The Live Wire

National Plan For Teaching Swimming

The NPTS is a programme the ASA has developed to take children from their first splash to full competence in the water.

The latest syllabus was introduced in 2007 and is currently being implemented in over 1,000 swimming pools nationwide, as well as being adopted overseas as a model of good practice.

The NPTS is based on 10 stages and is underpinned throughout by the ASA’s Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles, with clear progression between each stage. The programme fully encompasses swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo, and incorporates Rookie Lifesaving in conjunction with the Royal Life-Saving Society.

The ‘swimmer pathway’ resulting from the revised syllabus provides more opportunity and variety for swimmers, as well as providing a smooth, progressive structure to take them through the stages.

The ASA hopes the NPTS 2007 edition will improve the number of swimmers who continue to learn to swim in the later stages and provide a clear link into clubs for those who have completed or progressed well through the stages of the NPTS.

Swimmers are rewarded for their achievements via the NPTS thanks to the Kellogg's ASA Awards Scheme, which continues to be by far the most successful scheme in British Sport. Its main aim is to encourage more children to swim and have fun swimming more often.

There are also training opportunities to enable qualified teachers to learn how to implement the revised approach.

ASA

ASA

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