Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club
Nurturing homegrown talent - from early development to performance
2025 HAMPSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OVERALL 3rd RANKED CLUB
2025 SOUTH EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS
AGE GROUP 5th RANKED CLUB
2025 NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS OVERALL 5th RANKED CLUB
2025 BRITISH MASTERS DECATHLON CHAMPIONS OVERALL 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
• Active Volunteer trained workforce, Officials, TMs & 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. Competitive swimming begins in our Skills Academy and progresses through to National medalists, supported by regular access to 50m training. Alongside this sits a well-established water polo programme, a dedicated disability and para-swimming pathway, and inclusive Masters and fitness squads for all ages.
With experienced coaching, purposeful training and a structured team culture supported by qualified officials, team managers and junior volunteers, 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 - 3 TEAMS
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
Clear, practical guidance to help you understand how competitive swimming works.
Parents new to the sport often tell us swimming feels complex at first, with unfamiliar terminology, squad pathways, competition formats and rankings that are not always easy to follow.
Developed in collaboration with our coaching team, the Parent Guides explain how swimming works in practice, how progress is measured and how parents can best support their swimmers.
Together, the guides provide the confidence families need to navigate competitive swimming and support long term development from first galas onwards.
How Swim England Rankings Actually Work
Guide to Auto and Base consideration times
Discover Bluefins Water Polo
Fast, fierce, and full of fun — Water Polo at Bluefins blends swimming fitness, teamwork and strategy in one dynamic sport.
It’s a brilliant challenge for swimmers who love competition and want to build all-round strength, confidence and control in the pool.
From our Academy Squad (ages 9–13) through to Junior, Men’s and Women’s training, players learn how to move, pass and communicate as part of a true team.
As part of the Hampshire Water Polo Network, Bluefins members enjoy joint fixtures, regional tournaments and exciting development opportunities across the South East.
Swimming Pathways & Progression
At Bluefins, swimming is not one size fits all. Our pathways are designed to complement each other, giving every swimmer the right balance of skills, challenge and enjoyment at the right time.
A hallmark of Bluefins is flexibility. Swimmers are not locked into a single route. Our coaches monitor progress daily and open booster opportunities when swimmers are ready. Pathways adapt to age, ability and ambition so swimmers remain challenged, supported and motivated to grow.
Each season, our pathways support swimmers with different goals, from County racing through to Regional and National competition, while also providing routes for those who swim for health, enjoyment and fitness.
Whatever the aim, Bluefins offers the structure, coaching and team environment needed to thrive.
Squad Highlights in Our 5 Pathways
Skills Development – Skills Academy entry squads 1-4, the umbrella for swimmers moving from lessons to club training.
Competitive – Competitive Development & Age Group Competitive.
County – County Development.
Performance – Age Group Performance, Youth Performance, Regional Performance & National Performance.
Club Fitness – Club 1 (Junior) & Club 2 (Senior).
Skills Academy
Ages 7–11
The starting point for every Bluefins journey. Swimmers move beyond lessons into structured training, refining technique across all four strokes and building the confidence to train with purpose. Sessions introduce teamwork, discipline, and good habits, while fun galas provide a first taste of racing. Coaching creates strong foundations for future progression.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Club Fitness
Ages 11+
Swimming for life. Not every swimmer wants the intensity of Performance or the pressure of competition, but many still value the benefits of structured training. Club Fitness provides a flexible, sociable squad focused on health, wellbeing and enjoyment. Swimmers maintain good technique, stay active and remain connected to the sport in a supportive environment.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
& FITNESS
Competitive Squads
Ages 8–15
Where racing begins. Swimmers learn pacing, dives, turns and finishes — the details that bring races together. Licensed meets and galas build confidence, while training develops consistency, stronger race skills and steady readiness for County Development through focused practice.
This pathway balances fun with the first meaningful steps into competitive swimming.
COMPETITIVE
PATHWAY
County Development
Ages 9–15
A stage of progression and resilience. Swimmers broaden racing across strokes and distances, targeting Hampshire County qualifying times. Training becomes more focused, linking effort directly to results, while open meets provide valuable competition.
This stage builds consistency, stamina and discipline, preparing swimmers with the skills and mindset for Performance.
COUNTY
PATHWAY
Performance Squads
Ages 10+
For swimmers with the commitment and ambition to push further. Training is demanding and rewarding, combining advanced technical work with preparation for high-level competition. The goal is success at County, Regional, and National level. Swimmers sharpen strategies, take ownership of their training and develop the mindset needed to excel under pressure.
PERFORMANCE
PATHWAY
While the five core pathways form the backbone of the club, Junior Masters and Masters squads sit alongside them, bridging the gap between the Fitness and Performance pathways. These squads offer opportunities for older or returning swimmers to stay active, train with purpose and compete at County, National and World Masters level.
Our Inclusive and Disability programme is delivered through the Sharks Squad and provides structured support for swimmers with additional needs. For some swimmers, Sharks is a long-term home, while for others it becomes a stepping stone into different parts of the club. Movement into mainstream Bluefins squads, including Skills Academy, Competitive Development and Masters, happens where appropriate, and para performance pathways are available within our County Development and Performance squads. This means inclusion sits within the main club pathway rather than alongside it.
Why Our Swimming Pathway Works
Clarity
Parents and swimmers know what each stage offers and how progression works.
Flexibility
Movement between pathways means swimmers are supported as goals and circumstances change.
Balance
From competitive racing to fitness and wellbeing, there is a place for every swimmer.
Progression
Skills developed at each stage prepare swimmers for the next step.
Wherever you start, there is a place for you at Bluefins. From first strokes to County competition and from performance racing to lifelong fitness, our pathway ensures every swimmer can find the right squad, the right challenge and the right support.
📩 Ready to take the next step? Contact us to arrange a trial swim and discover your Bluefins pathway.
Swimming Squads & Pathways Guide
Our full swimming Squads and Pathways Guide (2026) brings the club structure together in one place, from Skills Academy and Competitive squads through to County, Performance, Club Fitness, Junior Masters and Masters.
It shows how each squad fits within the wider programme, the typical age ranges, and how swimmers progress over time, aligned with our Bluefins development philosophy and Swim England’s interpretation of the Optimal Athlete Development Framework (OADF).
Designed for new and existing families, the guide provides a clear reference for understanding where each squad sits, how movement works, and how our pathways support swimmers with different goals, from performance racing to lifelong fitness.
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 protects coaching time and maintains the structure that allows each squad to function consistently across Skills Academy, Masters, Water Polo and inclusive swimming. 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.
Racing, Fitness or Water Polo - Find out where you belong in the water.
