About the club...
Merton Pisces Swimming Club provides swimming coaching for
children in Merton, Sutton and the
surrounding areas of South West
London. The club offers a guided age-group youth programme for
children aged 4 years and upwards, from the child who is just
beginning to swim to the most competitive and skilled swimmer.
The swimming club is run purely to help teach children to swim and the fees are only to cover the cost of the pool and not to make money. The swimming club currently has over 125 members and is steadily growing. This is a plan of how swimmers progress to different lessons: (Note this plan is currently being updated.)
The object of the Swimming club is to get the Swimmers up to there individual ability.
Swimming Standards
The swimming club has two standards. The white hats are below bronze standard and the green hats are above bronze, silver, gold and Platinum standards. (White hats swim on Tuesday 5-30 till 6-30 and Friday at 7-30 till 8-30. The green hats swim Tuesday and Thursday at Wimbledon college 7-30 till 9pm and Friday 7-30 till 9pm.) Click Here for the times swimmers have to reach to achieve bronze, silver and gold standards. We also offer swimming on Saturday and Sunday between 3-4:30 for the more advanced swimmers (those that have achieved bronze standard). These lessons are more focussed because the group is normally smaller. If you would like to join these extra lessons please ring Harry to check that the lesson is on, these lessons are not always on because they are only extra. It only costs £2 per extra lesson you take which is to cover the cost of the lane hire. Back to Top.
About the Head Coach
Written By
James, a parent of a club member: "Harry left his
previous swimming club to start Merton Pisces Swimming Club nearly
30 years ago in 1979 because he felt that the club were only interested
in supporting their best swimmers.
Harry made it
his aim to encourage all his club members, regardless of
their ability and to find ways for them to enjoy learning to swim
and also improve in the process.
The Club
was
rather different to the usual swimming club in others ways too; by
organising social events such as outings at weekends and by taking them
on a week’s holiday to the Isle of Wight once a year it enabled the
members to form friendships and made them feel part of a swimming
community. This also had the added effect of improving their
performances because they felt part of a team.
The club has
always had its own coach, which Harry, being a professional coach
driver, would drive to club events himself, and in doing so made the
trips affordable to all club members and their families.
Harry has always
run his club on an entirely voluntary basis, giving all his teaching
time, doing the administration and coach driving for free.
Even after
nearly 30 years, Harry is as passionate now as he always has been
about running the club and keeping to its founding principles of
equality and affordability.
Harry has passed
on some his enthusiasm to his family, who help out in running the
club such as his Grandson, Daniel
who is a enthusiastic club member who has been given an achievement
award for building the clubs new improved website. If you log on the
site there are letters from former club members stating how the club
has helped them as they progressed to adulthood.
Swimmers Responsibilities
Swimmers should pay attention to the lesson and try hard. They should not try to disrupt the lessons as this could interfere with the training of other swimmers. When representing the club (e.g. a gala) swimmers should set a good example to other swimmers of how to behave in a sensible way. Back to Top.
Parents Responsibilities
Parents should try and advise the coach if their swimmer cannot participate for a certain reason when selected for a gala. This will let other swimmers have an opportunity. Also parents should encourage their swimmers and make sure they take the coaches advice.
Swimmers need to arrive on time and parents should make sure that
they behave in a good manner. If swimmers fees are not paid we
regret we will have no alternative but to exclude swimmers from the
water. If you have a genuine difficulty paying fees, please do not
hesitate to speak to a member of staff who will be happy to discuss
this in confidence.
Parents should also feel free to approach any of the staff and ask any questions or anything they feel is appropriate (e.g. Swimmer feels uncomfortable) and the executive will try to sort this out. Back to Top.
Coaches Responsibilities
Coaches will start all sessions on time and will give you at
least 2 weeks notice for a gala or an event. If some swimmers are
disruptive then the coaches may ask them to leave the swimming pool
and sit out and wait for the end of the session once dressed.
Coaches will not allow swimmers out of the pool area unless there has been an arrangement due to an event. Swimmers are allowed to go toilet when they need to.
Coaches will make time to discuss coaching/swimming issues with parents and swimmers. The coaches will endeavour to provide parents with regular updates on their child's progress and advise on any swimming related problems.
Minibus - Pick up and drop of swimmers!
Merton
Pisces swimming club is offering a pick up and drop of service with
its mini bus! We do a service from Morden to Wimbledon college on
Tuesdays and Thursdays and return to the top of there roads. Click
the image for a bigger picture.