Discovery Squad

NASWPC Discovery Squad is for our youngest members, aged between 4 and 10 years old. The benefit of teaching proper swim technique whilst young is that we can embed the perfect stroke at the earliest opportunity, which enables children to progress seamlessly into our competitive swimming squads without retraining.

Our Discovery Squad consists of 4 teaching groups, each of which has a set criterion (closely aligned to the Swim England Nation Teaching Plan) which swimmers must achieve to progress to the next stage. We assess everyone entering the programme, prior to them joining a class, to identify their current level of skill against our criteria, ensuring they are put in the correct class at the start of their journey to competitive swimming with NASWPC.

Groups 1 and 2 are taught in the shallow end of the main swimming pool. Children are encouraged to progress in a safe environment, taking part in activities which build their water confidence and fundamental movement skills, with the emphasis being learning through fun. Our main objective is to teach stroke technique rather than develop stamina, due to the age of the children.

Groups 3 and 4 are also taught in the main pool, either in the deep end or swimming lengths. Groups 3 and 4 enable swimmers to build their stamina, as they are encouraged to swim greater distances, whilst continuing to develop their stroke technique. On completion of group 4, swimmers will move into the Development Squad.

Our Discovery Squad is designed to develop swimmers into the competitive swimmers of the future, and therefore there is a focus on ensuring that stroke technique is correct. This may differ from other swimming schools your children may have attended and means that they could progress at different rates depending on their individual ability.

Discovery sessions run for half an hour on a Sunday afternoon at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre. If you would like to enquire about your child joining our Discovery Squad please email discovery@naswpc.co.uk

Moving Up and Achievement Badges

When swimmers are ready to move up to the next group an email will be sent to the parent’s email address that we have on record, advising them that their child is ready to move up, providing a start date for the new group and their new teachers details. You will also be advised on how to purchase a group completion badge and certificate for your child.

Competitive Swimming

We hold an annual Ribbon Gala for our Discovery squad swimmers. This fun gala is designed to introduce swimmers to competitive swimming in a enjoyable and non-pressured environment where the only expectation is that the swimmers have fun. All Discovery Squad swimmers are encouraged to enter regardless of level as there are races to meet all abilities.

Kit

When swimming with NASWPC, male swimmers must wear tight-fitting swim trunks/Jammers and female swimmers must wear a one-piece swimming costume. All swimmers must wear a swimming hat during their lessons. Goggles are optional, although it is important that children learn to swim with and without them.

If you would like to buy club branded kit please go to our club shop page.

Teachers and Helpers

We are lucky to have a dedicated team of Swim England qualified teachers and coaches, plus helpers who work with the children to provide high quality tuition. All our teachers and helpers are volunteers (with the majority also being club swimmers) who are passionate about the success of the club.