Badge Activities

Badge activities in 2004 at Bushey Swimming Club continued to flourish.  We offer swimmers the chance to be assessed for a range of the Amateur Swimming Association’s award schemes.  The Water Skills Badges (from levels 1 to 6) test the swimmers’ abilities to perform a wide range of different water skills – floating, gliding, surface dives etc.  The Challenge Badges (ranging from Challenge One to Honours) test the performance and stamina of the swimmers.  In addition we encourage the swimmers to try the preliminary diver badge (shallow water skills), and the synchronised swimming skills level one to broaden their experience of different swimming disciplines.  There are badges suitable for our youngest swimmers right up to our oldest ones!

As 2004 was an Olympic year we also organised an assessment evening for the special Olympic Award offered by the ASA which tested speed, style and skills of our swimmers. 

The following swimmers passed the Olympic Award:

I was also pleased that a number of our younger swimmers started working for badges this year.

Badge testing usually takes place on Sundays at 4.30 pm, though if deeper water is needed the tests are carried out at Haberdashers School on a Tuesday evening.  Details of the badge requirements and the assessment waiting list are kept in the badge folder that can always be found on the Club desk when you register on Sundays.  Have a look at this, and if you have any questions about which badges are right for you, do ask your class teacher or me for advice.  Badge assessments are timetabled throughout the term and once you have signed up for a badge you will be told when your test is likely to take place.   Due to price increases by the ASA the cost of certificates and badges will rise in January 2005.

In 2004 Club swimmers performed exceptionally well in their badge assessments.  Some 75 swimmers were assessed and gained 172 awards between them.  Full details of all badge successes are posted on the Club’s website.  The provisional timetable for badge assessments in the spring term is available on the same page.

 We also maintained the Sprint Speed Award Scheme to help swimmers monitor how they are improving their personal best (PB) times in the four different swimming strokes and the individual medley.  Personal record cards are provided and awards are available at Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels.  Times are recorded at galas, club championships and time trials throughout the year.  Swimmers’ PBs can be viewed on the club website on the swimtimes page. At present we have 46 swimmers registered for the scheme.  The club currently has 5 swimmers who have achieved Platinum standard in all disciplines; 11 swimmers at Gold standard; 9 at Silver and 9 at Bronze.  A number of Speed Award Certificates are being presented at the AGM and Awards evening. 

Well done to all of you.

Jane Willis