Badge Activities

2007 was a very successful year for Badge activities.  Swimmers had the opportunity 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. 

For the first time we ran a four-week course to train for the Diving Skills Level 2 awards.  This proved very popular; some 30 club members took part and 12 swimmers achieved the Grade 1 standard.  We hope to run a further Diving Skills course and a Personal Survival Course in 2008.  Phill Holpin has run a continuous assessment during the Thursday’s evening swims to assess swimmers for the Preliminary Competitive Start Award. 

Badge testing takes place on Sundays at 4.30 pm and, if deeper water is needed, the tests are carried out at Haberdashers School on a Thursday 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.  

In 2007 BASC swimmers performed exceptionally well in their badge assessments gaining some 114 awards in total.  Full details of all badge successes are posted on the Club’s website.  The provisional timetable for badge assessments in the spring term will be 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. We now have 73 swimmers registered for the scheme.  The club currently has 8 swimmers who have achieved Platinum standard in all disciplines and 14 swimmers at Gold standard;.  A lot of swimmers have achieved Speed Awards in the year and Certificates will be presented at the AGM and Awards evening. 

Well done to all of you.

Jane Willis

Badge Secretary.