Madam, in response to the letter from Joy Kinsman re: Halo and Ross Swimming Club.

We presume it must have been several years since Joy Kinsman had connections with local swimming clubs as the swimming world has moved on to higher and more professional levels.

The ASA recommendations are that all swimming clubs aspire to Swim21 accreditation. This involves ensuring that swimming teachers and coaches are qualified, at the correct level, to teach and coach up and coming competitive swimmers and that the management structure of the club is in order including all the health and safety regulations. Ross Swimming Club has achieved this standard and recently received their accreditation for a further four years. The teachers and coaches at the club all meet these required standards, with those currently in training supervised by a qualified teacher/coach.

All helpers are voluntary, often fitting in time to give something back to the sport they themselves enjoyed as children. They are CRB checked before working on poolside as required by the ASA. Swimmers can only move into the competitive world if they have been taught the correct technique and skill from an early age. Ross Swimming Club has a high standard of teaching and coaching children as can be seen from the success they have in county and other open events.

With increasing numbers requesting admission to the club there is a need for these young children to be taught and coached during reasonable hours which will not interfere with their educational needs.

Sessions on a Friday evening were suggested by Halo Leisure to the club as it is one of their less popular evenings for use by the public. Monday to Friday 4pm to 5.30pm are currently teaching sessions run by Halo Leisure and not used by the Ross Swimming Club.

Halo lessons do not prepare children for the sport of competitive swimming, teaching is to a level that makes them safe in water for a casual activity only. The limited time that schools can currently provide for teaching pupils merely tries to ensure that all children are able to swim 25m at a reasonable level before leaving junior school.

The Government is encouraging more children to take up active sport, one of which is swimming, outside of school hours. Ross Swimming Club offers this opportunity but needs to run sessions at reasonable times to fit in with busy working parents, voluntary teachers and coaches and the educational commitments of children.

Ross-on-Wye Swimming Club