Nottinghamshire is proud to be home to one of the UK’s most successful swimming performance pathways, a county that has produced an impressive 18 Olympians and Paralympians, 145 senior international swimmers, and 165 international medallists.
But the mission of the Nottinghamshire Amateur Swimming Association (Notts ASA) goes far beyond creating fast swimmers. It’s about developing confident, resilient young people and our new Aqua Stars programme is doing just that.
Developed in collaboration with Notts ASA, the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (NOVA Centurion), and local Learn to Swim programmes, Aqua Stars is a grassroots talent identification initiative. By working directly with Learn to Swim sessions across the county, the programme is able to identify young swimmers who show early potential, passion, and a natural affinity for the water.
Those identified are invited to join one of Nottinghamshire’s many local base clubs, welcoming environments where children can grow not only as athletes, but as individuals. Club swimming offers far more than just technical skill development. It instils discipline, teamwork, goal-setting and perseverance. It builds self-esteem, emotional resilience, and the ability to handle both success and setbacks. Just as importantly, children gain essential water safety skills that can serve them for life.
Swimming clubs offer a sense of structure, purpose and belonging. Through their training journey, young swimmers learn the value of hard work, accountability, and time management, life skills that stretch far beyond the pool. For many, these experiences are as powerful and rewarding as any podium finish.
For those who show continued promise, the pathway leads to the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad, where swimmers train at a higher level and gain access to regional, national, and even international competition. Whether a child dreams of elite success or simply wants to continue enjoying the sport they love, the Aqua Stars programme supports them every step of the way.
“The pilot of this scheme has been fantastic so far. It’s been incredibly inspiring to see talented swimmers identified early and given the opportunity to progress into the club environment,” says Joseph Stanford, Director of Coaching for Nottinghamshire Swimming. “The feedback from parents and coaches has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m delighted to say we plan to roll this programme out across the whole of Nottinghamshire from September 2025.”
The future of swimming in Nottinghamshire is brighter than ever and through Aqua Stars, we’re not just building swimmers. We’re building confident, capable young people ready to thrive in and out of the water.
