The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) is working towards supplying more coaches in the London area as the country looks to fill the skills gap as we approach the London 2012 Olympics.

The IoS, which is the training and delivery arm of the ASA, began working alongside SkillsActive in November and can now offer 400 places on Swimming Teacher/Coach Courses in the London area at a huge discount of 66% from published rates, for courses starting before March 31st 2008.

SkillsActive is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for active leisure and learning and with their backing you can now apply for the bursary after your course has taken place as long as it was between 1st Oct 2007 and 14th Jan 2008.

Also, you must be currently engaged in swimming, diving, synchronised swimming or water polo either as volunteer or a paid member of staff and once qualified demonstrate delivery of 20 or more hours of quality coaching in London

IoS Education Officer for London Mark Griggs is thrilled with the new funding and believes that it will have long reaching positive effects for swimming development in the London.

“This is an amazing opportunity for people to access these high quality courses at a fraction of the usual cost,” he said. “Prices for the courses normally range from £370 - £1800, depending on the level of the qualification.

“A discount of 66% will make a huge difference to the affordability of these awards, reducing costs to a fraction of their former value, with courses now available from as little as just £125. We are very excited at the potential of this partnership and look forward to welcoming many new faces to our courses over the next few months”.

For further information and to book courses, visit: www.londonswimming.org


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Notes:
British Swimming British Swimming represents the home countries of England, Scotland and Wales and holds the Coaching Standards Group licence to develop and award qualifications meeting UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) standards for all swimming disciplines.

British Swimming contracted the ASA Awarding Body to develop the qualifications and granted them the licence to award its qualifications in England and Wales. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has the licence to award qualifications in Scotland.

Amateur Swimming Association (ASA)
The ASA is the national governing body for swimming and its related disciplines in England. In order to comply with national education and training standards it has developed two separate and independent arms – the ASA Awarding Body and the Institute of Swimming (IoS) which represent the awarding and delivery channels for all ASA qualifications.

ASA Awarding Body
The ASA Awarding Body develops, assesses, awards and quality assures all ASA qualifications. It is the equivalent of other awarding bodies such as City & Guilds and OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations), The ASA Awarding Body is licensed by British Swimming to award qualifications in England and Wales. It also has the remit for quality assurance of all areas of UKCC standards.

Institute if Swimming (IoS)
The IoS is a licensed training provider, like a school or college. It is one of many ASA Awarding Body Approved Centres.
The IoS is also a membership body for qualified swimming teachers and coaches, providing insurance, advice and learning opportunities to its members.
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For more information contact IoS Education Officer for London Mark Griggs on 07917 726384 or email mark.griggs@swimming.org
The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
www.britishswimming.org
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