Summary
We were contacted by ASA to undertake the development of a model for performance swimming at the London Aquatics Center. Our brief was extended to develop the programme model and recruit a suitable head coach and develop a new governance structure.
Approach
We undertook to review all previous reports and documentation and then quickly moved to consult with the key stakeholders in East London being London Legacy Development Corporation, Sport England, university of East London, GLL, the six Olympic Host Borough’s and London Swimming. We undertook a further consultation with the clubs not only in the Olympic boroughs but those in the surrounding boroughs who wished to use the facility.
In conjunction with the London Swimming officers we developed a performance pathway that created a new performance club that would provide high level performance coaching, regional level and development squads. This programme sat above the current club provision. The times for usage and prices were negotiated with the leisure provider GLL and relayed to the clubs. We developed a governance structure that will take the new club forward and engaged with University of East London to become the hosts and providers of sport science and medicine to the athletes.
Our recruitment search went worldwide and in conjunction with the ASA we appointed a head coach who was with the British system already and was able to attract top swimmers to the programme. Some of the swimmers received scholarships agreed with the University and the programme was in place to start in September 2014
Outcome
This led to the performance programme sitting above the current club provision led by a high performance coach with a strong reputation and high performance swimmers in the British programme. They were joined by other high performance swimmers. The structure allowed a through put of swimmers from London which should saw an improvement in the amount of swimmers achieving national standard times as well as a better supported swimming workforce.