The benefits of competitive swimming are numerous and diverse, both in and out of the pool there are many ways to progress in this sport.

Firstly, you will notice an unsurpassed improvement in your child's swimming. There is no better way to learn how to swim than to join a swim club. In fact, depending on the age and level of the child it won't be long until they are swimming faster, farther and better than their parents. The benefits are also long-term - like riding a bike, swimming is a lifetime skill. The skills swimmers develop now will be with them for the rest of their lives. As adults, if they choose to pursue Masters swimming, triathlon, general fitness or even rehabilitation from an injury, their background in a swim club will be a great advantage.

Swimming also requires great fitness. It is a unique combination of strength, flexibility, speed and endurance. It may not be as apparent as their skill development, but developing fitness at a young age is as important and sets the stage for a lifetime pursuit.

"Individual excellence" is a common theme throughout swimming. Although one races against other swimmers, in the end, one is always racing against one's self. Best times are the name of the game. Often the last place swimmer will share the same victory as others if they also have improved their time.

As well as skill and physical development, competitive swimming also encourages personal development and life skills that will be applied far beyond the pool. Success in swimming is the product not only of natural talent, but also of determination, discipline and dedication. These skills will be of as much virtue outside the pool as they are in. Although an individual sport, swim practices and training are all team based. From the beginning, KISU swimmers are taught good sportsmanship and how to be a team player. Within the pool, as a mirror for life, there will also be an occasional failure. Swimmers learn to deal with this in a positive manner (it is only through failure that we learn how to do it better the next time), which again, is a life skill that can be applied far and beyond the wet environment where it was learnt.

Swimming allows unlimited challenge, from the completion of one length, through to swimming a mile, from the tears at disqualification to the smile of victory, from a KISU Mini Meet to the Olympics.

We hope that your season with the KISU Swim Club will be a success on all the different levels that swimming has to offer. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

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