Aquasplash is an aquatic festival aimed at 5-11 year olds which is designed to cater for both swimmers and non-swimmers and your organisation or club could host their own.
The festivals are based upon recognising and celebrating the skills young people have achieved during their school swimming lessons through fun, inclusive, multi-skill activities which are designed to encourage them.
Aquasplash festivals are intended to be integral to a young person’s progress from swimming lessons into other aquatic opportunities. They are ideal for local swimming clubs and leisure centres to deliver in partnership with other members of local swimming development groups.
Feedback from previous festivals has been fantastic with children and teachers alike being very positive.
Jane Sheridan, Senior Competition Manager for Lancashire recently organised a successful festival. She said; “We held an Aquasplash festival recently in South Ribble for the weakest swimmers in the educational swimming programme. When the children arrived they were shying away from the water, not wanting to get their faces wet. By the end of a couple of events, that kept the children in their comfort zone of depth etc, they had forgotten their fears and were taking part as enthusiastically as a child that loves swimming. Indeed the water polo match that we ended with was so hotly contested that everyone on the side ended up getting wet as well!”
Teachers have also praised the festivals and the enjoyment children have gained from them. A teacher from North Reddish Junior School in Stockport commented on a recent festival in their area; “All the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It is not often the younger children in our school get a chance to represent their school, and they were delighted to get the chance. It gave them the opportunity to show off skills they didn’t realise they had!”
Most importantly the children that have taken part have really enjoyed the experience. Two pupils from schools in Huddersfield said; “It’s been really good. Ten out of ten!” and the other said; “I would like to come back and do the other activities that I didn’t do today.”
If this sounds like a great idea to you, why not host your own Aquasplash festival? The Aquasplash website, www.aquasplashfest.org, is full of useful resources and supporting documents to help you run your event.
-ENDS-
For more information contact the ASA Marketing Officer Esther Hope on 01509 632247, 07917 876459 or email esther.hope@swimming.org.
The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
About British Gas
British Gas is Britain's favourite domestic energy supplier. As well as providing gas and electricity, it also installs and maintains central heating and gas appliances in millions of homes throughout the country. British Gas is very proud to be the principal partner of British Swimming and home countries: The ASA, Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales. British Gas is supporting the team's quest for medals on the world and Olympic stage - and giving as many people as possible the opportunity to learn to swim and use swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. British Gas wants to ensure local pools remain at the heart of our communities. By using its expertise, it can help them reduce costs by being more energy efficient and safeguard the facilities for this and future generations. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming
About Kellogg’s
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg’s has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg’s ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.
About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.
