Swim 21 is the ASA's Club Development model - a planning tool, based on the principles of Long Term Athlete Development, enabling clubs to help athletes, teachers, coaches and administrators to achieve their full potential. It focuses particularly on the needs of athletes - striving to provide them with the best possible support and environment.

Swim 21 Accreditation is a 'Quality mark'. It recognises nationally and regionally the clubs that are committed to providing safe, effective and quality services for the benefit of their members.

Clubs work steadily towards the attainment of a series of outcomes all of which are seen as essential if the right level of support is to be provided at each stage of an athlete's development.

Swim 21 Accreditation is available to ASA clubs of all aquatic disciplines that are positioned at one or more of the four levels of:

• Teaching
• Skill Development
• Competitive Development
• Performance

The ASA has a commitment to achieving its equity targets throughout the sport. Swim 21 is no different and the Association is keen to support clubs in the shared objective of widening the participation base and hence the performance of the sport as a whole.

Both Thornbury and Stroud were Swim 21 accredited before the merger, but have to be newly accredited as Tritons. Fortunately because both clubs were being managed and coached along the lines of Swim 21 principles we were able to complete this process relatively quickly.

The Regional Panel agreed that the Club should be accredited in February 2010 at Teaching, Skill Development and at Integrated Masters level. The Club has also satisfied the majority of elements to become accredited at Competitive Development level. The National Panel confirmed this in March which means that within only a matter of months of being formed, the Club achieved something it has taken other clubs years to achieve. The Club will accredit fully at Competitive Development level but as it is already operating along the Swim 21 lines at this level, swimmers and parents can be assured that best practice is being followed. Head Coach Malcolm Casey has the best track record within the County at Competitive Development level established over many years.

This will give swimmers the opportunity of moving from a learn to swim provision through skill development and on to competing at a high level within one Club.

“Every swimmer deserves quality teaching and coaching, whether they’re starting out in learn to swim or school swimming or progressing through the club system. I swam for many years at a club that has swim21 accreditation and that’s why I’m delighted to support the swim21 scheme.”

Joanne Jackson, bronze Olympic medalist