Bluefins Stars Awards | Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club

Bluefins Star Awards (pre-squads)

The following awards developed by Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club are specifically designed to prepare those swimmers at the end of the Learn to Swim program to enter the squad structure. As such, the

criteria has been created using both pre‐existing 'Learn To Swim' outcomes (stages 6‐7) in addition to key skills that swimmers will need to master, before they enter the Club Squad Structure. After passing each stage swimmers will be awarded the appropriate badge and certificate, in addition to the distance badges which will be offered too.

The 3 Bluefins Star Awards are independent to moving through the Skills Academy Pre-Squad.

For more information as to what's required for each award please see below.

Bluefins Star Award -
1 Star (Beginner)

STREAMLINED OUTCOMES

Push off’s on front
A push and glide from the wall, in a streamlined position the surface of the water on front.
Push off’s on back
A push and glide from the wall, in a streamlined position the surface of the water on back.

STROKE OUTCOMES

Frontcrawl
Distance, 10m. Swim Frontcrawl with 6 rhythmical, bilateral breaths whilst expelling air in the water. Consistent over the water arm recovery.
Backstroke
Distance, 10m. Swim Backstroke maintaining a good head position with a consistent and rhythmical kick during the stroke.
Breaststroke
Distance, 10m. Swim Breaststroke with a sculling action to initiate breathing, correct timing and the correct movement pattern for the leg kick.
Butterfly
Distance, 10m. Body roll fly kick on front, good undulation from the whole body. Swim single arm fly for 10m.

RACE OUTCOMES

Dive starts
Perform a dive (sitting, kneeing or standing) into the pool.
Tumble Turns
Push and glide into a roly poly, maintain a tucked position.
Starts/turns/finishes
Complete a legal start and finish for both Frontcrawl and Backstroke.

SKILL OUTCOMES

Sculling
Head first sculling for 10m.
Distance Swim
Swim 50m Frontcrawl (Earn 50m distance badge).
Treading water
Demonstrate basic treading water for 15 seconds arms and legs.

KNOWLEDGE OUTCOMES

Basic "Swimmer" knowledge
Explain why you need to bring water (basic understanding) and consistently bring water to training.

Bluefins Star Award -
2 Star (Intermediate)

STREAMLINED OUTCOMES

Push off’s on front
A push and glide from the wall, in a streamlined position, pushing off under the water on front.
Push off’s on back
A push and glide from the wall, in a streamlined position, pushing off under the water on back.

STROKE OUTCOMES

Frontcrawl
Distance, 25m. Swim Frontcrawl whereby the breathing action is initiated through a body roll and not a head lift/turn. Consistent over the water arm recover with good technique.
Backstroke
Distance, 25m. Swim Backstroke with good body rotation from hips and shoulders, introduce a smooth arm action.
Breaststroke
Distance, 25m. Swim Breaststroke with a sculling action to initiate breathing, include a glide and introduce a whip kick.
Butterfly
Distance, 25m. Body roll kick and either an effective fly kick on back (arms by side) or on side. Swim full stroke fly for 10m.

RACE OUTCOMES

Dive starts
Perform a dive (kneeing or standing) into the pool and maintain a streamlined glide for a minimum of 5m.
Tumble Turns
Swim into a roly poly mid pool, maintaining a tucked position.
Starts/turns/finishes
Complete a legal start and finish for breaststroke and butterfly, plus a legal Frontcrawl and Backstroke turn.

SKILL OUTCOMES

Sculling
Feet first sculling for 10m.
Distance Swim
Swim 100m Frontcrawl and 100m Backstroke (Earn 100m distance badge).
Treading water
30 seconds of eggbeater leg kick with arms.

KNOWLEDGE OUTCOMES

Basic "Swimmer" knowledge
On coaches instruction (e.g. when previously swimmer is past the flags) set off for their swim independently.

Bluefins Star Award -
3 Star (Advanced)

STREAMLINED OUTCOMES

Push off’s on front
A push and glide from the wall, in a streamlined position, pushing off under the water on front, with three fly kicks.
Push off’s on back
A push and glide from the wall, in a streamlined position, pushing off under the water on back, with three fly kicks.

STROKE OUTCOMES

Frontcrawl
Distance, 50m. Able to swim with good control over breathing, for example adopting a breathing pattern of 3/5/7. Consistent over the water arm recover with good technique.
Backstroke
Distance, 50m. Swim Backstroke with consistent body rotation within the stroke with a smooth arm action and rhythmical kicks.
Breaststroke
Distance, 50m. Progress from a scull to a small Breaststroke arm action, maintain effective timing including a glide.
Butterfly
Distance, 25m. Effective kicking for all three variations, body roll, kicking on side and kicking on back (arms by side), in addition to 25m full stroke fly.

RACE OUTCOMES

Dive starts
Perform a standing dive into the pool, maintain a streamlined glide for a minimum of 5m and include 3 fly kicks under the water.
Tumble Turns
Complete a static or moving tumble turn against a wall with a streamlined push off.
Starts/turns/finishes
Complete a legal start, turn and finish for all four strokes.

SKILL OUTCOMES

Sculling
10m of sculling in one direction, transitioning into 10m of sculling in the opposite direction (demonstrate ability to change direction).
Distance Swim
Swim 200m Frontcrawl and 100m IM (Earn 200m distance badge).
Treading water
1 minute of eggbeater leg kick, arms out of the water for some of the time.

KNOWLEDGE OUTCOMES

Basic "Swimmer" knowledge
Demonstrate a basic understanding of pre pool, initial understanding and demonstration of the “raise” part.