Saffron Seals - Saffron Walden Amateur Swimming Club

Urgent Message Friends Pool Closure
We received the following message from Friends' School on Friday lunchtime:

Dear Swimming Pool hirers,(Friends Swimming pool)
I'm afraid the pool has leaked a lot of water and therefore is out of action. We have a team working on it now and hopefully they will locate the cause and be able to rectify it very, very soon.
Once this has happened the pool will then need filling and heating. It has lost over half the water so this will take some time. I am advised that it is very unlikely that it will be back in use this term. I will, of course, keep you updated.

Therefore, SWASC have had to find an alternative temporary solution for training sessions.

For our Wednesday evening swimmers only, the only option we have is Saturday at Lord Butler Leisure Centre:

Saturday 26 November - 7pm to 8pm
Saturday 3 December - no training as there is a friendly gala at Newmarket.
Saturday 10 December - 6.45pm to 7.45pm
Saturday 17 December - 6.45pm to 7.45pm - Last Saturday session of year

For our Monday 4.15pm swimmers only - you may chose to join one of the following sessions at LBLC:
Monday morning - 6.15am to 7.45am
Wednesday morning - 6.15am to 7.45am
Tuesday evening - 7pm to 8pm
Friday evening - 6.30pm to 7.30pm
These sessions are not suitable for the Friends' Wednesday evening swimmers.

The LBL&FC sessions run up to 23 December inclusive.

Apologies for any inconvenience.
Many thanks
Janet Rogers
on behalf of the coaching team

Standard Swimming Sessions
These are the names of the current swimming ability levels that we run within the club from entry level to strongest:

Swim Skills
Learn to Train
Train to Train
Train to Compete/Win

Please click here to download a full description for each level category.

The swimming club is always trying its best to provide as many sessions as possible, and would love to offer all abilities the chance to swim at least twice a week. At the moment we can only offer this to Penguins and above.

As stated in the prospectus, Dolphins and above are expected to swim at least twice a week, space permitting. However we are always hoping to get more pool time, so please watch this space.

Swimming day and Time
Monday
Venue: Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre
6.15 - 7.45am Train to Train and train to Compete/Win Groups
Monday
Venue: Friends School swimming pool
4.15 - 5.45pm Learn to Train Group

Tuesday
Venue: Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre
7pm - 8pm Train to Train Group
8pm - 9pm Train to Compete/Win Group

Wednesday
Venue: Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre
6.15 - 7.45am Train to Train and train to Compete/Win Groups
Wednesday
Venue: Friends School swimming pool
6.30 -7.30pm Swim Skills Group
7.30- 8.30pm Learn to Train Group

Friday
Venue: Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre
6.30 - 7.30pm Train to Train Group
7.30 - 9.30pm Train to Compete/Win Group

Changes to a child's group is decided by the Coach, Gareth Warwick. He will move your child up when he or she is ready to do so.

If you are a qualified swim coach, (either full or assistant) and you could spare us some time to go on poolside, we would be very pleased to see you. If you feel you could help in this way please contact Janet Rogers teammanager@saffronseals.org.uk or Gareth Warwick coach@saffronseals.org.uk.

Please note Friends' School sessions currently are term time only plus special sessions during the school summer holidays. Though we are now reviewing training during holidays at Friends' School. Training held at Lord Butler Fitness & Leisure Centre is continues through the holidays except Good Friday and the Christmas holiday period.

Water Polo
Lyn Dance - Instructor

What a Water Polo Swimmer thinks ...
Water polo - not only is it a great game to play, it is also a good exercise for fitness. It’s good fun for everyone who wants to have a go at it. The training is just as fun as the game itself with many different skills to learn. Who knows, you might be able to show off to your friends one day. With each session we have a game between the group, goals are scored and saved with some great manoeuvring and passing not be forgotten. Tackling is also great fun. A contact sport that leaves a lot of skill for a decent tackle to take place and to win the ball. With the effervescent atmosphere no one will feel left out and will have a great time.

Ed Pottrill, Ex-Captain

New Session Fee Structure
As of September 2011, SWASC will be introducing
a new payscale for swimmers, for a trial period of
6 months.

HOURS SWAM	OLD FEE	NEW FEE
1	£18	£18
2	£36	£33
3	£54	£46
3.5	£63	£50
4	£72	£55
4.5	£81	£58
5	£90	£60
6	£108	£65
6.5	£117	£68
7	£126	£70

As a club we like to encourage children, once they have become used to the training sessions, to swim more than once a week. However we also understand this results in extra costs to parents. Therefore we have decided to introduce a further discount, aimed at parents who have children swimming more than one session a week. A family who has a child/children swimming more than twice a week will receive a discount of one session ie if a total of 3 hours are swam only two hours will be paid for, reducing the cost from £46 to £33 per month.

We would also like to give a discount to families who have more than one child swimming with the club. The previous system of fees was calculated on hours per swimmer, with the new system of fees the hours swimming per week will be based per family. The hope is that the discount will encourage swimmers to attend more sessions.

The new fee scale is as follows: