Swimming Association activities update

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Swimming Association (SVGASA), in partnership with the Bank of Nova Scotia and LIME is pleased to present an update on recently completed activities and upcoming activities.{{more}}

1. Mustique Charitable Trust Grassroots swimming programme.

The Mustique Charitable Trust has agreed to support our Grassroots Swimming Programme, aimed at disadvantaged youngsters. The programme started at the Shrewsbury Pool on Sunday, September 22, 2013. The programme will touch six communities over a 36-week period, which will be divided into three 12-week sessions. The first two communities to benefit are Rose Place and Layou. Some 25 kids from each community and two trainee coaches will be trained at the national pool facility every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively. The first day was absolutely amazing and it was great to see lots of smiling and hopeful young faces from the communities mentioned above. The public is invited to come to Shrewsbury pool to witness these youths develop through sport.

The point of our Grassroots Programme is to assist in the overall development of young people. Swimming is the vehicle we use to teach discipline and respect. Sport builds character. The Association is clearly making good on its promise to ensure that the Vincentians youths from all walks of life will be a part of this fast growing sport.

We are proud that the Mustique Charitable Trust has seen the benefit that swimming and sport can add to the development of the young people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

2. OECS Swimming Championships.

The SVGASA conducted its official time trials event on the weekend of September 6 to 8 to select the team to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at the OECS Swimming Championships to be held in St Lucia November 8 to 10, 2013. All swimmers had to meet competitive qualifying time standards to be eligible for national team selection. The Association is extremely pleased that three youngsters from Paget Farm in Bequia met the qualifying standards. This is clear evidence that our outreach programme is bearing fruit. The team will comprise approximately 24 swimmers and we will shortly be publicly releasing the names of all swimmers who have been selected to represent their country at this competition.

3. Technical Training for Coaches Programme

The Swimming Association has secured funding through the National Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity to conduct a Technical Training for Coaches programme, to be held in St Vincent. The programme leader will be Rick Powers, who is a very experienced international swim coach. Rick has coached in several countries and conducted numerous clinics on behalf of FINA (the worldwide body that represents aquatics). The programme will be conducted from October 16 to October 27. It is NOT restricted to swim coaches only. The Association has written to the National Sports Council and the Ministry of Education to extend an invitation to Physical Education teachers to participate in this programme. The programme will focus on Physiology of Training and Leadership Skills. It will also have a strong swim component and will be of interest to those who would also like to teach swimming.

Please contact us at svgasa@gmail.com with any queries, comments or suggestions you may have in regard to the above or any swimming matters.