Welcome Introduction Pack

Welcome & Information Pack

Welcome to Wigan Swimming Club!  This introductory pack is a basic guide to help you understand club processes and what to expect. Please take time to read as it covers the most frequently asked questions.

Wigan Swimming Club is a community-based club, offering training at the Wigan Life Centre. Accredited by Swim England and Swim Mark, our mission is to help swimmers achieve their goals, whether in local competitions or on the national stage. We are dedicated to nurturing each swimmer’s potential through development.

Our team of professionally qualified coaches continually enhance their skills to provide the best coaching techniques. They are supported by a group of highly dedicated volunteers who ensure the club’s success and smooth operation. We strive to create an environment that is both driven and enjoyable, allowing swimmers to relish the sport for many years.

Entry to Wigan Swimming Club

Once swimmers have achieved the minimum of Stage 6 upwards of the Learn to Swim Programme they are eligible to come along for a trial.  Swimmers are assessed on all 4 strokes and will then be either offered a place or given feedback on development areas and advised on the best way to continue.

If the swimmer is offered a full membership into the club the following information will help you complete your membership and give a brief guide on how the club runs.

How do I complete my Membership

We will already have an E-Mail address for you from applying for a trial. Upon meeting the criteria and a successful trial this will be passed on to memberships.  You will then receive an E-Mail asking to register on the website. Please complete this as soon as possible. (Please also inform memberships if your swimmer no longer wants to join the club).  This E-Mail informs you about our membership fees and the Swim England membership fees and contains instructions for setting up the monthly payment.  This is done via a continuous payment authority (CPA) and is linked to a debit card rather than your bank account so differs from a direct debit.

Your swimmer will not be allowed to swim until these first fees have been paid: the first month with club and annual Swim England Membership.

Swim England Fee

All Members of wigan swimming club must also be a member of Swim England.  Don’t worry we will sort this out for you and will advise which category to sign up for, Club Train or Club Compete.  Swim England is funded by it’s membership base and is the national governing body of swimming for England.  This includes making sure all clubs and coaches are insured, providing a national database of all swimmers times, providing coach education, running courses and recognised qualifications, managing and maintaining swimming pathways and providing support to all clubs under it’s umbrella.

Swimmers can not train or compete for Wigan SC without this membership.

Swim England fees are annual and are normally due in January. These fees are collected for the year ahead.

2026 Wigan Swimming Club Membership Fees:

Full Member (three swims) £48 per month

Wigan BEST Squad Member (one swim) £25 per month

Wigan BEST Squad Member (Two Swims) £37 per month

Masters (one swim) £25 per month

Regional and National Swimmers (no swims) £25 per year

There are no payment holidays, payment pauses or reduction of payments if swimmers go

on holiday, attend less sessions etc

Swimmers’ fees that are not up to date will not be allowed to compete in galas until fees

are up to date.

After you have registered

Finally once you have registered, Set up payments and paid Swim England fees you will be sent a password for the website.  This will then allow you access to the members section.

From this point on it is your responsibility to check the website regularly for information regarding Galas, Team Selection, Club Reminders an notices etc.  The website is the place to go for all club announcements.

We also have a WhatsApp group for parents which we can add you to as well for prompts about website news and other reminders.

Re-Registering Annually

Around December each year you will receive an E-Mail from memberships asking for you to re register your swimmer.  This is to make sure we have the correct details for you. Please complete this as soon as possible.

Failure to re-register, pay monthly fees or swim England fee on time will result in the swimmer not being permitted to train or enter events.

Code Of Conduct 

Please take time to read the code of conduct and the pool rules on our website.  Parents are responsible for the behaviour of their children at all times.  As a club we expect all members to adhere to the code of conduct and if at any time we receive a complaint to the contrary the matter will be dealt with accordingly.

Coaching Team

Head Coach

Lee Stringfellow

Assistant Head Coach  

Zac Collins

Coaches 

Michelle Nickson

Jenny Braham

Adam Walls

Chris Doxey

Abi Unsworth

Charlotte

Anja Jolley

The coaches welcome any questions or concerns you may have about your swimmers progress.  We do however ask that you try to catch them after a training session or contact them via E-Mail if possible.

Wigan Life Centre does not permit parents on poolside

Swimming Groups

Below is a list of the swimming groups that swimmers will endeavour to work through over time.

Development:-  This would normally be the first group a swimmer would start with. The focus here is to work on technique of all 4 strokes also pool etiquette and tumble turns.

Swimmers would then move up to Progression, Junior Development and Junior Performance.  Once swimmers are 12 they would move to Senior Development/Performance groups.

Progression through the groups is at the Head Coaches discretion and is assessed by swimmers performance at club Time Trails, Coaching Feedback, Attendance, Technique, Behaviour and consistency.

Session Times

Session times are below,  Please note these are subject to change or cancellation for Galas, League events or other events that are on at the pool.

We do not Train on Bank Holidays

Club Kit

We have our own fantastic branded kit. This is sourced from Kitlocker who handle all order processing for us,  Kit can be ordered directly with KitLocker through our club shop.  When a swimmer is attending a gala  they are expected to wear club kit. A T-shirt and cap as a minimum requirement.

https://www.kitlocker.shop/swim/clubs/wigan-swimming-club/

Time Trials

Time trials are there for the coaches and swimmers. To monitor their progress throughout the year by swimming 50M on all 4 strokes (Fly/Back/Breast/Free) and also a 100 or 200IM

It is required that all members attend a minimum of one if not all Time Trials per year. Swimmers who do not complete time trials regularly may not be selected for League teams, Development Days, Swim camps or other activities.

The Official times will be posted on the website under News – Results or Members – Results  These times can then be used on entry forms most level 3 galas.

Note – These are not official times \ official Swim England times can only be gained by competing at a licensed meet.

Galas, Open Meets and Team Events

Galas is a broad term used to describe a number of swimming competitions. These can be split down into two types Individual and Team Competitions.

Individual Competitions are usually described as a meet, Held by clubs, associations and other swimming organisations.  Details of these events and the entry forms are posted on the website.  There is a small fee for entry per race for most meets. Some also have entry requirements, normally ‘Open’ references that it is open to anyone who meets the criteria and it is important to read the conditions carefully.

Examples of Meets are:

• Wigan Summer Sizzler
• Future Stars Open Meet
• Wigan & Tyldesley Season Starter

Team Competitions are by invitation only in which case swimmers’ names will be listed on the website under Members – Team Selection  or News – Team Selection  on this occasion you may also receive an E-Mail form your coach.  It is however advisable to check the website regularly in case there is an amendment to the team.  Team galas include

• Microleague
• BCM Open League
• BCM Team Sprint
• Wigan BEST

Wigan Swimming Club operates a community club and works towards coaching swimmers to the standard to enter Wigan Best (Borough Elite Swim Team).  The Squad is separate to the club but we support the principles of it and the pathway that it gives for higher achieving swimmers within the borough.

The swim Squad is operated by Wigan Council and provides elite swimmers of the borough with the necessary facilities, and expert full-time professional coaching to allow every member the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The partnership enables our talented swimmers to gain more pool time and the best coaching to help them reach their goals.

The club is mindful that swimmers enter the swim squad at the correct stage of their development as to early leads to early fall off and to late the swimmer is always playing catch up.  If parents or swimmers have any questions regarding this they should discuss with club coaches.

Swimming Season

This runs from September to July, With many of the competitions being the same each year.  When you join the club you join for the season you must let the club know as soon as possible if you do not intend to complete the season.

How can I help and Get Involved?

We are always looking for new helpers, If you are interested in getting involved please Email us at  Info@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

We hold regular informal committee meetings at Wigan Life Centre.  We encourage all club members to attend.  Keep an eye on the website for dates and times of these.  We are always looking for new people and helpers and you can do as much or as little to help the club, anything from helping on poolside at a gala or fundraising event or a committee role. All who want to help and get involved will be supported by the club.

Committee Members

Chairman – Graeme Wilson                    Chair@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Treasurer – Paul Bristow                          Treasures@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Secretary –   TBC                                         Secretary@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Memberships – Karrie Connolly             Membership@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Galas  –  Lee Cutter                                     Meets@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Welfare – Camilla Horrocks                     welfare@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Safeguarding – Alex Collins                     safeguarding@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Club Kit – Helen Zoldan                           Clubkit@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Head Coach – Lee Stringfellow               Headcoach@wiganswimmingclub.org.uk

Website – Danny Morrison