Swimmers can join CWSC at any level from the Pre-Competitive Squads all the way through to the Performance Squads. The Club takes children from the age of four upwards.
Request an assessment
In order to ensure children have the best experience when trialling with CWSC, we have moved away from large assessment days and are now doing trials individually or in very small groups. This enables our expert coaches to provide quality feedback and, where appropriate, to hold the trials as part of club sessions, giving children a taster of what it's like to swim with the club.
Demand for places is extremely high and availaility is very limited. We are operating waiting lists for the squads that are currently full.
To request an assessment please contact [email protected]
Swimmers joining from another ASA club or foreign equivalent, please contact Lisa Bates, our Director of Swimming, on directorofswimming@cwswimming.com
Joining Policy
As a Club, CWSC has an ethos of competition. We look to offer membership to swimmers that show the greatest aptitude to competitive swimming.
CWSC has more demand for membership places than the Club is able to satisfy. However, spaces do become available as members gain promotion through the squads, or as members leave the Club.
Swimmers interested in joining the Club are invited to an assessment, where coaches will determine whether swimmers meet the criteria for our competitive pathway.
The Club is not obliged to extend membership to any potential swimmer yet we maintain a strict equality policy which conforms to the ASA policy. If, at an assessment, the coaches judge that swimmers do not meet the minimum criteria, then CWSC is not obliged to fill any available places. If a swimmer is not offered membership, our coaches will attempt to provide feedback.
Parents and new swimmers should be aware that for their child to be successful in being offered membership, it is likely that they already will be swimming on a regular basis.
Questions regarding the membership process and schedule are invited to email [email protected]. Swimmers who already are competing should provide their ASA number and current official times.
The CWSC Competitive Pathway
CWSC adopts a ‘Long Term Athlete Development’ approach in its competitive pathway. Please see the brief outline below before applying. This information will help guide you on whether your child is ready for our club.
4/5 year olds - water confidence and enthusiasm. Swimmers should feel comfortable floating unaided and be able to follow instructions. A very basic competency or idea of streamline, freestyle and backstroke would be advantageous.
6/7 year olds - confident to try to swim 25m freestyle, backstroke. Ability to kick on front and back, holding a streamline position. Basic understanding of breastroke.
8 year olds - understanding of the terminology used in a swimming training session. Ability to swim 50-100 meter repeats without stopping. Beginning to repeat tumble turns in training and enthusiasm towards learning butterfly.
9/10 year olds - this is the beginning of some of our competitive training squads and swimmers would need to be prepared to commit to the sessions the coaches outline to them. Swimmers should have a good skill base for freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and be committed to continue to work on their butterfly. A strong leg kick is essential.
11/12 year olds - the commitment required increases in line with the demand for good skills across all four strokes, understanding the breakdown of a training session and being able to complete continuous training for 1-1.5 hours.
13/14 year olds - it would be expected that swimmers have completed training sessions at another club or school regularly. Good skills across all four strokes, turns and dives. A competitive desire and experience of racing is essential.
Financial Support
As a result of fundraising activities, the Club is in a position to offer a small number of means-tested bursaries for swimmers in the competitive pathway. If you would like more information please email the Club at [email protected] or download the Bursary Application Form.
