Project sparks swimming boom in Thames Valley District
Swimming club membership in the Thames Valley District has been transformed with participation numbers more than doubling in one year.
Between 2006/07 and 2007/08 the number of members leapt from 306 to 652 swimmers.
This remarkable growth has been achieved through the determination of Sport Waikato SportsForce Swimming Development Officer Christine Jolly.
Jolly targeted six clubs in the Thames Valley district- the Mercury Bay, Coromandel, Ngatea, Paeroa, Te Aroha, and Whangamata swimming clubs.
With this surge in membership the clubs now offer qualified coaches for all levels of swimmers, from Learn to Swim (LTS) level right through to competitive swimming.
Low club morale has also been immeasurably boosted.
The project has seen a SportsForce Development Squad formed, and each club is no longer working in isolation. Coaches are also up-skilling through clinics and camps, annual swim camps and carnivals are held, and there are monthly stroke clinics attended by all six clubs.
Related Articles
Published since 1997 - Australasian Leisure Management Magazine is your go-to resource for sports, recreation, and tourism. Enjoy exclusive insights, expert analysis, and the latest trends.
Mailed to you six times a year, for an annual subscription from just $99.
Get business and operations news for $12 a month - plus headlines emailed twice a week. Covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism, and venues.