The Amateur Swimming Association has developed a series of fitness swimming training modules set to change the face of health and fitness delivery across the UK.

The four new training modules – AquaFit, Aqua-Circuits, Aqua-Jogging and Fitness Swimming are aimed predominantly at dryside instructors and will allow leisure facilities and personal trainers to offer customers a multi-disciplinary workout.

Adopted onto the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) Framework, and inline with SkillsActive’s new National Occupational Standards for instructing exercise and fitness, the qualifications fill a long-needed gap in the leisure industry and provide pool operators with a range of exciting new activities to add to their programme.

Available from September, each training module lasts three days and is aimed at fitness instructors who are current members of REPS and hold a Level 2 Exercise and Fitness qualification. Modules also offer a generous allocation of CPD points.

ASA National Education Officer Colin Huffen believes the training will be popular among fitness instructors and expects demand to be high.

“Our new training provides a fantastic opportunity for people with dryside gym instructor knowledge to cross over to the pool for water based fitness activity,” he said. “It’s something the fitness industry has wanted for a long time now and the ASA is delighted to be able to deliver it.

“The training is based on practical learning and all modules include a theoretical background into aquatic fitness which means participants are educated into the benefits of aquatic exercise before undertaking the more specific knowledge concentrating upon the selected aquatic strand.

“Once completed, instructors will be able to take a multi-discipline approach and make the most of all facilities available to them. Pool workouts add more variety to a fitness programme and the beauty of the four identified disciplines is everyone can take part, from those coming back from injury or illness to the occasional gym user and fitness enthusiast.”

Pilots for the qualifications get underway this month across the country and qualifications will be officially launched at Leisure Industry Week (LIW) in September.

To find out more or to register your interest for a course email colin.huffen@swimming.org

-ENDS-

For media information contact ASA media officer Amanda Overend on 01509 632238, 07876 652 318 or email amanda.overend@swimming.org

The Amateur Swimming Association 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.
www.britishswimming.org

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