Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club
Nurturing homegrown talent - from early development to performance
NEW FOR 2026 CLUB FITNESS
SE REGION'S FASTEST GROWING FITNESS SQUADS
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-COMPETITIVE, FITNESS-FOCUSED SWIMMERS
2026 HAMPSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2nd RANKED CLUB
2026 SOUTH EAST LC CHAMPIONSHIPS
OVERALL 7th, AGE GROUP 6th RANKED CLUB
2025 HAMPSHIRE MASTERS CHAMPIONS
WINNERS 2010 - 2017 & 2019 - 2025
2025 NATIONAL MASTERS SC CHAMPIONSHIPS
5th RANKED CLUB (SHORT COURSE)
2026 NATIONAL MASTERS LC CHAMPIONSHIPS
6th RANKED CLUB (LONG COURSE)
2025 BRITISH MASTERS DECATHLON CHAMPIONS 1st RANKED WOMEN'S TEAM
Our Club at a Glance
• Over 50 years at the heart of Basingstoke
• 400+ Members across Swimming & Water Polo
• Dedicated Disability and Para-Swimming pathway
• 16 Squads from Skills Academy to Performance
• 28+ Coaches supporting structured multi-squad delivery
• Volunteer trained workforce, Officials, TMs, Coaches & Juniors
• Medalists at County, Regional, National & World level
Basingstoke Bluefins is a thriving community club at the heart of North Hampshire, recognised as one of the South East Region's top-performing swimming clubs.
We deliver clear, structured pathways across aquatic sport. Our Skills Academy provides the bridge from swimming lessons into structured club swimming, with further coaching environments supporting competitive swimming through to national-level performance and regular access to 50m training. Alongside this sits a well-established Water Polo programme, a dedicated disability squad and inclusive para-swimming pathway, plus adult Masters and expanding teenage Club fitness squads.
Experienced coaching, purposeful training and a structured team culture are supported by a dedicated volunteer network including qualified officials, team managers, coaches and junior helpers. Bluefins gives every member the opportunity to develop, progress and enjoy the sport at every stage of their journey.
Join a club that balances performance with community.
NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE
2025 - 3 TEAMS A TEAM: 9th PREMIER DIVISION - B TEAM: 10th DIVISION 1 WEST - C TEAM: 12th DIVISION 2 WEST
2024 - 3 TEAMS A TEAM:15th PREMIER DIVISION - B TEAM: 9th DIVISION 1 WEST - C TEAM: 9th DIVISION 2 WEST
2023 - 2 TEAMS A TEAM: 1st DIVISION 1 WEST - B TEAM: 1st DIVISION 2 WEST - ARENA LEAGUE DOUBLE CHAMPIONS
Parent Guides
Practical Support for Swimming Families
Swimming can feel unfamiliar at first. Squad pathways, competition formats, qualifying times and technical language are not always easy to follow.
Our Parent Guides provide clear, practical information to help families navigate the club, the sport and the different stages of a swimmer’s development.
Created with input from the Bluefins coaching team, the guides cover topics including training, competition, progression, swimmer wellbeing and how parents can provide positive support.
They are designed for both new and experienced families, providing a useful reference from a swimmer’s first club experiences through to long-term participation.
How Swim England Rankings Actually Work
Guide to Auto and Base consideration times
Discover Water Polo
Water Polo at Bluefins combines swimming fitness, teamwork, movement and strategy within a fast-paced team sport.
It provides a different aquatic challenge for young people who enjoy learning new skills, working with others and becoming more confident in the water.
From our Water Polo Academy for players aged 9–13 through to Junior and Senior training, players learn how to move, pass, communicate and contribute as part of a team.
Strong swimming skills provide the foundation for Water Polo. Academy and Junior players are therefore encouraged to continue swimming alongside their Water Polo training where appropriate.
As part of the Hampshire Water Polo Network, Bluefins players can experience joint training, fixtures, tournaments and wider development opportunities.
Swimming Pathways & Progression
At Bluefins, swimmer development is not one size fits all.
Our pathways support different ages, abilities and ambitions, from a child’s first experience of structured club swimming through to National competition, lifelong fitness and Masters swimming.
Swimmers are not expected to follow one fixed route. Our coaches consider technical development, confidence, training behaviours, readiness and personal goals when recommending the most appropriate environment.
A Pathway for Every Swimmer
Skills Academy provides the bridge between swimming lessons and structured club training.
Development Pathways help swimmers broaden their skills, experience competition where appropriate and explore future opportunities through Club Development, Competitive Development and Focused Development.
Club Fitness provides flexible, fully coached swimming for older swimmers who want to maintain fitness, continue improving and remain part of Bluefins without competition being expected.
Competitive, County, Performance and National Pathways support swimmers who enjoy racing and are ready for progressively greater training and competition demands.
Junior Masters and Masters provide continued opportunities for older, returning and adult swimmers, from fitness training through to National and international Masters competition.
Bluefins also provides dedicated opportunities through Sharks Disability & Inclusion and a progressive Water Polo programme.
Finding the Right Environment
Progression is not simply about moving upwards.
The most appropriate squad is the one that provides the right balance of challenge, support and enjoyment at that stage of the swimmer’s journey.
Our full Squad Structure, Pathways & Progression Guide explains each squad, typical age range, training expectations and progression routes in more detail.
Explore the full Squad Structure, Pathways & Progression Guide.
Developing Swimmers. Developing People.
Swimming Squads & Pathways Guide
2026/2025 Swimming Performance Stats
Did you know?
"Delivering a successful home Level 4 licensed swim meet can require over 40 volunteers"
Typical breakdown: 16+ Officials. 4+ Team Managers, 10+ Event Support Crew, 4+ Coaches, 4+ Technical Team and 1 Announcer.
Our Club Community Volunteers
Bluefins is built on people who choose to be involved.
Volunteers uphold training standards, enable competition delivery and support inclusive sport across every pathway in the club.
Most are parents of swimmers or players, Masters members or others connected to the club who want to contribute to a thriving community. Their involvement helps the club operate effectively and maintains the structure that allows each squad to function consistently across Skills Academy, competitive, fitness and inclusive swimming, Masters and Water Polo. The club actively develops officials, junior volunteers and coaches to strengthen long-term capacity across every pathway.
They provide stability behind the scenes so swimmers and players can focus on learning, competing and maintaining an active, healthy future.
Officiating
Trained officials ensure swimming and water polo events are delivered safely and fairly in line with Swim England regulations. Clear training routes are available for those who want to develop in this role.
Officials contribute directly to the quality and credibility of competition through timing, judging and meet administration.
Sarah oversees our officials group and guides new volunteers through training and accreditation.
Contact Sarah to discuss how to begin.
Team Managers
Team Managers organise swimmers at competitions, manage communication and provide structure on poolside. Their leadership supports a calm and focused environment.
They coordinate reporting, support athletes between races and ensure race days operate smoothly.
Kat coordinates our Team Managers and supports volunteers as they learn how competition weekends operate.
Contact Kat to find out which roles are currently available.
Read: Team Manager Spotlight
Junior Volunteers (Coaching)
Swimmers aged 14+ can assist our lead coaches across development, inclusive, fitness and water polo squads. This pathway builds responsibility and strengthens the future coaching team. It offers consistent involvement within an agreed squad, allowing volunteers to develop confidence, reliability and leadership over time.
Spencer supports junior volunteers as they begin their coaching journey, move through funded CPD training and work towards Level 1 qualifications.
Speak to Spencer to explore how to get started.
Tech Desk Team
The Tech Desk manages entries, timing systems and results at meets. Accuracy and organisation here underpin professional event delivery.
This team is essential to how we operate. It also includes the meet hardware set up and break down team, who install and test timing systems before competition and dismantle equipment once racing has finished.
Tom leads the Tech Desk team and supports training for new volunteers.
Contact Tom to learn more about joining the team.
Coaching
Volunteer coaches support delivery across every pathway in the club. Many began as swimmers or junior volunteers before progressing through supported formal qualifications.
Coaches reinforce technical standards and contribute to long-term development across skills, fitness, inclusive and performance squads.
Spencer leads coaching development and can advise on mentoring, training and progression routes.
Speak to Spencer to discuss coaching opportunities.
Read: Coaching Development
Operational
Behind these visible roles is a wider group of operational volunteers who support governance and compliance. This includes coordination of officials and volunteers, SwimMark standards, welfare, fundraising activity and administrative book keeping. These roles protect the structure of the club and ensure it remains sustainable.
Fleur supports operational volunteers and can help match people to roles that suit their skills and availability.
Contact Fleur to explore how you can contribute.
Ready to start your Bluefins journey?
👉 Weekly trials available — just contact our Amazing Ali to book your swimmer's place.
Swimming, Fitness or Water Polo: Find the Bluefins environment where you can belong and develop.
