Issued: 20 December 2006
St. Thomas ASC Hit the Mark
St. Thomas ASC has been recognised as the first club in Scotland to achieve the new SwiMark Accreditation standard, by being presented with a certificate from Scottish Swimming, the governing body for swimming, water polo, masters, open water, diving and synchronised swimming in Scotland.
Presenting the certificate, Richard Gordon, Director of Coaching and Development at Scottish Swimming said, "I am delighted to present this certificate to St. Thomas ASC. They are working with us on a number of initiatives which will allow them to create plans based around Long Term Athlete Development. These plans include development paths for teachers and coaches as well as swimmers, which will benefit the club and see swimmers and coaches get the most out of their pool-time."
Heather Albin, Swimming Development Manager for Sport Tayside & Fife, also commented on the achievements of St.Thomas ASC. "I hope many more clubs follow the example set by St. Thomas ASC. By achieving SwiMark accreditation, St. Thomas ASC has national recognition that they follow a quality programme which implements Long Term Athlete Development guidelines which in turn provide an ideal environment for swimmers to reach their full potential."
St. Thomas ASC were also the first club in Angus to achieve the ACE Gold Award, the development scheme coordinated by the local authority, and are involved with implementing further Scottish Swimming programmes, such as the Learn to Swim & Awards Scheme and the licensing of teachers and coaches working within the club. Angus Council Community Services are delighted that a local club has successfully achieved both club accreditation marks and congratulate the club on their achievements.
