A new club squads structure
To Parents, Guardians and Carers of all GAW Athletes
For some considerable time, we have been working towards improving the potential for the
Club’s athletic performance whilst ensuring we also improve sustainability in administrative
terms. We are now able to do this and a few changes will be implemented in January 2017.
Change is never easy to implement or accept and I acknowledge that some individuals and
families will be affected more than others. The changes, however are essential if we are to
continue to increase our levels of competitive success whilst driving forward as a sustainable
and supportable organisation. Your Club Committee discussed the arrangements last week,
accepted the proposals and agreed to implement the changes with effect from Tuesday 3rd
January 2017.
The intention with these changes is to build upon some amazing performances and successes,
both from hugely talented individuals but also from the Club as a team. Our representative
footprint at championships, County, Regional, Scottish and English or ASA National levels has
increased dramatically, and given the right environment to develop in, the signs are great for
our swimmers in the future.
Your Representatives have all the administrative information you will need, such as new
swimming groups, fees and swimming times and you coaches stand ready to answer any
questions or concerns you have from a coaching perspective. The major changes are as
follows:
• A new swimming group structure will be implemented which will require some
individuals to move between swimming groups. Coaches and Reps will inform all
athletes as required (below).
• There will be considerably more flexibility for the movement of athletes between
swimming groups to match individual performance, ability and potential
• New swimming times will be implemented from 3rd January 2017. These times have
been agreed with GMBC and fit into the Borough’s aquatics development plan
alongside all other clubs (below).
Squad training schedules 3rd Jan 2017 onwards
• Fees for over half of Club members will not change and those members being
promoted would have experienced similar changes under the current system. The
other changes that are required now and effective from 3rd are calculated to bring
those members back into a fair parity with other areas of the Club. Fees will of course
remain under review and susceptible to external influence.
• More swimming time will be available to many Club members.
• There will be no planned sessions on Sundays across the whole Club, recovering many
lost hours due to competitions and galas and freeing up valuable family time.
• Coaches of swimming groups will undertake to provide individual feedback on
progress and potential on a six-monthly basis and, exceptionally as required.
The Head Coach and I firmly believe that these changes will present the greatest opportunity
for us as a Club to progress competitively long into the future and see Gateshead and
Whickham ASC firmly as the most progressive swimming club in the North-East region. I hope
we can rely upon your support and understanding to ease the implementation and ‘beddingin’
of the changes and that we can all watch the progression of all our children with great
pride.
I’m really excited about these changes and believe that 2017 will be a year of even greater
success for the Club and the people that matter most:
Our swimmers!
Thank you
Andy Strickland
Club Chairman
