Welcome to the City of Sunderland ASC (CIC)
We are very pleased to welcome you to our Club. This welcome pack is designed to help answer some of the questions you may have and of course some you didn’t know you needed to ask.
We will try and cover as much as possible, but remember that we are always on hand if you have any questions or concerns.
The City of Sunderland Amateur Swimming Club is a Community Interest Company, registered number: 07792096. We are based at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Stadium Park, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR5 1SU, next to Sunderland AFC Stadium of Light. (Free parking is available in the main Sunderland AFC car park on non-match days).
Contact:
For General Enquiries regarding the club secretary@cityofsunderlandasc.co.uk
Club Introduction.
The City of Sunderland Amateur Swimming Club has a club membership of almost 150 athletes. We are extremely ambitious and have plans to significantly increase our swimming membership.
It is the mission of our club to be inclusive, to promote and encourage every individual to be the best they can be whether that is through competitive or non-competitive swimming in Sunderland. Our aim is to develop our swimmers’ abilities to inspire and empower them to reach their personal potential in and out of the water. We will deliver this through an aligned vision shared by all members of the club, athletes, parents, carers, and all coaches. We want our swimmers to enjoy the sport and to remain swimmers for life.
Our Vision.
To be a sustainable, quality club who provides an inclusive and friendly environment in which everyone is encouraged to reach their full potential.
Our Values.
Club Aims.
- To provide a welcoming, inclusive, and friendly environment, putting in place, where needed, reasonable adjustments to support swimmers and their families. To enable personalisation wherever possible is taken into consideration as we recognise that not one size fits all;
- To encourage teamwork and a team spirit across the whole club and develop a strong sense of sportsmanship between both teammates and other clubs;
- To develop our swimmers to be goal driven, show commitment and take accountability for their development;
- That the club acts in an open and transparent way;
- To enrich all the lives of our swimmers through structure, organisation, and our commitment to them, developing them as swimmers but also socially andemotionally as young people;
- To promote the importance of respect, co-operation and motivation for all members, coaches, parents, and volunteers;
- The club will ensure that all volunteers working within the club are nurtured, progressed, and valued in both ‘professional’ and ‘voluntary’ roles;
- Swimmers’ best interests will be at the centre of our entire decision making, we want to develop and provide a nurturing and inclusive culture within the club regardless of swimmers ability or squad membership.
Code of Conduct.
At all times, we expect athletes and parents to follow the principles outlined in our code of conduct. All athletes and parents will be asked to sign our code of conduct agreement upon registering for membership. Please refer to our club policies page on the website for further details.
Our Parents.
We are incredibly lucky to be so well supported by our patents. We have a club shop selling equipment, club merchandise and sweets. Our parents also volunteer and support our galas. We have timekeepers, judges and parents who generally make sure the swimmers are well cared for. We welcome anyone wishing to get involved with the Club, providing the opportunity to learn new skills and achieve qualifications in areas such as coaching, timekeeping and judging.
Our Squads.
As a club we are passionate to continue to develop and review our club vision. Sunderland ASC wants to ensure there is a clear squad structure and criteria for each squad, allowing swimmers to progress towards their true potential and aspirations. This squad criteria will clearly outline the expectations for each squad.
As swimmers move through the club it’s important for us to ensure that the training programme on both land and in the pool is progressive, ensuring a long-term approach to training is taken. This is particularly important in relation to the growth and development years and skill development. We believe technique and the development of aerobic capacity of swimmers is vital for achieving success, both should be implemented early on in a swimmer’s development and progressively built upon. Consistent attendance at training is the best way to progress both areas however we appreciate that there are times that flexibility is required so although attendance is part of our squad criteria there has been flexibility built into the criteria following the feedback from our members.
You will be assessed on your first visit and will be assigned to the particular squad that is suitable for your skills and experience. Junior Gold is our entry level squad. Based on the three categories of ATTITUDE, ABILITY and ATTENDANCE you will progress through each squad. Attendance is monitored and there is a minimum attendance requirement. Please see your coach or squad manager for further details. You should aim to attend all sessions if possible in order to improve your skills, strength and fitness and this will help you achieve your long term training and performance goals. Discipline is also introduced at this level. This is a vital part of training enabling a sound Athlete, Coach Relationship. Some Athletes are not used to this type of structure, but quickly adapt. This discipline will continue throughout the Athletes journey within the programme.
Each squad will have its own:
- Aims and Objectives – Provides information about what the swimmers can expect to achieve and the ‘training’ they will be undertaking;
- Entry Criteria – Used by the coaching team to help select new swimmers for each squad;
- Commitment Criteria – Training and Competition requirements that swimmers should fulfil to maintain their place in each squad;
- Exit Criteria – Circumstances that result in a swimmer being moved to a different
Other important points to note include:
- Entry Criteria: Swimmers will not be moved automatically if they meet the entry criteria as this is also dependent upon space and numbers in each squad.
- Training Attendance: Minimum attendance is just that therefore all swimmers should aim to attend all appropriate training sessions available to them wherever possible. Minimum attendance is set to ensure the progressive development of all swimmers and to ensure squad spaces are fully utilised. If swimmers consistently fall short of this, they are unlikely to fulfil their long-term potential.
- Competition Attendance: Swimmers are expected to compete regularly at club planned and agreed competitions. These competitions form part of the planned training programme and are progressive. Please ensure swimmers enter the correct competitions, events and follow Coaches competition guidance.
- Age Guidelines: These are guidelines therefore swimmers may be moved prior to the minimum age or may stay in a squad once they’ve exceeded the upper age limit. This is to allow for the development of early and later developers.
- No Movement = No Problem: Not being moved does not indicate a problem or suggest that swimmers are doing anything wrong. It is not a reflection on long-term potential in the sport, squad allocation is based on what is best at present, in the time & space available.
Our Membership System.
We are a competitive development swimming club affiliated with the ASA and for this reason every one of our swimmers is required to join the ASA. Yearly subscriptions are paid annually and cover annual insurance and allows for entry into competitive swimming galas. You will not be allowed to train or compete as part of our Club if your membership and fees are not up to date. In addition we also charge an annual Club membership fee which contributes to the running of our club and pool time costs. All training fees are paid monthly via standing order and vary according to squad membership.
Our membership renewal process begins in December for submission to the ASA in January of each year. You will be issued an ASA membership number upon joining please keep this safe as it is issued once only and you will need your ASA number to enter a competitive gala. For any membership queries please contact our Membership Secretary; membership@cityofsunderlandasc.co.uk
Training.
Athletes are expected to attend as many training sessions as they can. Training sessions consist of swimming and land training. Each squad trains at different times.
As athletes move up through the squads, sessions become more frequent to build upon stamina and technical ability. Current schedules can be found on the website under squads.
Coaching fees are inclusive of all swim sessions and land training. Each squad has a volunteer squad manager who will liaise with the Coach, send out club communications and act as your first point of contact for information.
Please note that parents are not allowed on poolside during sessions as Coaches need to concentrate on the athletes and their safety. If you need to speak to your Coach please take them aside before or after a session where convenient or co-ordinate an appointment via the squad manager.
Please also note that all children under 11 years of age MUST have a parent or guardian available on poolside at all times.
COSASC Athlete Expectations
Training Expectations
- Athletes to arrive on poolside and complete their 5-minute pre pool routine at the start of each session;
- All post pool routines are to be completed at home;
- Athletes should remain suitably dressed during pre-pool stretching;
- Appropriate Club kit should be brought to all training sessions and appropriate footwear should be worn in all land training sessions – goggles, fins, kickboard, pull buoy, swim hat and a drinks bottle. (If the bottle is a standard sip top bottle, please ensure the cap is removed before bringing on poolside as plastic bottle tops are a Health & Safety risk)
- Any missed sessions to be communicated with the squad coach.
All training items can be purchased from the Club shop. The Club shop is on the north balcony at the far end and is open most weekday evenings. The shop stocks equipment and clothing.
Competition Expectations
- Athletes to enter competitions and events as directed by squad coaches;
- Athletes to arrive 30 minutes prior to the warmup start time to complete a group pre pool activity;
- All athletes are to remain on poolside till advised they can leave by their Coach;
- Following completion of races all athletes should swim down as instructed by their Coach;
- Swimmers are responsible for bringing sufficient and appropriate snacks and drinks for the duration of the session;
- Athletes should not leave poolside to visit parents at any point other than during the lunch break.;
- Likewise, parents should not attempt to visit swimmers;
- Athletes should wear full club kit when at competitions and at the presentation of awards;
- Electronic devices should not be used during the racing sessions at the meet. During breaks use of these devices is permitted, or where it is deemed and agreed as a reasonable adjustment.
Illness Protocol
- Parents are advised to seek medical advice to identify illness;
- The swimmer or their parent / guardian should communicate the nature of illness and all affected sessions to the squad coach, who will keep this information in confidence, only sharing what is necessary with other coaching staff;
- Any course of antibiotics should be completed before returning to training.
Injury Protocol
- Parents should seek advice and diagnosis from a qualified professional to identify injury;
- The swimmer or their parent / guardian should communicate the nature of injury and the rehabilitation plan provided by the physio to the squad coach and Strength and conditioning coach, who will keep this information in confidence, only sharing what is necessary with other coaching staff;
- Parents / athletes are free to seek their own physio.
Gala Information.
Northumberland & Durham County Championships
Age Group Championships are normally held over 2 weeks in March. Times are set for these championships and swimmers must prove they have swum faster than the entry times specified.
Attending Galas
Athletes must remember to take the following items to each gala:
- Swimming costumes (minimum of 2 or a fresh suit for each race)
- 2 swimming caps (boys and girls must wear a COSASC Club hat)
- 2 pairs of goggles
- 2 towels
- Club t shirt/tracksuit bottoms & pool shoes and socks (to keep you warm between events)
- Non fizzy drinks, a packed lunch and snacks if the gala lasts all day
- Something to entertain you, like a book, as there can be long periods between races.
NO SWIMMER SHOULD WEAR A HAT AT A GALA HIGHER THAN THEIR ENTITLEMENT, I.E. A NON NATIONAL 
SWIMMER WEARING A RED COLOURED NATIONALS HAT. THESE HATS SHOULD BE WORN WITH PRIDE BY THE SWIMMER WHO EARNED THEM AND SHOULD NOT BE LOANED TO NON NATIONAL SWIMMERS. It is also expected that club swimmers will wear their COSASC hats with pride at all media events.
Packed lunch suggestions try and take healthy food that will boost energy. Pack protein rich foods, such as meat or fish and carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, wholemeal bread and bananas.
Parents please label everything. Items can easily get lost or misplaced especially when athletes have similar equipment and costumes. Please encourage your child to be independent and look after/carry their own equipment as parents are not allowed on poolside or in changing rooms.
Gala Entries.
Competitions are posted on the club website (www.cityofsunderlandasc.co.uk) with an online entry form. Entries and payment must be made on time and entries are per swim (usually between £7 and £10 each) Once the gala organisers have scheduled the events, athletes will be notified on the website if they have been successful to compete.
Warm Up.
At a gala, each swimmer is required to report to the Coach before and after a race. There will be a warm up before each morning and afternoon session, so arrive in plenty of time. The team warms up together – we are a TEAM! Athletes need to be aware of the start time of the warm up session from either the competition details provided by their Coach or usually via the host club website.
Gala Swimming Rules.
There are certain rules for competitive swimming. Breaking these rules can result in disqualification. Your Coach will advise you of these rules during your training sessions. If you are unsure of any aspect of competing at a gala please speak to your Coach.
And Finally
Our Club relies on the generosity of our parents and Coaches. If you can volunteer some time or help with fundraising please contact the secretary or one of the committee members to express your support. We cannot exist as a Club without the help and support of our Volunteers. You can find details of all voluntary roles within the club in the Key roles & Committee section of the club web-site.
For up to date information and forthcoming events please visit the website.