PARA SWIMMING
Swim BC, in partnership with viaSport, the Province of British Columbia, and the Canadian Sports Institute Pacific provide enhanced support for BC registered swimmers and their coaches through education, programs, benefits, and camps.
This page outlines enhanced programming for para swimming, where para swimmers are defined as swimmers with a physical, visual, or intellectual impairment and who have been classified by Swimming Canada. Swimmers must be registered members in good standing with a registered Swim BC club in a Competitive or Varsity category, has a designated coach who is responsible for their overall programming and daily training environment, and must be training full-time in BC or the Yukon.
PODIUM PATHWAY
The podium pathway is about developing high performance athletes capable of winning at the highest levels of international competition, and bringing home medals from Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or World Championships.
Swim BC supports the podium pathway through enhanced programming to support the development towards high-performance, where high-performance in the paralympic program is defined as: “A dedicated training environment, professional coaching supported by science and medicine, in and out of the pool, full-time commitment to achieving life-time best performances when it matters (i.e. – International summer meet), and a Top 5 in the world trending to improvement” (Definition Statement)
Resources supporting the long term athlete development strategy are listed below:
- Sport for Life – Long Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity
- Swimming Canada – Athlete Development Overview
- Swimming Canada – Long Term Athlete Development Strategy
- Swimming Canada – Appropriate Athlete Development and Athlete Development Matrix
- Swimming Canada – National Development Team Program
- Swimming Canada National Team Criteria
SWIMMER NOMINATION PROCESS
The following nomination process is required for all para swimmers in the Pacific Wave, Prospects, Advance, Perform, and Elite programs. The nomination process is supported by the following policies and criteria:
- Athlete Selection and Coach Appointment Policy
- Swim BC Appeal Policy
- CSI Pacific Nomination Criteria
Questions regarding the nomination process should be directed to the Swim BC Technical Dirctor.
STEP 1: IDENTIFICATION
Swimmers will be identified for each of the programs, ensuring that the appropriate criteria have been met, including residency, age, gender, performance standards and Para Sport Class Classification.
STEP 2: NOTIFICATION & PRE-REQUISITES
The club’s head coach and swimmer contact will be notified of any swimmers who have achieved the program criteria, linking them to the Swim BC Learning Hub to guide them through the completion of all pre-requisites.
STEP 3: NOMINATION & ATHLETE INTAKE
Swim BC will nominate all swimmers who have achieved the program criteria and who have completed their pre-requisites prior to the deadline.
STEP 4: CSI PACIFIC REGISTRATION
Nominated swimmers in the Prospects, Advance, Perform, and Elite groups will be required complete their registration with their local Canadian Sport Institute, PacificSport Centre, or Engage Sport North. Swim BC will contact the members with information on how to complete the registration. Additional CSI Pacific information is available here.
PROVINCIAL PROGRAM SUMMARY
Swim BC enhanced programming has been designed to support swimmers on their competitive swimming journey from entry to competitive swimming through to the High-Performance stage of the Podium Pathway.
The image to the right demonstrates these programming tiers, which support each swimmer’s needs at the appropriate age and performance levels. Program details are summarized below, with details available through the program specific links.
Para Pacific Wave
Para swimmers who Swimmers who meet the age and residency requirements, who are registered with Swimming Canada, who are aged 12 to 25 years as of December 31st and have a Level 1 Sport Class Classification will be selected to the Swim BC Para Prospects Provincial Team. More information…
Para Prospects
Prospects programming targets para swimmers aged 14 to 25 years as of December 31st, who have a minimum Level 2 Sport Class Classification, and have achieved one or more Swim BC Para Prospects time standards. More Information…
Para Advance
Prospects programming targets para swimmers aged 14 to 25 years as of December 31st, who have a minimum Level 3 Sport Class Classification, and have achieved one or more Swim BC Para Advance time standards. More information…
Para Perform
Para Perform programming targets para swimmers aged 14 years and older as of December 31st, who have a minimum International Level Sport Class Classification, and have achieved one or more Swim BC Para Perform time standards or have been selected to a Swimming Canada Senior National Team. More information…
Para Elite
The Para Elite program are para swimmers who appear on the Sport Canada AAP Carding List and verified by Swimming Canada. These athletes are in the High-Performance Train to Win stage of the Podium Pathway. More information…
ENHANCED PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES
The following initiatives will support the developing para swimmer. Each initiative is tentative and subject to change.
