ASA Awards Scheme
The 10 Stages of the Plan
The 2007 National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) takes the
non-swimmer on a journey, from the first splash to developing
confidence and competence in the water.
The Swimmer’s ‘journey through aquatics’ starts with
foundation, a Programme for developing early years
water confidence, which is encouraged through sessions such as
‘adult and child’ and ‘pre-school’ sessions. The emphasis is upon
development of very basic motor skills and introduction to water
and the swimming environment through fun and games. The ‘ASA Duckling’ Awards', ‘Swim- A Song' awards
and ‘Alpha Step Awards’ provide rewards appropriate for this
section.
The next stage along the ‘journey’ takes a Swimmer through
Fundamental Movement Skills, Stage 1 - 7 of the
NPTS.
A brief overview of Stages 1 - 7
Stage 1
Developing basic safety awareness,
the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence
skills. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats, etc.
Stage 2
Developing safe entries to the
water, including jumping in, basic floating, travel front and back
up to a distance of 5 metres, plus rotation to regain upright
positions. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats, etc.
Stage 3
Developing safe entries including
submersion, travel up to 10 metres on the front and back, progress
rotation skills and water safety knowledge. At this stage, the
Swimmer will be assessed without the use of aids or support.
Stage 4
Developing the understanding of
buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for
all strokes, and swimming 10 metres to a given standard as directed
by the asa.
Stage 5
Developing ‘watermanship’ through
sculling and treading water skills and complete rotation, also
performing all strokes for a distance of 10 metres to the given
standard as provided by the asa within the NPTS resources.
Stage 6
Developing effective swimming
skills including coordinated breathing across all strokes plus
swimming a distance of 25 metres using a stroke of the Swimmers
choice; developing the water safety aspects and understanding of
preparation for exercise.
Stage 7
Developing quality stroke technique up to 100 metres, incorporating
skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and
complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of
skills accomplished throughout stages 1 - 7.
Stages 8 - 10
Once the Swimmer has
developed the core range of skills required to be confident,
competent and safe in the water through stages 1 - 7, the Swimmer
may then have the choice to take part in different aquatic
disciplines.
Fundamental Sports Skills, Stages 8 - 10 of the
NPTS are available in Competitive Swimming, Diving,
Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Rookie Lifesaving. Dependent
on each leisure facility, all or some of these opportunities may be
available.
Stages 8, 9 and 10 of the NPTS are discipline specific and have
synergy with the grass roots programmes developed by the
disciplines to support their individual sport. These are as
follows:
Flip n Fun = Diving
AquaFun = Synchronised Swimming
mini-polo! = Water Polo
For Stages 8, 9 and 10 Competitive Swimming have developed
Awards specifically to support the NPTS.
The ASA and the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) have worked
closely together in developing stages 8, 9 and 10 in producing
awards that link into the ASA NPTS. The syllabus relating to the
Rookie Lifesaving stages can be accessed through the RLSS.
As a result of completing ALL the outcomes detailed within each
stage of the NPTS, a set of awards are available, the ‘National
Plan Awards’ relate to each stage, from 1 - 10.
