Stockport Metro has underlined its commitment to achieving excellence by gaining Swim 21 accreditation under the revised ASA programme.

The club, which had achieved Swim 21 performance accreditation in August 2006, resubmitted to fall in line with the new criteria and was successfully awarded the mark at the end of last year.

More than 300 clubs have now achieved Swim 21 accreditation and with the new guidelines all disciplines can apply for the mark of excellence.

Based on the principles of Long Term Athlete Development, Swim 21 encourages clubs to specialise in one of four areas; teaching, skill development, competitive development and performance. It recognises nationally and regionally the clubs that are committed to providing safe, effective and quality services for the benefit of their members.

The Swim 21 programme has been in operation since 2002 and was reviewed and amended at the beginning of 2006 to make the application process more straightforward.

The success of the Stockport Metro programme is evident with three of the club’s swimmers – James Goddard, Kerri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten representing Great Britain at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne next month. Olympic Bronze medallist Steve Parry also finished his career at the club.

Head of Junior Development, Adam Baker, is delighted that the club has been given the new mark and hopes to continue the club’s record of excellence.

“We are extremely proud of this achievement,” he said. “It is a positive thing for everyone involved within the club. The accreditation is important because it provides the correct pathways for athlete development and we are pleased to be part of that.”

“We had already achieved the previous accreditation in performance, but we realise at this club how important the amended scheme is. We are hoping that this will encourage other clubs in the area to gain the revised accreditation.”

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For more information contact ASA Media Assistant Gemma Field on 01509 632262, 07917 726431 or email gemma.field@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 1,600 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

The Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme is the most successful awards scheme in British sport and issues around two million awards every year to swimmers all around the world.

For more information about ASA Awards please see www.swimming.org