December 14, 2023

On Tuesday, May 9, the Aquatics department hosted the first ASD Internal Swim Team Meet for Middle School and Elementary School, with swimmers who were selected on the swim team for season 3. One hundred twenty (120) swimmers participated in each swimming three event, plus a relay at our indoor pool. The parent area was packed with spectators, which made the ASD dragon's spirit feel alive! 

This was an excellent opportunity for swimmers to experience racing in a professional environment with touch pads, timing systems, and diving blocks. Swimmers have now recorded times in the Hytec system and will have a benchmark for the future.

Special thanks to our Grade 11 and 12 Aquatics leadership students who lifeguarded the pool and were the timers, Hydra coaches, and Hydra swimmers for supporting the meet. 

A big shout-out goes to our Coaches who have worked with swimmers over the last few months.

• Elementary School - Coach Jawad, Coach Clareleen, Coach Youssef, Coach Alex, Coach Maroune, Coach Joe, Coach Roseal, Coach Waylon, Coach Anje,Coach Anje,and Coach La Vica

• Middle School - Coach Maroune, Coach James, Coach Anje, Coach Anje, and Coach La Vica

A team of 20 boys and 20 girls was selected to compete in the QPPSSA event. 

The ASD Aquatics program has offered swimming over all three seasons to cater to different ability groups, and we will continue to strengthen and develop over the next few years with the quality foundations that we are instilling in swimmers and our program. This year we have had 230 swimmers participate in our ASD programs.

If your child is interested in competitive swimming, ASD has a swimming club that runs year-round. Information can be found at https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/qahydra/page/home.

March 16, 2023

Curriculum Update 

UES students have just completed two separate 5-week units of the Aquatics curriculum.  Ms. Barnwell’s Physical Education students swam for the first 4 weeks, followed by Ms. Brooke’s students.  This week they are concluding their swim unit with a Biathlon, which includes running and swimming a predetermined distance based on an individual goal that students set.  Parents were also welcomed to campus to watch their children perform in the event.

During the Aquatics unit Instructors placed students into groups based on swimming skill level and assigned the most developmentally appropriate swimming groups. Classes generally had 4 instructors to enhance student learning.  In some cases, 5 instructors were needed to maximize learning opportunities for our students.  Our Aquatics instructors work in and out of the water depending on student readiness.  This promotes best practices within the Aquatics curriculum and provides our students the most opportunities to progress within the unit.  Our lifeguard monitors both swimming pools for full zone coverage to ensure our swimmers are in a safe and nurturing environment.

Each student took part in 10 swimming lessons.  Eight of these lessons were focused on the following skills: Front crawl (freestyle) and backstroke, an introduction to breaststroke, shallow diving from the edge of the pool or blocks, feet first surface dive and tuck dive, safe entries/exits, breathing control and treading water.  All students showed vast improvements throughout these lessons.  Students finished their last class with the Wibit obstacle course, and exploratory play was the focus. 

Middle School students are continuing their rotations for swimming.  Grade 6 works on safety and survival skills.  Grade 7 masks, snorkels, fins, and Grade 8 focuses on water polo and synchronized swimming.  All grades include 10 - 15 mins of stroke refinement, broken into 3 ability groups, so students work at their correct levels with an instructor.  Water safety topics are also covered throughout the units, and at the end of each lesson, a fun game is played, which connects to the skill goal for the lesson.  The wibit obstacle course was brought out for the last day, and students enjoyed trying to post the fastest times.

SWIMCON Doha

SWIMCON Doha International kicked off the return of international conferences and training opportunities from Swim Coaches and Teachers Association hosted at the American School of Doha Qatar on March 4th and 5th.

A team of three representatives and trainers from SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia (SWIM), the peak body for swimming Coaches, Teachers and Swim Schools in Australia, traveled to Doha, Qatar to deliver a suite of courses to train and upskill 59 people from 14 countries with 83 courses registered. 

ASD aquatics instructors, physical education teachers, and parents participated in a course and every response was positive. 

Here is what some conference attendees had to say:

Narelle Brooke (ASD UES Physical Education)

“'It was fantastic to have such high quality professional development here at ASD. I gained a great deal of knowledge and improved my skills and confidence in being able to teach and extend swimmers to their full potential.'

Maroune Aouinat (ASD Aquatics Instructor)

Great experience working with Aquatics industry specialist and refining our skills as well as networking”

Joe Antony (ASD Aquatics Instructor)

“What a great learning experience! It adds value to the learner” 

The SCTA team successfully delivered four swim teaching and coaching courses, SWIM's first international event since the reopening of international borders. Many of the students attended the courses looking to upskill their careers and provide better employment opportunities for themselves.

Brendon Ward (SWIM CEO)

"Now that international borders are reopening with less travel restrictions in place, we are able to recommence our delivering of courses to international students. Doha sees a return to our international courses. When they were asked if we were interested in delivering courses in this area, we jumped at the chance, to not only educate and inspire new teachers, but to also spread the message of global water safety."

Mr Ward, who is also the Vice President for the International Federation of Swimming Teachers' Associations (IFSTA) believes that by delivering courses to areas not known for its aquatic sports, it will also have a positive impact in the reduction of international drowning rates.

Course participants shared that there is a high rate of drowning, with many numbers not even reported. More teachers trained in water safety and education means that more lessons of a high quality will be delivered."

Course participants from countries such as Kuwait, Nepal, Tunisia, Morocco, Cyprus and the Netherlands traveled to hear SWIM presenters Gary Toner, Simon Watkins and Joanne Efendi deliver their course workshops and to network with fellow international aquatics educators.  These conferences are not only for us to deliver world class education, but to also provide these networking opportunities for our students.

SWIM will hold their next international event in Beijing, China from November 10-13. A range of courses will be held, from Swim Teaching and Coaching to Lifeguarding. Aquatics Director Amanda Allen will be presenting at this conference.

Season 2 ASA Swimming 

Developmental Swim Team and Become a Better Swimmer

The developmental swim team and “Become a Better Swimmer” targeted students from grades 2 - 5 who swim in developmental groups in Physical Education.  These swimmers are developing their strokes in freestyle and backstroke and may have some breaststroke skills depending on their grade level. 

40 students from our developmental program participated in the indoor pool 2 days a week.  Students focussed on refining freestyle, backstroke, and developing breaststroke.  Students experimented with turns, learned to dive, and understood the rules for competition, focusing on starting and finishing.  Parents were invited to attend a simulation competition.  Coaches Maroune, Coach Jawad, Coach Alex, and 2 qualified student Lifeguards from our aquatics leadership course were on deck, ensuring a safe environment.  Thank you, parents, for supporting this program and watching your children race.  They were happy to be supported. 

50 Students from our “Become a Better Swimmer” and grade 2 developmental swim team swam at the outdoor pool 2 days a week.  Students focused on refining freestyle and backstroke, introductions to breaststroke kicks, and learning about lane swimming and space between swimmers.  Coach Youseff, Coach Clarleen, Coach Joe, Coach Roseal, 2 qualified student instructors Coach Kiara, and Coach Mariella supported our swimmers.  In addition, 2 qualified student Lifeguards from our aquatics leadership course were on deck, ensuring a safe environment.

Parents had the opportunity to talk with coaches at the end of the session in both the indoor and outdoor pools about their child’s progress, and the feedback received from parents, and coaches was positive.

ASA Aquatics Fun and Games

60 students participate in the fun and games program which was offered once a week for 30 students. 

Offerings for ASA/Sports for swimming 

Season 1 - Water Confidence  (G1 to G5)

Season 2 - Become a better swimmers (G2 to G5)

Season 2 - Developmental  (G2 to G5)

Season 3 - Swim Team  (G2 to G5)

Emails are sent out from the Aquatics Director from group data collected during PE classes. Information is sent before the regular ASA sign ups if your child is in the targeted group for the season. Places are limited due to pool space and staff ratios. Confirmation emails are sent and if you are unsuccessful in securing a place in swimming due to numbers being full you still have the opportunity to select another ASA or sport.

March 2, 2023