2.1        Constraints:

1.       Pool size

2.       Seasons (pool availability)

3.       Economically sustainable

4.       Limited to the school community (students, siblings and ex students)

2.2        Implied

Wherever applicable, the programs goals and outcomes are aligned with Government guidelines and regulations, the swimmer pathways of Swimming Australia and Swimming NSW, and the recommendations of ACSTA and Lifesaving Australia relating to safety and swimmer welfare.

2.3        General outline

The program is a not-for-profit initiative of LPS P&C.

The program will provide  a range of swimming lessons and training opportunities. The ‘Levels’ are:

1.       Learn to Swim (LTS)

2.       Mini

3.       Junior

4.       Intermediate

5.       Senior

6.       Competition

7.       Elite (NEW)

The program will provide professional coaching and maintain the pool to ensure availability of pool time appropriate for each Level. Some offsite services may be needed from time to time.

The training and teaching for each Level will vary in terms of:

1.       Sessions in the pool each week

a.       LTS – 1-2

b.      Mini – minimum 3

c.       Junior – minimum 3

d.      Intermediate – minimum 3

e.      Senior – minimum 4

f.        Competition – minimum 4

g.       Elite level – minimum 4

h.       Ex-students – minimum 2

Adult squads will also be offered when they do not affect the outcomes of the LTS to Elite programs.

2.       Duration of the season:

a.       LTS – 1: Summer including holiday swimming

b.      Mini –  Summer including holiday swimming + shoulder

c.       Junior – Summer including holiday swimming + shoulder

d.      Intermediate – Summer including holiday swimming + shoulder

e.      Senior – Summer including holiday swimming + shoulder, Winter off site optional

f.        Competition – Summer including holiday swimming + shoulder, Winter off site

g.       Elite level – Summer + shoulder, Winter off site

2.4       Opportunities for competition:

a.       The program operates Seahorses Swimming Club. Seahorses provides the main opportunities for competition for most swimmers

b.      As SNSW competitions and the SNSW swimmer pathways are available to all SNSW registered Seahorses swimmers, based on merit (times achieved in the pool and success in competition), the club ensures availability of the SNSW swimming pathway to elite  and competitive swimmers

The content of each session and overall program for each level is led by the coaches, with the goal of achieving the performance outcomes listed in 3. below.

2.5        Cost and fundraising

Naturally, some of these program activities will be more costly than others – swimmers who are early and more matured along their swimming pathway will require more support and resources.

For this reason, budget decisions will be made on a ‘community’ basis, where the program will as a whole will be operated on a sustainable basis, even though elements of it may be operated at a loss.

This is justified, as all swimmers in the community have the opportunity to progress from the earliest to most advanced level, subject to their effort and talent. If the program did not offer the complete range of services and  a pathway from LTS to elite, community members may elect to train elsewhere.

The various programs will be funded by fees charged to swimmers, fundraising and sponsorship. The intent is for fees to cover the majority of costs so that the program is not reliant on successful fundraising.

The exception to the community funding model is Adult squads and off site winter training. For this element the greater of actual costs or a fair market rate shall be borne by the participating swimmers.

When undertaken, fundraising  events will have multiple aims, varied from time to time as the committee sees fit:

1.       community awareness (K-2 fun nights etc)

2.       promotion of membership (K-2 fun nights etc)

3.       enjoyment of swimming (K-2 fun nights, Aquathlon, Lindfield Laps)

4.       targeted events to fund infrastructure improvements.

2.6        Operation

The main day to day tasks for the program and therefore expenditure will be:

1.       Pool maintenance

2.       Teaching and administration

For these purposes, the program has engaged the services of professional coaches (Larissa and Oleg) and an administrator  (Alison Gladen) who will oversee the program and operate the pool on a day to day basis, to achieve the objectives of the program.

The budget for maintenance, teaching and administration is set by the Committee.