Swimming

Swimming is an excellent form of exercise and gives a full-body workout.

An Overview of Swimming

Swimming is a great recreational and elite sport and is a fun way to increase positivity, sleep quality and mood, whilst also teaching life-saving water safety. From learning to swim, to being involved in swimming competitively, anyone can get involved.

Benefits

Improve sleep quality
Improve mood
Increase stamina

Involvement

Any local public swimming pools should be able to make adequate adaptations for you to swim recreationally in the public sessions.

If you want to get involved in swimming recreationally, call ahead to your local leisure centre to make them aware of your visual impairment. Alert the lifeguard so they can make any necessary changes to fully assist you with your independence.

There are many swimming clubs that are inclusive to individuals who are blind or partially sighted. Swimming with a club allows you to improve your technique and enter competitions if you want to.

The National Youth Swimming Gala is British Blind Sport's flagship event and offers a fantastic opportunity for blind and partially sighted young people aged 3-17 to participate in fun and competitive activities.

Swim England operates 'Disability Hub Clubs', which are clubs that are inclusive of everyone.

It is a requirement of regional and national meets in the Swim England calendar to include multi-classification para-swimming competitions. Multi-classification races, known as MC races, are where para-swimmers compete against rivals from different classifications and receive points scored based on how close they are to the existing British record. Positions are determined based on relative performance rather than time.

British Swimming has two pathway programmes in place to help identify and develop world class swimmers, the World Class Podium Programme and the World Class Podium Potential Programme.

Sight classifications are important to ensure fair and equal competition. Success at competitions should be defined by an athlete's skill and ability, not their impairment. The sight classifications should give all athletes the confidence that they are competing against others equally.

Useful Links

Adaptations and Equipment

The sport is adapted for people who are blind and partially sighted by using a sighted guide where appropriate, and by using a "tapper". This is an experienced guide who is trained to observe the swimmer's stroke and "tap" the swimmer with a long pole/ woggle to indicate the lane ending and the need to make a turn.

There is no standard "tapper" device – even at an elite level, swimmers must make their own. BBS suggest using a 4m retractable fishing pole, with a tennis ball covered in a deflated balloon (for waterproofing) attached to the end.

Other adaptations can include using anti-turbulent ropes instead of standard ropes. Placing brightly coloured markers on the bottom of, and around the pool. If swimming in a lane, count how many strokes it takes to reach a length in the pool. This will enable you to work out when you are approaching the end of the lane. Familiarise yourself with the pool and swimming area - shallow/deep end, step position to and from the pool. Place a brightly coloured marker, such as a beach towel or water bottle, at the end of the lane to help with turns and orientation in and around the pool.

BBS sell swim caps so that blind or partially sighted swimmers can be easily seen and identified. You can purchase these items by visiting the BBS shop.

Loughborough Leisure Centre

Loughborough Leisure Centre is brought to you by Fusion, a highly experienced sports and leisure organisation.

Sport England

Sport England is committed to helping people and communities across the country create sporting habits for life.

Swim England

Swim England is the national governing body for Swimming in England.

Soar Valley Leisure Centre

Soar Valley is a popular and busy leisure centre in the heart of Mountsorrel.

East Leake Leisure Centre

Leicester Fitness & Wellbeing Centre

Clifton Leisure Centre

Level Water Leicester

Leicester Penguins

Enderby Leisure & Golf Centre

You can choose between a huge variety of different activities here at Enderby.

Enderby Leisure Centre Disability Swim

Enderby Leisure Centre

Sport and Leisure Nottingham City Council

Flexible Fitness is our great value health and fitness membership scheme offering you gyms, swimming, fitness classes, sauna/steam and more at Nottingham City Council leisure centres.

Moorways Sports Village and Water Park

Moorways Sports Village and Water Park combines a water park and leisure centre with the Moorways Stadium to create a fantastic sports and leisure facility for the whole community.

My Sight Nottingham

We provide a range of leisure activities for all tastes and abilities, which have a focus on keeping you fit and active!

Waterfield Leisure Centre

Green Bank Leisure Centre

Green Bank Leisure Centre in Swadlincote brings a whole host of activity to the local community through its range of facilities to help you enjoy getting active.

Southglade Leisure Centre

Nova Centurion

Pingles Leisure Centre

Pingles Leisure Centre in Nuneaton offers a wide range of activities to suit all ages and abilities.

Tamworth Unicorns Swimming Club

Bedworth Leisure Centre

Whatever your fitness needs, Bedworth Leisure Centre’s got you covered.

Harborough Leisure Centre

Harborough Leisure Centre offers a fantastic range of activities suitable for everyone from experienced athletes to anyone just getting started.

Peak Performance Events

Triathlon, Duathlon and Running events organiser

Litchfield Swimming Club

Uttoxeter Leisure Centre

Uttoxeter Leisure Centre is the perfect place for everyone to come and enjoy the wide range of facilities and activities, regardless of your age or leisure and fitness preferences.

Corby Swimming Pool

Physical Activity Referral Sessions (Melton)

A range of physical activity referral sessions taking place throughout Melton.

More Results

Independent Member Audit & Risk Committee Voluntary Role

Aquatics GB is currently seeking a Voluntary Member of the Audit & Risk Committee, a sub-Committee of the Aquatics GB Board.

Lifeguard

Are you a lifeguard and looking for additional hours! We are currently recruiting lifeguards to join our team. We need lifeguards that can commit to Saturday's 10.30 AM - 12.30 PM.

City of Leicester Swimming Club

The City of Leicester Swimming Club (COLSC) based in Leicestershire is seeking to appoint an additional Swimming Coach to add to our already successful coaching team. This is an excellent opportunity to join the Performance Pathway Programme which coaches swimmers from County to International.

Hadleigh and Sudbury Swimming Club Head Coach

An excellent opportunity for a Level 2 Swimming Coach to join a growing, friendly, community club based at Hadleigh Leisure Centre and Kingfisher Leisure Centre in Sudbury. For the successful candidate this is a great opportunity to grow and develop the club further.

Swimming

Swimming

An Overview of Swimming

Benefits

Involvement

Adaptations and Equipment

Find Swimming Clubs/Groups Near You

National Governing Bodies