Project sparks swimming boom in Thames Valley District
Summary
Swimming club membership in the Thames Valley District has been transformed with participation numbers more than doubling in one year.
Between 06/07 and 07/08 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.
Christine 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.
Updated | 08 Dec 2008.
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