Swimming in the UK

In recent years competitive swimming has become incredibly popular in the UK. This is due in part to the success of the national swim teams in competitions like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, and in part because of the push to improve the health of children and adults alike. Competitive swimming can be a great way to make new friends, push your boundaries, and accomplish feats you never thought possible. Even if you don’t think you’re a ‘good’ swimmer, joining a swim club will give you the opportunity to have training from some of the best coaches around and will also inspire you to improve not only physically but mentally as well.

One of the most common traits of any swimming club or competitive swimming team is dedication. Often the training involved in competitive swimming is intense and repetitive, encompassing miles upon miles of laps being swum in various strokes. It may also include weight training and dietary monitoring. Of course the benefits tend to outweigh the challenges – not only do you look and feel a lot fitter, but if you are good enough you can compete in the high profile championships, possibly entering the elite level of swimming and picking up sponsorship deals and prize monies!

If you are interested in signing your child up for a swim team, you may need to make sure you have a few mornings or afternoons free each week – swim clubs usually meet before or after school. Most charge a small fee to pay for the time of the coach, but otherwise are quite low maintenance. It is of course a lot easier for children to start competitive training and swimming than it is for adults, so it’s good to get your kids in early.

The UK also holds many surf life saving competitions for children of all ages to compete in and improve their swimming from an early age. The UK's coastal beaches vary in size so some life saving competitions are larger and more recognised than others, such as those held in Cornwall. Smaller, more locally recognised teams such as Poppit sands surf life saving club, along the Welsh coastline in Cardigan Bay is one of many in the area. There are many teams to join throughout the UK so if you would like your children to improve their swimming and confidence in the water then get them out there from an early age.