Group A are the more advanced swimmers, Group B are the newer or younger swimmers.
We also have one free swimming sessions for Balfron high school students through term time. Thursday after school 3.30 – 4.30. Students can just turn up to these sessions where a coach will provide a relaxed training session.
From Sat 13th January 2024 Saturday Group B will be 9.30m – 10.30 am and Sat group A will be 10.30am – 11.30am
So from January 2024:
Monday:
Group B – 7pm- 8pm
Group A – 8pm – 9pm
Thursday:
Mixed group B and A – 7.30 – 8.30
Saturday:
Group B – 9.30am – 10.30am
Group A 10.30am – 11.30am
Sessions are £5 each, Paid at the beginning of each term. Fees are paid by term and are non refundable or transferable.
SASA fees (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) are £45 per year , Paid in April. These must be paid for insurance purposes.
(To see dates, visit the calendar page)
Goals for training
Our aim is to provide a safe enjoyable environment while encouraging and motivating all the swimmers to reach their optimum level of fitness and to instil a lifelong love of swimming as exercise.
We aim to provide the skills, self-discipline and techniques to ensure every child can reach their highest possible level of swimming competence.
While speed is not the primary goal, our focus on stroke technique and increasing stamina and fitness will automatically ensure good measurable gains which in turn will ensure the children are motivated to continue to strive for improvements. Constant constructive feedback is crucial so that children are aware of how much they are improving and helps swimmers concentrate on their own areas of weakness. While the Barracudas does not set out to be a competitive club, by invariably teaching to SASA competition rules (including starts, turns and finishes) members will in time have the skills to compete against their peers if they choose, and will be equipped to join a competitive club if they move from Balfron.
Each session builds on skills previously learned, with particular focus on stroke technique, turns, starts, and finishes. Extensive drill work is fun, not too tiring, and allows swimmers to focus on one specific part of a stroke. As the weeks progress, less drill work will be required and the focus will switch more to fitness work.
Annual Membership
There is currently no charge for membership of the club.
Term Fees
Term fees are charged to cover the basic running of the club: the costs of pool hire and the coaching staff.
Requests for the next term’s fees will be sent out by the club and will be paid bank transfer.
Prompt payment is requested to ensure the smooth running of the club and to secure the swimmer’s place.
Term dates are available on this website.
Scottish Swimming Membership
Each member of the club must pay an annual membership fee to Scottish Swimming.
This fee covers the cost of insurance for the club and the swimmers as well as membership of the governing body.
Scottish Swimming set their fees at their AGM in February and Barracudas makes a group payment on behalf of all members.
Members will be invoiced for their fee with the request for the third term fees sent out by the Club
New swimmers joining throughout the year will be given the can join at any time in the year and instructions will be given on how to register and pay this fee.