CLUB HANDBOOK

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CLUB

Killerwhales Swim Club of Havering was founded in late 1976; the prime object was the coaching of competitive swimmers.  In short an elitist club!

We have many hours of pool time available to us and keep our individual squad numbers at a level that allows the coaches to maximise the potential of the individual swimmers.

Killerwhales is not only an elite club, it also teaches its own future stars in the Learn to Swim, Development and Super Group sections.  These classes are held throughout the local area.  The system used in The A.S.A. National Teaching Plan, which is a NATIONWIDE scheme and it is this scheme that produces most of our squad swimmers.

The club has excelled at all ranges of ability from non-swimmer to Olympiad.

It has produced, on average, one new international per year, with members representing PARALYMPICS, COMMONWEALTH GAMES, EUROPEAN JUNIOR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS and EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPICS alongside many INTERNATIONAL MEETS.

The club has won many honours including NATIONAL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP CLUB TITLE, SOUTHERN COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP CLUB TITLE, ESSEX COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP CLUB TITLE and numerous other titles at meets up and down the country.

Although the club has undergone a number of changes over the years the objective remains the same.

“In everything the pursuit of excellence”.

Killerwhales has always been one of the smallest competitive Clubs in the country, with its belief in quality and not quantity.  This coupled with our willingness to face the much bigger city Clubs has given its members the determination to succeed.

The future looks exciting with motivated, quality swimmers backed by experienced coaching staff and a firm club structure, Killerwhales will continue to move through the new millennium with confidence.

Killerwhales Swim Club is committed to treat everyone equally within the context of our activities, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or political persuasion.

The Club will ensure that equity as stated in the club rules is incorporated into all aspects of its activities.

The Club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and abuse.

All club members have a responsibility to challenge discriminatory behaviour and to promote equality of opportunity.

The Club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to the club disciplinary procedures.

The Club is aware of the Data Protection Act of 1984 and will endeavour to protect all confidential information concerning Club members.

All information obtained from members will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The Club uniform consists of:

        Killerwhale Track Suit

        Killerwhale Polo Shirt

        Killerwhale “Hoodie”

        Navy Short

        Plain black costume/trunk

        Killerwhale Swimming Hat

CORRECT UNIFORM MUST BE WORN AT ALL COMPETITIONS. DURING PRESENTATION CEREMONIES SWIMMERS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR THEIR KILLERWHALE TRACKSUITS.

Swimmers in breach of this rule may be withdrawn from races and omitted from future events.

The club uniform along with all your swimming needs is available from the Killerwhales Swim Shop on Saturday mornings at Central Park Pool and Monday evenings at Harrow Lodge Pool.

All swimmers representing the club at competitive events shall be under the control of the coach or team manager and shall behave in an orderly and disciplined manner at all times.

It is expected that all swimmers would stay and support their fellow swimmers until the final Killerwhale presentation has taken place.

No swimmers are allowed to leave the poolside at competitions, without the coach’s permission.

Non official parents are not allowed on poolside.  All communication with meet officials must be through the coach or team manager.

When the club arranges team travel all members of the team shall participate in both outward and homeward journeys.  Private arrangements may only be completed with the approval of the coach and Team manager

Where a seat has been reserved for a swimmer they are liable for payment.

When team travel is arranged by the club the team manager is responsible for travel arrangements and accommodation.  Whilst the team manager may book the hotels he/she is not responsible for swimmers whilst there. When staying in hotels, swimmers must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The coach will not be responsible for swimmers at away meets once the swimming session has ended.

The club holds an AGM each November where members are invited to stand for Election to the Executive Committee.  Any member may be nominated providing they have been members of the club for one year.

Each year senior members have the opportunity to sit A.S.A. official’s exams.  By gaining these qualifications members can contribute to the quality of the club’s own events and, if they desire, to the running of external meets and championships.  If you are interested in becoming an official, please see the club secretary.

Through its social sub-committee, the club organises a number of events designed to bring the membership together. These events are invaluable sources of fund-raising.  Anyone wishing to help with the social events should contact the Supporters Club Chairperson.

The family of each swimmer is obliged to contribute time and/or effort to fund-raising, administration or other activities in support of the aims of the club and in order to keep the fees at a reasonable level.

Swimmers are liable for any entry fees due in connection with entries into competition.

Each swimmer has a gala account, which must be kept with a balance of at least £20 credit at all times.

The Treasurer supplies regular statements of account, which are handed to parents as a permanent record.

All swimmers who are eligible for competitions must pay a fee to the Amateur Swimming Association.  These are payable to the Membership Secretary in March of each year.

The Squad Coaches, where possible, produce a list of proposed competitions at the beginning of each swimming session.  A copy of this is displayed on the notice boards but it is only a rough guide and liable to change as competitions are cancelled or added to as the season progresses.  Each coach enters his/her swimmers for appropriate meets.  Entries can be submitted up to six weeks in advance to competitions.  It is the responsibility of the swimmer/parent to inform the coach and competition secretary, in writing, of any dates they are unavailable to swim at least 6 weeks prior to the event taking place. Once entries have been submitted no refunds are payable.

Promotion and demotions are subject to a period of probation and are not subject to Executive appeal.  The objective of each squad is to create an environment in which the swimmer can achieve their full potential.  Each squad has specific rules to which the swimmer must abide.

Our Learn to Swim Programme is the main source of new squad members.  Swimmers may be invited to join the squad at a minimum age of 6 years, providing they have achieved Level 12 of the National Teaching Plan and hold the A.S.A. Competitive Start Award.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION - All swimming members pay an annual non-returnable subscription payable by the 1st December each year. This is £25 for the first swimmer of the family and £15 for each subsequent swimmer. Swimmers joining after May will be required to pay 50% of the subscription fee.

SQUAD FEES - Fees are calculated on an annual rate and divided into monthly payments. Payment is by monthly standing order and we will need you to fill in a mandate form, which is available from the Treasurer, Membership Secretary or the Chairman.

Swimmers who have not paid their fees will not be allowed to train.

The Club strives to produce a newsletter periodically, which is distributed free of charge to all members.  The magazine contains various topics including gala news, recipes, coaches reports etc.  Contributions to the Newsletter are encouraged and welcomed from all members.

The club is totally Self-Financing although the club has received on occasions donations of equipment and medals.  The bulk of the club’s income however comes from membership subscriptions and swimming fees.  We currently receive no income from outside sources but are actively seeking sponsorship.  If you have any ideas, please see a member of the Executive Committee.

The club has a disciplinary sub-committee.

Grievances of a swimming nature should be dealt with in the first instance by the respective squad coach.  The coach or team manager has the right to suspend any member immediately for a breach of discipline for 48 hours.  The Chief Coach has the right to extend the suspension for a further 48 hours after which, if there has been no resolution the case will be passed on to the club’s Disciplinary Committee.

Killerwhales Swim Club is dedicated to Child Protection and will adhere to the Procedures and Guidelines set by the Amateur Swimming Association. A Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct will be published for the information of all.

A member of the Club will be the nominated Child Protection Officer, who will ensure that the Procedures and Guidelines are implemented properly, so that safeguards are offered to everyone involved in swimming.

Child Protection is everyone’s responsibility we all have a part to play. The Child’s Welfare is the first consideration. All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity have a right to be protected from abuse.

Any parent wishing their child to travel without them must sign a disclaimer form transferring parental responsibility to a named adult who must also sign the acceptance of responsibility portion of the same form. These forms are available from the Membership Secretary.

If you have any worries or concerns of a Child Protection nature please inform a member of the Committee or phone Swimline on 0800 100 4001 or the NSPCC HELPLINE on 0800 800 500. 

Coaching is organised on a squad basis.  Membership to each squad is by invitation determined by a number of factors:

Mental maturity – the ability to cope with the requirement of the squad as assessed by the coaches.

Age – the workload of each squad is programmed as appropriate to the swimmers age.

Training quality – to progress a swimmer must be easily able to cope with the existing workload.