to develop and improve their swimming within a competitive environment. My main coaching philosophy is to focus on the individual swimmer with a clear competitive outlook, which I believe is key to success. My main target is to become the best performing club in the City and County with swimmers achieving at County, Regional and National level.
Success for the individual breeds success for the club. The successful individual becomes the positive role model that then lifts club expectations and standards. I believe that a swimmer gets out of swimming what is put in, in respect of commitment to training, regular attendance, maximum effort and competition. I see the coaching staff have an important role to play in this. We will motivate and enable swimmers to progress to the highest possible level to fulfil their ambitions. This will be achieved by developing a strong coaching team to deliver quality in our training sessions. Our main focus is to develop fitness, skill, technical ability and stamina through distance training with the increased water time in the new Braunstone Leisure Centre. We actively encourage those who reach the standards required to progress to The City of Leicester SC.
Skill Development -
This scheme aims to provide the opportunity for individuals to develop and improve their swimming within a competitive environment. My main coaching philosophy is to focus on the individual swimmer with a clear competitive outlook, which I believe is key to success. My main target is to become the best performing club in the City and County with swimmers achieving at County, Regional and National level.
Success for the individual breeds success for the club. The successful individual becomes the positive role model that then lifts club expectations and standards. I believe that a swimmer gets out of swimming what is put in, in respect of commitment to training, regular attendance, maximum effort and competition. I see the coaching staff have an important role to play in this. We will motivate and enable swimmers to progress to the highest possible level to fulfil their ambitions. This will be achieved by developing a strong coaching team to deliver quality in our training sessions. Our main focus is to develop fitness, skill, technical ability and stamina through distance training with the increased water time in the new Braunstone Leisure Centre. We actively encourage those who reach the standards required to progress to The City of Leicester SC.