Battersea Jacs is a thriving swimming club based at Tooting Leisure Centre in South London. We take non-swimmers from the age of four and generally have about 24 beginners in the centre’s teaching pool and as many as 50 improvers in the main pool.
In addition, we have a 40-strong training squad, aged from nine to about 16 or older, who take part in a variety of galas and competitions. Squad members have up to four training sessions a week – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, plus Sunday mornings.
In recent years the club has competed in the Pentagon League – a series of galas against clubs based in Streatham, Wimbledon, Sutton and Merton. In addition, our swimmers regularly compete at open and higher-level competitions and county championships.
We have qualified and experienced coaches and teachers, but this is very much a family club. Parents and other volunteers run the club and handle most of the administration, as well as providing essential poolside support. Older squad members are encouraged to help out with the beginners’ lessons.
Our foremost aim is that children should learn to enjoy swimming and benefit from belonging to a club. Naturally, we are delighted when Battersea Jacs swimmers win races – as they often do – but our real measure of success is how much our members enjoy swimming and competing.