For some time, we had wanted to improve pre-pool preparation across our development and age group squads. The issue was not finding exercises. Plenty of good information already existed. The challenge was getting young swimmers to engage with pre-pool consistently and understand that preparation was part of training rather than something separate from swimming. For the most part, effective pre-pool simply was not happening on poolside.

In Performance swimming, knowing a time is only the starting point. Swimmers need to understand whether it matched the task and how their pace changed across the set. This guide builds on the clock-reading and lane habits covered in Using the Pace Clock: The Skill Every Swimmer Needs to Master. Know Your Times and Know Why Three pieces of information matter: Target pace: The time you are aiming to hold. Cycle time: The time from one start to the next, including s

Bluefins Finish 7th Overall in the South East Region The South East Region is widely regarded as one of the strongest swimming regions in the country, making the Regional Championships an important benchmark for club performance. At the 2026 South East Regional Championships, Basingstoke Bluefins finished 7th overall in the regional club rankings, placing the club amongst the leading programmes in the South East. Representing the club across the Championships were 34 swimm

Swimming for Fitness, Confidence and Wellbeing At Bluefins, not every swimmer is working towards competition and that’s an important part of who we are as a club. Many swimmers simply want to stay active, improve their fitness and enjoy being in the water. Our Club Fitness squads provide a structured, coached environment for swimmers who want exactly that, without the expectations that come with racing. This pathway continues to grow, with over 60 swimmers now training reg

As swimmers gain more racing experience, parents often see them competing across a range of strokes and events. A swimmer who performs well in freestyle may also race backstroke or butterfly. Others may appear in the 200IM or longer events that stretch their skills. This can naturally prompt the question: If a swimmer has a strongest event, why not focus on that race? Age-group swimming is designed to build complete swimmers, not early specialists.

Congratulations to all of our swimmers, coaches and volunteers who contributed to this outstanding achievement. Basingstoke Bluefins finished 2nd overall at the 2026 Hampshire County Championships, the strongest result in the club’s history. It reflects the collective effort of swimmers in the water and dedicated coaches guiding the programme, supported by the wider Bluefins community. In recent seasons the club has built steady momentum across the pathway.

In age-group swimming it is common to see some swimmers dominate races at younger ages while others develop more gradually. They win races, collect medals and appear stronger than their peers. From the outside it can look like the beginning of a long and successful sporting journey. Early success is something to celebrate. Strong results often reflect commitment in training, supportive coaching and developing skills in the water. Many swimmers who perform well at younger ag

One of the most common concerns parents raise in competitive swimming appears around the same stage of development. A swimmer who once improved every few months seems to stall, training begins to feel tougher and results no longer move forward as quickly as before. Friends begin to drift away from the sport while school pressures increase and motivation fluctuates. Parents naturally start to ask a worrying question. Is something wrong?

Competitive swimming is about development, standards and belonging. Phoebe’s journey through Bluefins shows what is possible when opportunity and expectation sit side by side. From Sharks Disability Squad to the competitive pathway, from mainstream meets to para classification, her story reflects integration, resilience and steady progression.

National research has reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression among UK swimming coaches. While Bluefins does not reflect these findings, the study offers a timely reminder that coaching carries demands that deserve recognition and support. The research, published in The Sport Psychologist by Nottingham Trent University and funded by the British Swimming Coaches Association, called for greater attention to coach wellbeing across the sport.