Amateur Swimming Association
Encyclopedia
History
It was the first Governing Body of swimming to be established in the world and today remains the English national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, open water, and synchronised swimming.Although the ASA has a long history, it has moved on considerably since its foundation and is now a vibrant modern governing body providing leadership to the industry of swimming many ways.
It was registered as a company on 18 May 1982.
It moved to SportPark at Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
in April 2010, along with British Swimming, close to the A512
A512 road
The A512 is an A road entirely in Leicestershire, UK. It links the primary destination of Loughborough with the M1, A42 road, and the town of Ashby de la Zouch....
and junction 23 of the M1
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
. It had previously been at Harold Fern
Harold Fern
Harold Fern was the British president of swimming's world governing body, FINA from 1936 – 1948. He was a member of the British Olympic Association.-References:*...
House in the town.
Rebranding
The ASA underwent a rebranding exercise in 2008 including a new logo and name of the asa. After negative reaction the logo was retained but the organisation returned to using The ASA in text form.Clubs
The ASA supports over 1,200 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/and sub-regional structure. It endeavours to ensure every athlete, regardless of age or experience, belongs to a club that provides the best possible support and environment. The ASA has introduced a Quality Mark for clubs.Competitions
The ASA organises competitions throughout England, from grass-roots to elite level. The Age Group and Youth Championships are aimed at younger swimmers aged between 11 and 17 years and can attract more than 1,600 participants, while the ASA Nationals are aimed at the elite swimmers.The ASA also organizes the English talent programme that puts in place performance opportunities for swimmers to develop their skills and potential.
Participation
The ASA operates a Learn to Swim award scheme based on the National Plan for Teaching Swimming, a programme the ASA has developed to take children through from their first splash to full competence in the water. In 2009, close to 2 million certificates and badges were issued to children all over the world.The ASA is not a provider of swimming facilities, therefore it acts as a catalyst and facilitator to ensure suitable facilities, with appropriate access and programmes, are provided to meet the needs of the community and aquatic clubs.
A pioneering educator
The ASA operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for teachers, coaches and officials. It has created the UK Coaching Framework and e-learning programmes, designed to ensure the ASA has an appropriately skilled workforce for the whole swimming industry. Its education is provided by its Institute of SwimmingInstitute of Swimming
The Institute of Swimming is a swimming educational organisation based in Loughborough, Leicestershire.-History:It was known as the Institute of Swimming Teachers and Coaches , and was based on Granby Street in Loughborough town centre, and previous to that in the 1990s on Forest Road at Dawson...
The future
The ASA’s Strategy 2009-2013 sets out the objectives of the ASA. In particular the ASA has identified four objectives:- Ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn to swim.
- Offer everyone the opportunity to enjoy swimming or water-based fitness activities for health and fun throughout their lifetime.
- Ensure everyone achieves their different personal health goals throughout their lifetime.
- Ensure the nation achieves gold medal success on the world stage.
Structure
As well as being a governing body, the ASA also operates several subsidiary companies.The ASA's income for the year to 31 March 2009 was £11.4 million, its largest sources of income being government grants (e.g. from Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
) and revenue from its swimming award scheme.
Affiliations
The ASA is closely linked with British SwimmingBritish Swimming (organisation)
British Swimming is the national governing body of swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and open water in Great Britain. British Swimming is a federation of the national governing bodies of England , Scotland , and Wales...
, a federation of the national governing bodies of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(Scottish Amateur Swimming Association
Scottish Swimming
Scottish Swimming, also known as the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association , is the national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming in Scotland...
), and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(Welsh Amateur Swimming Association
Swim Wales
Swim Wales is the national governing body of diving, swimming and water polo, in Wales...
) with responsibility for swimming, synchronised swimming,diving, water polo and open water. These three are collectively known as the Home Country National Governing Bodies.
Regions
The ASA is split into 8 regions:- Swim North East
- Swim NorthWest
- West Midland Swimming
- ASA East Midland Region
- ASA East
- Swim West
- London Swimming
- ASA South East Region
Swimming championships
The ASA National Swimming Championships (50 m) are usually held in July or August each year, and act as selection trials for upcoming international level competitions due to be held later in the summer season.| Year | Dates | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | ?? May–?? June | Coventry Coventry Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although... |
Commonwealth Games trials |
| 1987 | 29 July–2 August | Crystal Palace Crystal Palace National Sports Centre The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was... |
European Championships trials |
| 1988 | 27–31 July | International Pool Leeds International Pool The Leeds International Pool often referred to as the LIP, was a swimming facility in Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire, England. The Pool was situated at the lower end of Westgate and was notable for its brutalist architecture... , Leeds Leeds Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial... |
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| 1989 | 12–16 July | Coventry Coventry Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although... |
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| 1990 | 26–29 July | Crystal Palace Crystal Palace National Sports Centre The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was... |
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| 1991 | 1–4 August | International Pool Leeds International Pool The Leeds International Pool often referred to as the LIP, was a swimming facility in Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire, England. The Pool was situated at the lower end of Westgate and was notable for its brutalist architecture... , Leeds Leeds Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial... |
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| 1992 | |||
| 1993 | 10–13 June | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
European Championships trials |
| 1994 | 28–31 July | Crystal Palace Crystal Palace National Sports Centre The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was... |
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| 1995 | ??–23 July | Coventry Coventry Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although... |
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| 1996 | ??–?? July | International Pool Leeds International Pool The Leeds International Pool often referred to as the LIP, was a swimming facility in Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire, England. The Pool was situated at the lower end of Westgate and was notable for its brutalist architecture... , Leeds Leeds Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial... |
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| 1997 | ??–?? July | Crystal Palace Crystal Palace National Sports Centre The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was... |
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| 1998 | ??–?? July | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
Commonwealth Games trials |
| 1999 | ??–?? July | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
European Championships trials |
| 2000 | ??–?? July | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
Olympic trials |
| 2001 | |||
| 2002 | 28–30 June | Coventry Coventry Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although... |
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| 2003 | 18–20 March | Aquatics Centre Manchester Aquatics Centre The Manchester Aquatics Centre is a public aquatics sports facility south of the centre of Manchester, England, north of the main buildings of the University of Manchester, and near the Manchester Metropolitan University. It was purpose–built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and cost £32 million to... , Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
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| 2004 | 16–18 July | Aquatics Centre Manchester Aquatics Centre The Manchester Aquatics Centre is a public aquatics sports facility south of the centre of Manchester, England, north of the main buildings of the University of Manchester, and near the Manchester Metropolitan University. It was purpose–built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and cost £32 million to... , Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
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| 2005 | 4–9 August | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
Commonwealth Games Trials |
| 2006 | 1–6 August | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
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| 2007 | 27 July–1 August | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
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| 2008 | 10–13 July | Picton Pool, Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... |
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| 2009 | 28 July–1 August | Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
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| 2010 | 18–21 August | TBC | Commonwealth Games selection meet |
| 2011 | 15–18 June | TBC | Final World Championship qualification meet |
| 2012 | 20–23 June | TBC | Final Olympic qualification meet |
Additionally, championships are organised each year for Age Group swimmers (11-14 year old boys and 11-13 year old girls), Youth swimmers (15-18 year old boys and 14-18 year old girls) and Masters (age 25 years old plus).