Be familiar with and follow the required procedures in the document, Swim Ireland rules and Regional and Club rules
Carry out your duties and responsibilities understanding that the welfare of children is paramount
Where relevant you should be qualified for your position and have obtained up-to-date knowledge and skills as required by Swim Ireland
Create a safe and enjoyable environment for children by:
Planning and preparing appropriately and be positive during sessions
Making sure all levels of participation should be enjoyable and fun,
Prioritising skill development and personal satisfaction over highly structured competition.
Setting age appropriate and realistic goals
Avoiding favouritism – each child will need attention according to their sporting needs
Praising and encouraging effort as well as results
Showing respect for all involved, children and adults
Recognise and ensure the welfare of children by:
Keeping attendance records
Not exposing a child to criticism, hostility or sarcasm
Never swearing at, ridiculing, shouting unnecessarily or arguing with a child
Being aware of a child’s developmental needs and how a child may be psychologically or physically affected (if relevant for your role)
Working in an open environment
Ensuring there is adequate supervision
Involving and updating parents, especially if a problem has arisen
Respecting a child’s sensitivity to their height and weight
Never using physical punishment or force
Not using verbal or physical punishments or exclusion for mistakes
Do not allow or engage in bullying behaviour, rough physical games, sexually provocative games, never allow or engage in inappropriate physical contact of any kind or make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child
Co-operate with the recommendations from medical and ancillary practitioners in the management of a child’s medical or related problems. You may request a certificate of medical fitness to ensure safe continued participation
Avoid carrying out any medical testing or giving advice of a personal or medical nature if not qualified to do so or undertake any form of therapy (hypnosis etc.) in the training of children. Any such activity, if qualified, must only be with parent/guardian consent and the understanding of the child
Keep any information in relation to a swimmer of a personal or medical nature strictly confidential unless the welfare of the child requires the passing on of this information.
Never exert undue influence over a participant in order to obtain personal benefit or reward.
Acknowledge the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco is incompatible with a healthy approach to sporting activity and must be discouraged. Avoid the use of alcohol at all times whilst responsible for young people e.g. training sessions, events and on trips with young people
Upcoming Events
Wednesday 18 December 2019
Christmas Fun Night
Fun night will be held on Wednesday 18 December 2019, as follows:-
Big Pool (Dolphins, Sharks and coloured squads) 6.30pm to 8.30pm)
Small Pool (Angelfish, Starfish and Goldfish) 6.30pm to 7.30pm
The prize draw for our Christmas Hampers will be held at the fun night where we will also be serving mulled wine and mince pies from 6.45pm!! We will also have donation tins available that evening for Club equipment and again we appreciate your support! Please be sure to come along and join us in some Christmas Cheer while the kids are having a splash and dive!!!
This gala is a Level 3 Meet for entry to Irish Open Long Course Championships in April. This gala takes place in the 50m pool and there are 50m, 100m and 200m events and is therefore suitable for Red squad and up. Entries for above must be emailed to portadownasc@gmail.com (please ensure you include gala title in subject line of email and mark FAO Paula), closing date Monday 6 January 2020. Entry cost is £5 per event payable at the Club Desk.
Further information on this gala can be found at the club desk or on Swim Ulster website.
This gala is for younger swimmers aged 9 to 13 and is suitable for Yellow to Red squad swimmers. Entries for above must be emailed to portadownasc@gmail.com (please ensure you include gala title in subject line of email and mark FAO Paula), closing date Wednesday 27 November 2019. Entry cost is £5 per event payable at the Club Desk.
Further information on this gala can be found at the club desk or on Swim Ulster website.
Development Meet 2 – Orchard Leisure Centre, Armagh
Entries for above must be emailed to portadownasc@gmail.com (please ensure you include gala title in subject line of email and mark FAO Paula), closing date Wednesday 20 November 2019. Please note swimmers can enter 4 strokes in this gala.
Further information on this gala can be found at the club desk or on Swim Ulster website.
We have free tickets to give away to an amazing American Ice Hockey tournament – Friendship Four. This is a game between two American University teams, many of these players go on to play for the Belfast Giants and NHL! This is an excellent opportunity to see these players before they make it big! Grab these tickets quick and be the first to say ‘I saw him before he was famous’!!!
WHERE:- The SSE Arena Belfast
WHEN:- 29 November 2019, doors open 6pm, match 7pm
HOW:- Tickets will be allocated to swimmers on a first come, first served basis and there will be a max of 2 per swimmer. Please collect your tickets from the desk on Wednesday.
Good luck also to our PTL Team who will be competing against Coleraine on Saturday night. Please check the list and confirm your attendance at the Club Desk on Wednesday night.
The bus will leave Cascades at 3pm SHARP for a 5.15pm warm-up. The bus will return to Cascades at approx 10.30pm, please confirm on sheet at desk if travelling by bus.
Even though we are away we will still require parent volunteers to help out poolside with timekeeping, so we appreciate your support with this.
Swim Ulster Autumn Blitz – Grove Leisure Centre, Belfast
Good luck to all to the U13 Waterpolo team competing in Swim Ulster Autumn Junior Blitz on Friday night in the Grove in Belfast. Please meet at the main entrance at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start, ensuring to bring club t-shirts.
Keep watch on the swim ulster website for next season’s gala and their annual August summer camp: www.swimulster.net. There’s also useful information on the swim ulster pathway. We’ll post the dates on the club website once we have it, and anything that is new: www.portadownasc.com Most of us are ready to wind down for the summer, but try to keep fit and stay healthy as the new season’s galas will start in September. There’ll are lots of open water swimming opportunities (see page 2) and junior triathlons (Camlough Facebook) coming up. Cascades have a swim camp 1st – 5th July 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm to develop their strokes if they can swim 800m+. There is a Rookie Lifeguard Course for 9-14 years old on 1st – 5th July, 9am – 12pm. ABC have lots of activities on https://getactiveabc.com/summer.With no school, it’s a good time for our young swimmers to read “Behind the Goggles”, which can be bought on www.swimmingexpert.com website. The Swim Ireland team will be competing in International Events over the summer which you should be able to stream form their website / twitter page / you tube. Lots of Swim Ulster swimmers competing!
