Greenwich Swimming Club is a friendly family club with a positive philosophy which actively participates in competitive swimming and strives to promote swimming in the Greenwich area. The club has over 13 hours of water time every week and a membership of about 130 young swimmers. The youngest swimmers are offered over 3 hours pooltime in 3 sessions per week and the advanced swimmers more than 8 hours in 8 sessions including land training.

The club was established at the opening of Greenwich Baths (now The Arches Leisure Centre) in 1928 and up until 2003 all the coaching was by a volunteer staff mostly consisting of parents enabling the club to keep its fees low. In 2003 the club employed its first professional coach, Mark Hays. Our performance noticeably improved and in the 2004 season the club was top of the Tudor and Millennium leagues.

Swimmers are assigned to a group by the coach on ability and speed with a consideration for their age and can attend as many sessions as they want for that group. Entry level for non-swimmers from 5 years is to the Starfish group and for 50 metre swimmers into Sharks whose approximate ages range 7 to 9 years. Progressing to Bronze group swimmers practice stroke quality, speed and skills required for galas. Swimmers are promoted to Silver and Gold groups based on a qualifying time for a medley swim of all strokes.

Our training sessions are held mostly at the two pools in The Arches Leisure Centre, Greenwich but use is also made of Eaglesfield Pool for the younger swimmers and Crystal Palace 50 metre pool for the advanced swimmers.

The club encourages a competitive spirit and partakes in a variety of galas against other local clubs. Most galas involve about 6 clubs competing in a league and are run through the year. We currently participate in the Tudor League, the Millennium League and the North Kent Junior League. Outside the leagues the club attends one-off special galas and swimmers over 9 years can race in Open galas.

Towards the end of the year we hold our club championships where the youngest can get their first taste of racing and everyone competes for medals and an array of silver trophies established during the history of the club. The awards are presented in the early part of the new year by the club president, The Mayor of Greenwich, at a social evening.

Our coach has expanded the teaching team by training up the older swimmers who have reached the top of the Gold squad. This has the dual benefit of equipping the older members with a useful teaching skill in a discipline which they have much experience and in increasing the number of swimmers that can be taught at the club. All club staff are police checked.

The club is managed by a committee of 12 parents and swimmers. There is an opportunity for older club members and parents to train as lifeguards, teachers, gala judges and officials. Please visit the office if you would like to be involved in running our club and chat to one of the committee.