It is vital that early contact is made with Local Clubs AND Local Swim Schemes and Schools, so that the programme of events and the following notes can be circulated and studied. It needs to be understood that for many swimmers, some kind of preparation for the event will be necessary.

In the process, it is hoped that partnership links between Schools, Clubs and Centre-based swimming schemes will be improved and strengthened.
Where the effort was made and these things were achieved last year, there was also very strong support and endorsement for the value of the process reported, from Coaches, Parents and swimmers.

• The FORMAT provides clubs, schools and swim schemes with opportunities to review their policies and provision for the DEVELOPMENT and PREPARATION OF SWIMMERS within a number of contexts. These include : An Introduction to the rules and the competitive ethos of the Sport, ‘exit routes’, ‘Player pathways’ and Talent ID
• It is SKILLS BASED with ample scope for emphasis upon DEVELOPING SKILLS and STROKE TECHNIQUE
• It explores aspects of the current debate about what ‘counts’ as APPROPRIATE COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES for athletes and swimmers at different developmental stages.
• It builds upon the ENJOYABLE and FUNdamental Participation base from which swimmers start out - with elements that also link progressively to an environment in which the training of specific swimming skills can take place.

Guidance notes

• Swimmers suitable for the event may be characterised as those who are at the stage of developing and beginning to Improve all Four Strokes.
• They will typically be found in Pre- Squad, Early or Second ‘B/C‘string’ Competitive groups in clubs and will probably not have represented their club in competitions or had very few selections to represent.
• Where there are quality, structured and progressive Learn to Swim Schemes - with good Swimmer: Coach ratios - eligible Swimmers may be found at the ‘top end’ of such programmes. They may have already participated in an Active Sports Festival or Local Development Camp.
• Many of the events are derived from tried and tested skill development practices and so could be easily incorporated into club programmes or LTS Schemes prior to ‘trials’ or selection for the Youth Games.
• It is hoped that by considering the requirements for the events, in good time, the ‘content’ and practices being used by coaches and teachers with these groups, can be adjusted or fine tuned to accommodate the needs of swimmers who might be eligible.
• The Active Sport Local Development Camp and Festival, “extension of opportunity” programme may be linked to the preparation and selection of swimmers.
• Events such as the ‘Pursuit’ are not only more fun when practised many times, prior to the event, but practice actually contributes significantly to improved performance times on the day. As well as also being a useful ‘tool’ to develop Endurance and Holding Technique-over-distance elements of a swimmer’s development programme.

• 2003 Western Counties Youth Games Swimming Event links to Active Sport Stages 2 and 3, and to the ASA Swim 21 Teaching and Skills Development Club programmes. It also links to the ASA National Plan for Swimming.

It therefore ‘sits’ below Stage Four.. [Stage Four makes training and development provision for Swimmers who do not have an individual qualifying time for District ASA Age Group Competitions]

• Those who are neither familiar with, nor implementing Active Sports Swimming or the National Teaching Plan should try to obtain information about the content of the Advanced Two and Pre-Competitive Modules.