SANDWELL AQUATICS
CLUB
About Us
Welcome to Sandwell Aquatics Club. Formed in 2022, Sandwell Aquatics was previously Oldbury STC, Warley Wasps SC and Haden Hill SC. Our club provides a comprehensive programme in both Swimming and Water Polo, from our Foundation Squad (Stages 5-8), to our squad programmes.
Our aim is to develop our swimmers as people as well as athletes. We offer the highest standards of both Coaching and Teaching to all abilities, and we continue to develop athletes to fulfil their potential from beginners to National Level athletes. Free trials are available for all new members so why not contact us and get started on your journey.
Our Sports
Swimming
Triathlon
Waterpolo
Open water
FOUnDATION SQUAD
Our Foundation Squad (Swim England Stages 5-8) aims to further develop our young swimmers ready for our Junior Development Program. Swimmers will learn basic competitive skills such as diving and turns and increase their competency on all four strokes. These stages incorporate an element of both teaching and coaching. Free trials are available.
Our Junior Development programs are for swimmers who have completed the first 8 stages of the Swim England Learn to Swim Pathway and is the first step into squad swimming. Coached by our fully qualified coaches, swimmers in this squad are developed to progress through our pathway. Swimmers will be competent on all four strokes and be able to perform starts and turns. Some may experience their first taste of competition either internally through our Club Championships or through one of the leagues we enter. There is no pressure for any of our young swimmers to compete, further enjoyment is the key goal for this squad and ensuring all swimmers continue to develop during their time with us.
Junior Development Squad
Our Competitive Development program aims to further build on the work of the Junior Development Squad. Swimmers in this squad represent the club in various leagues and competitions and aim to develop their swimming competitively. The sessions are led by the Head Coach and Lead Coaches. A large amount of our swimmers in this squad are at a County or Regional Standard and would train multiple times per week. Swimmers are encouraged to take more control of their own development through the guidance and coaching of our coaches..
Competitive Development
Squad
Premier
Squad
Our Premier Squad is our top squad with all athletes aiming to compete or are at a Regional or National Standard. The sessions are led by our Head Coach with support from our Lead Coaches. Our Premier program aims to provide swimmers with all the knowledge and expertise to reach their full potential within the sport of swimming.
MASTERS Squad
We are currently looking to expand our Masters Squad. We are open to swimmers age 18+ and are offering a mix of short and long course training for confident and competent swimmers. The sessions are led by either our Head Coach or our Lead Coaches.
Please email to book a trial or enquire about squad fees
SQUAD Training
ASA & Club Membership Fees 2024 (per annum) – Payable every January
Club Compete & SA Annual Club Membership - £51.00
Fees to cover membership from January to December in any one year.
Please email to book a trial or enquire about squad fees
Hi I’m Raj, current HC at Sandwell Aquatics. I was previously HC at Oldbury STC, a club I joined at age 9 and swam for until I transitioned into coaching. I have been coaching for the best part of 8 years now, 6 as a Head Coach. I have coached beginners through to national swimmers during that time. Outside of swimming, my interests are very varied, I enjoy staying in shape best I can, love Marvel/DC, gaming, music and going on little adventures here and there.
Over recent years I have coached at county camps, regional camps and National camps and led the county development camps for Worcester County. These opportunities along with being on the UK Coaching Talent Pathway program and the Swim England Aspire program have allows em to develop, and continually develop myself so that I can continue to develop the swimmers and the infrastructure around them. I am a firm believer in personal development, as a coach this what you are trying to achieve with your swimmers, so at the very least we should also be developing ourselves continuously to be the best we can be. Which bring me into my coaching philosophy.
I’ve always believed that a swimmer-coach relationship is an equal partnership. And parents are a huge part of this too. So my coaching philosophy is to encourage my swimmers to work with me, as opposed to for me. To have a relationship built on trust and mutual respect. I think that a partnership will ensure that we both reach the best possible versions of ourselves as swimmers, coaches and people, regardless of the standards you might achieve. I put a very heavy emphasis on the process and being the best you can be in whatever we do. I think there’s a lot of value in applying the will to win and the will to succeed; to have that drive to do well in everything they do in their lives. Because if you are internally motivated to win each and every day and you are constantly striving to be the best possible version of yourself, then you’re going to be successful in whatever you do, whether that’s swimming or anything else. And last but absolutely not least I want our swimmers to ENJOY the sport of swimming and feel like they are a part of something more than just a swimming club.
Head Coach
Raj Singh
SWIMMING POOL LOCATIONS
Sandwell Aquatics Centre
Londonderry Road, Smethwick
West Bromwich Leisure Centre
Moor St, West Bromwich B70 7AZ
Swan Pool, Sandwell Valley Park
Forge Ln, West Bromwich, B71 3SZ
SANDWELL AQUATICS CLUB
TRIDENT
OPEN MEET
SATURDAY 5TH & SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2024
Sandwell Aquatics Centre, Smethwick
ENTRIES NOW CLOSED
SANDWELLAQUATICS@OUTLOOK.COM
sandwell aquatics club
SPRING INTO regionalS LONG COURSE open meet
SATURDAY 22nd & SUNDAY 23rd MARCH 2025
Sandwell Aquatics Centre, Smethwick
ENTRY FILE AVAILABLE FROM 20TH JANUARY 2025
LET US KNOW IF YOU
WANT TO BE ADDED TO
OUR MAILING LIST FOR
THIS EVENT!
ENTRIES ACCEPTED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS
sandwellaquatics@outlook.com
Swimming LeagUes
Here you can find out about the different competitions we enter
our swimmers in.
Nuneaton League
A Nationally swum league. In this league we swim our fastest possible team. The league comprises of 3 Divisions, working on a 4 up, 4 down system of promotion and relegation. This league is very competitive and hosts some of the best junior teams in the country
Arena League
A Nationally swum league. In this league we swim our fastest possible team. The league comprises of 3 Divisions, working on a 4 up, 4 down system of promotion and relegation This league is very competitive and hosts some of the best senior teams in the country.
Swimgainz Junior League
The Swimgainz Ross League is a ‘beginner’ league, for those new to swimming competitions. Swimmers from these events may be asked to take part in the relays, in the Nuneaton League. Each race has a time limit on it, any swimmer going faster than the given time receives a ‘Speeding Ticket’.
Worcester Winter League
The Worcester Winter League is a locally swum league. In this league we swim our fastest possible team. The league comprises of 15 teams, all mainly from the Worcestershire County, with the addition of Perry Beeches and Orion.
Mercian League
A local league with only one Division. Any swimmer with a Regional Qualifying Time or above is not allowed to compete in this league. This is known as a senior league, as swimmers required include 14’s and above. Each gala has six teams competing
The National Arena League is a Nationally swum league. In this league we swim our fastest possible team. The league comprises of 3 Divisions, working on a 4 up, 4 down system of promotion and relegation This league is very competitive and hosts some of the best senior teams in the country.
During these galas, times are monitored, splits are taken for relays and we also monitor starts, turns and takeovers, so we know what to base our technical programme around.
- The age-groups required for this league are: 11, 13, 15, & Open.
- The league comprises of 84 teams across the West Midlands and beyond.
- Distances swum: 11’s swim 50 metres 13, 15 & Open 100 metres plus 200 IM for Opens.
- There are 3 galas for this league, one in October, November & December. The top 6 teams from each division all swim off in Round 3, again, this league operates a 4 up and 4 down promotion and relegation system.
- All swimmers will swim as their age as of the final i.e. this year 13th December.
- Swimmers may require, 2 towels, costume, club T-Shirt goggles and a drink only (non-fizzy).
The top two teams from the Premier Division will go forward to represent the league in the National Final, comprising of all the top teams from all over the Regions in the country.
NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE
WORCESTER WINTER LEAGUE
The Worcester Winter League is a locally swum league. In this league we swim our fastest possible team. The league comprises of 15 teams, all mainly from the Worcestershire County, with the addition of Perry Beeches and Orion.
During these galas, times are monitored, splits are taken for relays and we also monitor starts, turns and takeovers, so we know what to base our technical programme around.
The age-groups required for this league are: 11, 13, 15, & Open.
Distances swum: 11’s swim 50 metres 13, 15 & Open 100 metres.
There are 3 galas for this league, one in February, March & April. The final round, each gala has a trophy to be swum for. The league is split into 3, top 5, middle and bottom 5, and all swim off for the gala trophy.
All swimmers will swim as their age as of the final round i.e. this year 19th April.
Swimmers may require, 2 towels, costume, club T-Shirt goggles and a drink only (non-fizzy).
NUNEATON LEAGUE
The Nuneaton and District League is a Nationally swum league. In this league we swim our fastest possible team. The league comprises of 3 Divisions, working on a 4 up, 4 down system of promotion and relegation This league is very competitive and hosts some of the best junior teams in the country (we are currently in Division 2).
During these galas, times are monitored, splits are taken for relays and we also monitor starts, turns and takeovers, so we know what to base our technical programme around.
- The age-groups required for this league are: 9, 10, 11, & 12.
- The league comprises of 63 teams.
- Distances swum: 9’s swim 25 metres 10, 11 & 12’s swim 50 metres (10’s only swim 1 length of Butterfly).
- There are 3 galas for this league, one in April, May & June with a final for the top 6 teams in September to decide the 4 promoted teams (possible 4th gala).
- All swimmers will swim as their age as of the final i.e. this year 13th September.
- Swimmers may require, 2 towels, costume, club T-Shirt goggles and a drink only (non-fizzy).
The top two teams from Division 1 will go forward to represent the league in the National Final, comprising of all the top teams from all over the Regions in the country.
The Swimgainz League is a ‘beginner’ league, for those new to swimming competitions. Swimmers from these events may be asked to take part in the relays, in the Nuneaton League. Each race has a time limit on it, any swimmer going faster than the given time receives a ‘Speeding Ticket’. It also helps us to gain times and other information i.e. strokes, turns and starts which is useful when planning training and also helps us to monitor the swimmers progress.
- The age-groups required for this league are: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13/14.
- League comprises of 12 teams only.
- Distances swum: 9, 10, swim 25 metres 11, 12, 13/14’s swim 50 metres.
- 9’s swim mixed relays only.
- There are 4 galas for this league, one in Feb, Mar, April & May, with a final for the top 8 teams in June (possible 5th gala).
- All swimmers will swim as their age as of the final i.e. this year 8th June.
- Swimmers may require, 2 towels, costume, club T-Shirt, goggles and a drink only (non-fizzy).
SWIMGAINZ JUNIOR LEAGUE
MERCIAN LEAGUE
The Mercian Summer League is a local league and there is only one Division. Any swimmer with a Regional Qualifying Time or above is not allowed to compete in this league. This is known as a senior league, as swimmers required include 14’s and above. We joined this league to give our older swimmers something to train for and to provide much needed competition practice. Each gala has six teams competing.
The distances swum for the older age-groups are more significant and relate more to major competions than the junior leagues (i.e. 100 metres).
Again, during these galas, times are monitored, splits are taken for relays and we also monitor starts, turns and takeovers, so we know what to base our technical programme around.
- The age-groups required for this league are: 10, 12, 14, & Open.
- The league comprises of 24 teams (one division)
- Distances swum: 10’s swim 50 metres 12, 14 & Open’s swim 100 metres (10’s only swim 1 length of Butterfly).
- There are 3 galas for this league, one in May, June & July. The third round is split into 4 sections and each section swims for a trophy.
- All swimmers will swim as their age as of the final round i.e. this year 12th July.
- Swimmers may require, 2 towels, costume, club T-Shirt goggles and a drink only (non-fizzy).
Water Polo
Welcome to the Sandwell Aquatics Water Polo Team. Formerly known as as Warley Water Polo and established in 1888! We play in the Midland Water Polo League.
The club trains at the SANDWELL AQUATICS CENTRE, Londonderry Rd, Smethwick
(British Water Polo League)
Training Schedule:
Monday 7.30 – 9.30pm Senior Men, Women & Juniors
Wednesday 7.00 - 8.00pm Juniors & Mini Polo
8.00 – 9.30pm Matches
Contact details:
Email: sandwellaquatics@outlook.com
Telephone: 07803181923
Coaches:
John Halstead (Seniors), David Lane, Will Merryweather,
Matt Dixon (Youth & mini-polo)
Referees & Officials:
Martin Wilkins, David Lane, Simon Halstead
Timekeepers and Officials: Liz Wilkins, Martin Wilkins,
Chris Dickinson
Water Polo
We compete in the
Midland Water Polo League
and currently have the following teams:
- Senior Men A
- Senior Men B
- Junior Men (U18)
- Youth U16 Boys and Girls
Documents & Information
Policies
Parent / Guardian Information
Contact Us
General Enquiries
SandwellAquatics@Outlook.com
Head Coach - Raj Singh
rs.sandwellac@gmail.com
Chairperson
ChairSandwellAquaticsClub@gmail.com
Welfare OFFICER
Theresa bisengo
WelfareSandwellAquaticsClub@gmail.com
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