Amateur Swimming Association
| Amateur Swimming Association | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ASA |
| Formation | 1869 |
| Type | Sports governing body |
| Legal status | Non profit company (A.S.A. Swimming Enterprises Ltd - registration 01636152) |
| Purpose/focus | Swimming in England |
| Headquarters | SportPark, 3 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3QF |
| Region served | England |
| Membership | Swimming clubs |
| Main organ | Board of Directors |
| Affiliations | British Swimming, Scottish Swimming, Swim Wales |
| Budget | £11.4 million (2009) |
| Website | ASA |
The ASA (formerly known as the Amateur Swimming Association) has been in existence since 1869.
Contents |
[edit] History
It was the first Governing Body of swimming to be established in the world and today remains the English national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, open water, and synchronised swimming.
Although the ASA has a long history, it has moved on considerably since its foundation and is now a vibrant modern governing body providing leadership to the industry of swimming many ways.
It was registered as a company on 18 May 1982.
It moved to SportPark at Loughborough University in April 2010, along with British Swimming, close to the A512 and junction 23 of the M1. It had previously been at Harold Fern House in the town.
[edit] Rebranding
The ASA underwent a rebranding exercise in 2008 including a new logo and name of the asa. After negative reaction the logo was retained but the organisation returned to using The ASA in text form.
[edit] Function
[edit] Clubs
The ASA supports over 1,200 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/and sub-regional structure. It endeavours to ensure every athlete, regardless of age or experience, belongs to a club that provides the best possible support and environment. The ASA has introduced a Quality Mark for clubs.[1]
[edit] Competitions
The ASA organises competitions throughout England, from grass-roots to elite level. The Age Group and Youth Championships are aimed at younger swimmers aged between 11 and 17 years and can attract more than 1,600 participants, while the ASA Nationals are aimed at the elite swimmers.
The ASA also organizes the English talent programme that puts in place performance opportunities for swimmers to develop their skills and potential.
[edit] Participation
The ASA operates a Learn to Swim award scheme based on the National Plan for Teaching Swimming, a programme the ASA has developed to take children through from their first splash to full competence in the water. In 2009, close to 2 million certificates and badges were issued to children all over the world.
The ASA is not a provider of swimming facilities, therefore it acts as a catalyst and facilitator to ensure suitable facilities, with appropriate access and programmes, are provided to meet the needs of the community and aquatic clubs.
[edit] A pioneering educator
The ASA operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for teachers, coaches and officials.[2] It has created the UK Coaching Framework and e-learning programmes, designed to ensure the ASA has an appropriately skilled workforce for the whole swimming industry. Its education is provided by its Institute of Swimming
[edit] The future
The ASA’s Strategy 2009-2013 [3] sets out the objectives of the ASA. In particular the ASA has identified four objectives:
- Ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn to swim.
- Offer everyone the opportunity to enjoy swimming or water-based fitness activities for health and fun throughout their lifetime.
- Ensure everyone achieves their different personal health goals throughout their lifetime.
- Ensure the nation achieves gold medal success on the world stage.
[edit] Structure
As well as being a governing body, the ASA also operates several subsidiary companies.[4]
The ASA's income for the year to 31 March 2009 was £11.4 million,[5] its largest sources of income being government grants (e.g. from Sport England) and revenue from its swimming award scheme.
[edit] Affiliations
The ASA is closely linked with British Swimming, a federation of the national governing bodies of England, Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association), and Wales (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association) with responsibility for swimming, synchronised swimming,diving, water polo and open water. These three are collectively known as the Home Country National Governing Bodies.[6]
[edit] Regions
The ASA is split into 8 regions:
- Swim North East
- Swim NorthWest
- West Midland Swimming
- ASA East Midland Region
- ASA East
- Swim West
- London Swimming
- ASA South East Region
[edit] Swimming championships
The ASA National Swimming Championships (50 m) are usually held in July or August each year, and act as selection trials for upcoming international level competitions due to be held later in the summer season.
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Please expand this table. More information might be found in a section of the talk page. (March 2009) |
| Year | Dates | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | ?? May–?? June | Coventry | Commonwealth Games trials |
| 1987 | 29 July–2 August | Crystal Palace | European Championships trials |
| 1988 | 27–31 July | International Pool, Leeds | |
| 1989 | 12–16 July | Coventry | |
| 1990 | 26–29 July | Crystal Palace | |
| 1991 | 1–4 August | International Pool, Leeds | |
| 1992 | |||
| 1993 | 10–13 June | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | European Championships trials |
| 1994 | 28–31 July | Crystal Palace | |
| 1995 | ??–23 July | Coventry | |
| 1996 | ??–?? July | International Pool, Leeds | |
| 1997 | ??–?? July | Crystal Palace | |
| 1998 | ??–?? July | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | Commonwealth Games trials |
| 1999 | ??–?? July | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | European Championships trials |
| 2000 | ??–?? July | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | Olympic trials |
| 2001 | |||
| 2002 | 28–30 June | Coventry | |
| 2003 | 18–20 March | Aquatics Centre, Manchester | |
| 2004 | 16–18 July | Aquatics Centre, Manchester | |
| 2005 | 4–9 August | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | Commonwealth Games Trials |
| 2006 | 1–6 August | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | |
| 2007 | 27 July–1 August | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | |
| 2008 | 10–13 July | Picton Pool, Liverpool | |
| 2009 | 28 July–1 August | Ponds Forge, Sheffield | |
| 2010 | 18–21 August | TBC | Commonwealth Games selection meet |
| 2011 | 15–18 June | TBC | Final World Championship qualification meet |
| 2012 | 20–23 June | TBC | Final Olympic qualification meet |
Additionally, championships are organised each year for Age Group swimmers (11-14 year old boys and 11-13 year old girls), Youth swimmers (15-18 year old boys and 14-18 year old girls) and Masters (age 25 years old plus).
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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