About the Club

Horwich Leisure Centre Amateur Swimming Club (or HLCASC) is justly proud of its reputation of one of the best swimming clubs in the North West. We are primarily a competitive swimming club and as such swim in several different local and national swimming leagues for different age groups and standards of swimming. We are keen to encourage any swimmers, regardless of age or ability, and, within the limits of our pool time, try to have training sessions to suit everyone. Our coaches are fully qualified and are dedicated to bring out the maximum potential in each and every swimmer, whether your ambition is to swim in galas, keep fit or just to improve your swimming skills.

The club is run by a committee, comprising a group of parents who have children swimming at the club, who are responsible for the day to day organisation of HLCASC and any decisions or changes that need to be implemented. The committee works closely with the management of Horwich Leisure Centre who take an active interest in the swimming club and give us their full support. All parents are welcome to join in the running of the club, either as helpers at our regular galas or as committee members. The Annual General Meeting is held in November each year and the committee meets regularly on a monthly basis.

Like all sports clubs, we need to raise funds to cover our running costs. We do not receive any of the money that members pay at the Leisure Centre Reception each week when they come to swim and therefore rely on the annual membership, which is currently £20.00. This pays our affiliation fees, insurance, coaching costs etc. We also raise funds through raffles and social events such as the presentation evenings.

Swimming Galas

We encourage ALL our swimmers to enter our own club galas, which are held twice a year in June and November. As well as giving you the opportunity to see how you are progressing compared to other swimmers of the same age, it also helps the coaches and team managers choose the right teams for galas where we compete with other clubs.

We hope that members will make every effort, if selected, to represent the club in the many invitation and league galas we compete in. Under ASA (Amateur swimming Association) rules the minimum age for these galas is 9 years old but, above this there are galas for all age groups and abilities. Team lists for these galas will appear regularly on the Club notice board and it is up to you to keep an eye on this and tick your name off if selected. If for any reason you cannot take part please let the club know as soon as possible as a replacement will have to be found in the correct age group.

As your swimming skills develop, you will also have the opportunity to enter 'open' galas, such as the Bolton & District Age Group Championships, as an individual (although you will still be part of the Horwich team as well!). There is usually an entry fee for each event and you will need to complete an entry form showing the events you want to swim in and the 'personal best' (PB) time you have previously achieved. This allows the gala organisers to make sure that swimmers who have similar times will be in the same race. Slower swimmers will be in the early heats and faster swimmers in the later ones. If you are unsure whether to enter these types of galas or not please speak to any of the coaches or committee members and they will be able advise you which events to enter.

When you get to the level where you are regularly entering galas, it is important that you, or your parents,  keep an up to date record of the times you have achieved for the various strokes and distances. The Time Trials and club galas are a good start for this.

Training

We have three training groups: A, B & C which meet at different times during the week. Click here for training times.

Our youngest swimmers will normally start in C group and are then further graded into different lanes. To be accepted into the club children must already be reasonably advanced and capable of swimming all strokes, probably having taken a basic swimming course elsewhere and having reached the top levels of local authority swim scheme or equivalent. The purpose of C group is to develop the correct style for each stroke. They will also learn basic 'start and turn' technique, use of the clock and lane etiquette. Initial assessments are held on the first Friday of the month, thereafter 'time trials' will be held every 10 weeks or so to reassess the whole of the groups and determine whether swimmers should change lanes or move to B or A group.

Swimming Rules & Etiquette

Swimmers in C group will be taught the basic rules of competitive swimming and training etiquette. Normally swimmers in each lane will be of a similar overall standard but, of course, each swimmer will have stronger and weaker strokes. Training consists of a number of 'sets', which comprise one or a mixture of different strokes. Swimmers will follow each other at intervals of 5-10 seconds as instructed. The rule is that, if the swimmer in front is caught by the one behind they must let them pass until each swimmer has found their correct position for that 'set'. In other words, the fastest swimmers go first. 

Our sessions are very popular and it is important that you obey the rules of training etiquette and listen carefully to your coach's instructions. Bad behaviour, whether in the pool, changing rooms or at galas will not be tolerated. (please see code of conduct).

We must ask too, that no parents go on poolside at anytime unless asked to by a coach or committee member. If you need to speak to your child please see someone on the club desk who will bring the child to the door.

There is also NO photography allowed.

Club Sessions

All sessions must be paid for at the Leisure Centre Reception. The swimmer will get a hand stamp and will not be allowed to swim unless this is shown on pool side.

Club Fees

These are currently £20.00 per annum with reductions for second and third children.

For children to compete in ASA Galas they must be registered with the ASA. This is currently an additional £18.00 per annum.

 If you have any questions or need further information please see the club desk or contact Liz Trist (Chairman) 01204 695362.