Has some of the most dedicated swimming coaches in NSW ...

Head Coach - Stephen Alderman coaches the elite program at Sydney University. With over 10 years coaching experience Stephen has been a member of the Australian World University Games team, the NSW Sharks Coaching team and conducted outreach coaching programs in the Pacific Islands. Stephen was Head Coach for Fiji at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Stephen is a coach under the NSW Institute of Sport’s Clubs Program and has placed swimmers on World Championship and Olympic Teams. His pastoral policy and philosophy about life after swimming has ensured many elite swimmers have undertaken University degrees to ensure their future.

Coach/Swim School Manager - Jamie Cole has been involved in coaching competitive swimming for over 15 years. His extraordinary dedication and extensive educational experience has enabled Sydney University swimming to develop our own innovative and highly successful training Programs. Jamie is responsible for building our highly competitive National Age and Junior Competitive Programs.

Competitive Coach - Vanessa Smith has over eight years experience as a coach. In 2002 she was awarded National Masters Coach of the Year. With an extensive teaching/welfare background, working with children and families, Vanessa coordinates our high quality Learn to Swim and Junior Squad program by instilling in the athletes a confident relationship with the water. Vanessa is currently Coordinator of the Nike Camp Australia Swim Camps.

Development Coach - Louise Stanley. Lou Lou has extensive experience as a Learn to Swim instructor, and coach. Holding Diplomas in Massage, Sports Therapies and Nutrition, Lou Lou is a great asset to SUSC.

Performance Consultant - Brian Sutton. With over 20yrs coaching experience, including Head Coach of the Australian Men’s Team, Brian Sutton is a veteran of several Olympics. Brian’s scientific approach to swimming has been responsible in assisting many Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games Champions.

“From beginner to Olympian”

SydneyUniversity Swim School provides a unique, inventive and interesting approach to learn to swim and squad training. Our philosophy to swimming ensures that swimmers find their time in the pool a challenging and positive experience. Our program caters for beginners of age three right through to elite level athletes.

The learn to swim program is focused on providing children and adults with the opportunity to develop a strong relationship with the water by ensuring that participants experience the water in a safe and fun way. Our program is designed to create experiences that stimulate and develop the far and near senses, the nervous system, fine and gross motor skills and cognitive skills. Most importantly we aim to provide participants with a positive experience that we hope will ensure they will always enjoy their time in the water.

The squad program caters for all ages. Our focus is on competitive swimming coached in a fun and supportive environment. Sydney University coaching staff encourages all members to enjoy swimming as a sport and to enjoy being a part of successful and happy squad.

The aim of our senior program is to give Australian athletes the chance to continue their sporting pursuits while getting an education at the same time - to provide the right balance in life now and in the future.

SUSC awarded Bronze GO-Club PB award for 2006.

GO Club is Swimming Australia's club development program. Developed in conjunction with ASCTA for the delivery of club development services to swimming clubs. GO Club PB is a national swimming club standard established to recognise and reward swimming clubs by measuring their performance across five key areas:

Membership; measuring the clubs ability to attract new members and maintain or increase its existing membership base.
Administration; measuring the clubs ability to operate efficiently, safely and remain financially viable.
Activities; measuring the clubs participation levels from club nights through to national championships, and also the number of social activities on offer for its members.
Coaching and Officiating; Measuring the number of technical officials available, the coach to swimmer ratio, and the level of participation in regional and state development activities.
Marketing and Promotion; measuring the clubs commitment to communication with its membership and the ability to attract sponsorship dollars, through promotion utilising local media, web page and activities for non member organisations.

Tadpoles: This squad is designed for young swimmers moving from learn to swim. Emphasis is on developing freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and learning basic butterfly skills. Minimum requirement is to swim 50m of freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. We recommend 2 sessions per week.

Dolphins: This squad is suitable for young swimmers able to swim 100m of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and some butterfly. Emphasis is on increasing endurance and improving stroke technique. Competition skills are also taught. A minimum 2 sessions per week is required for this squad.

Junior Fitness: The squad caters for children who can swim each of the four strokes. Emphasis is on advanced stroke correction. This is a non competitive squad. A minimum of 2 sessions per week is required.

Junior Competitive: This squad caters for children who can swim each stroke. Emphasis is on advanced stroke correction and improving competitive skills. Swimmers in this group are required to compete on a regular basis in club and district meets, with an aim to qualify for Metropolitan and State Championships. Minimum of 4 sessions per week is required, recommended 5-6 sessions.

National Age: Swimmers in this squad must compete on a regular basis for the Sydney University Swimming Club and must have reached State, National Age or Open level. The head coach must approve entry into this squad. A minimum of 6 sessions per week is required, recommended 8 sessions.

National Open: This squad is for the elite swimmer. The head coach must approve entry into this squad.

Adult Squad :This squad trains for one hour and participants must be competent at all 4 strokes.

Club Night: Offered to all squad members from Tadpoles upwards. It is held the first Friday of every month commencing at 4:30 until 5:45pm followed by a social event.

CHILDREN’S CLASSES

Jelly Fish: Safety jumps, body positions, blowing bubbles, water awareness, dog paddle and much more will be taught. Singing songs, playing games and lots of fun are an integral part of this program. Maximum 4 students per class.

Star Fish: This class introduces basic freestyle and backstroke kick. An emphasis is placed on submerging, safety jump, back floats and much more. Maximum 5 students per class.

Turtles: They will work on the coordination of freestyle, breathing with body rolls, backstroke, floats, and basic diving techniques. Maximum 5 students per class.

Sea Horses: This class is based on refining freestyle and backstroke skills and the introduction of breaststroke and dolphin kick and standing dives. Maximum 7 students per class.

ADULT CLASSES

Beginner: Caters for adults who have none or little swimming experience. The participants will be taught how to float, submerge and blow bubbles, kick on their front and back and basic freestyle arms.

Intermediate: Caters for adults that can swim 10 - 15 metres freestyle/backstroke and who can float unassisted. They will be taught efficient floating sequences, line and balance as well as freestyle and backstroke technique.

Advanced: This class is for adults who can swim 25m freestyle and backstroke. Here they will build on their stroke technique, gain confidence to float and submerge in deep water and learn to breaststroke kick.

Stroke Correction: Caters for adults who can competently swim 200 metres non stop and who can swim freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. In this class they will learn advance stroke techniques and build their endurance.

Applications:

Places are subject to availability.
Contact Swim School to make an appointment for a swimming assessment.

Payments:

The Learn to Swim Program and Tadpoles Squad operates in conjunction with the NSW Public Schools term. Payments are due in full before the start of the first lesson.
All swim school squads are paid by calendar month. Payment is required by the end of the 1st week of each month to secure placement.
Upon full payment each pupil will receive a Swim School card that is presented to the Aquatic Centre Front Counter on entry to the Aquatic Centre prior to each lesson.
A Family discount of 10% for 2 or more children is available on request.

SwimSchool Credits:

A credit may be arranged to carry-over to a new term or transferred to another sibling currently attending Swim School.
If you decide to temporarily remove your child from Squads for a period of time greater than 2 months it is necessary to seek approval from your child’s coach and inform the Aquatic Centre Front Counter so further payments are not incurred.
Please contact the Development Coach to discuss credits.
There are no ‘make up classes’ offered.

Refunds:

Any request for a refund must be made in writing and addressed to the Development Coach. An administration fee will be incurred.
Refunds are at the discretion of the Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre Operations Manager and are only available in the case of prolonged illness or due to inability to continue classes due to moving from the area. A Doctor’s Certificate is required to support medical reasons.

Time Stop:

A Time Stop of payments is available for a maximum of 4 weeks per calendar year.
If your child is going to stop swimming for any period of time you are required to put a “Time Stop” on payments prior to the intended absence or Full fees will be charged. This needs to be done at the Aquatic Centre Front Counter.
Please inform your child’s coach that they will not be attending for any period of time.
Note: If you exceed 4 weeks you are required to pay full squad fees in advance for the balance of the absence to retain your child’s place .

How to contact Swim School:

All enquires regarding your child’s swimming progress or any concerns should be directed to the child’s coach.
A coach can be contacted by telephone on 9351 8735 or by email : swimschool@susport.usyd.edu.au
Coaches are not to be approached during class times.

Parents on pool deck:

It is the Aquatic Centre Policy that Learn to Swim/Tadpole parents are permitted to either sit on the stepped area of the pool Deck or in the coffee shop during your child’s lesson.
For all other squads parents are not permitted on pool deck and may observe from the coffee shop area during Squad Training Sessions.

Swimming outside of Swim School times:

Parents are reminded that children are not to swim before or after lessons. Swim School fees entitle your child to swim during lesson times only.
If you want your child to swim at other times a supervising Parent/Guardian needs to be a member of the Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre and you will be required to pay for pool use as per Centre Management Fee Structure.