West Coast Swimming Club: Stingrays Program
Inclusive sport and recreation case study.
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Background
After successfully coaching a trio of Paralympians, the West Coast Swimming Club (WCSC) commenced the Stingrays Program in 2006. The club identified the need for greater entry-level opportunities for children and teenagers with a disability in the sport of swimming.
The program has grown to now include 17 swimmers, three certified coaches and a dedicated position within the club’s committee.
The squad meets once a week on a Saturday morning and provides participants with the opportunity to improve their fitness, work on their technique, learn to follow a coach’s instruction and become part of a club environment
According to the program’s liaison Elise Gray, whose daughter is a Stingray, the success of the program has been as beneficial for the able-bodied members of the club as it has for those with a disability.
“Our swimmers see the kids with various disabilities hopping in and giving it a go despite their various challenges and by all accounts it proves to be an inspiring and valuable lesson,” she said.
The squad is open to anyone with a disability and currently caters for participants who have both high and low levels of required support.
“When swimmers first come to us, they have a range of abilities and we don’t expect them all to be able to swim 25 or 50 metres straight away,” Elise said.
“The squad is divided up into groups depending on their ability or the level of support they require. This has meant that even though we have a range of disabilities in our squad they are able to swim together seamlessly.”
The program has also had benefits for the swimmers that extend beyond physical fitness.
“The Stingrays swimmers take great pride in wearing the West Coast uniform. I think it provides them with a real sense of community and belonging. They love to support their fellow club members when they compete and they get a lot of support right back,” said Elise.
The presence of the Stingrays squad has also proven to be a great educational tool for the parents and officials at West Coast.
“Giving the program a voice on the committee has meant that we are able to highlight the importance of the program to fellow committee members and families of the club. The majority of which have had minimal involvement with children with disabilities in the past,” said Elise.
Connection model
The Stingrays Program has clearly stated aims.
These are:
- Provide a pathway for swimmers with a disability into mainstream squads if they desire.
- Provide competitive opportunities for swimmers with a disability (SWD).
- Include participants in club activities.
- Educate club members as to the needs and abilities of SWDs.
In order to achieve these aims the program has instigated several initiatives.
These include:
- One weekly swimming session with fully accredited coaches.
- The involvement of senior mainstream swimmers as mentors and assistants.
- A ‘first session free’ policy that allows participants to ‘try before they buy’.
- Invitation to Stingrays to compete in monthly club night competitions.
- Opportunity to compete in Swimming WA Multi-Class events.
- Invitation to Stingrays to attend club functions.
- Position for the program on the committee.
Challenges faced
- Raising awareness of the program and attracting participants.
- Funding reliant on volunteer coaches.
- Increasing the knowledge of club officials about the value of the program.
- Increasing the knowledge of club members and officials about the individual needs of a disability.
Where to from here
- Increase profile of the program through internal and external promotion.
- Seek sponsorship of program.
- Increase fees of Stingrays members to bring into line with mainstream members. Additional funding to be used to pay coaches and additional lane hire costs.
For more information
Elise Gray
Stingrays Liaison Officer
West Coast Swimming Club
0414 775 070
neat@bigpond.net.au
After seeing the results of Australian rules football leagues for people with intellectual disabilities in Victoria and South Australia, the Western Australian Amateur Football League (WAAFL) instigated a project to establish something similar in Western Australia.
Project objectives
Develop a pathway for those with an intellectual disability from 16 years of age.
Support community clubs to motivate volunteers to promote a quality game environment for those participants with an intellectual disability.
Utilise Australian rules football as a vehicle to promote community engagement, education, leadership and employment initiatives for those with an intellectual disability.
Build the relationships of those with an intellectual disability and the community through football.
What happened
An Integrated Football League Committee was formed in 2009 to gauge interest, build a database of players/organisations to be involved, establish initial funding and coordinate ‘come and try’ days.
A database of ‘come and try’ day participants was established.
The database was used to decide on suitable, well established amateur clubs who were approached to explore potential involvement and be familiarised with the concept. Three clubs agreed to develop Integrated Football teams – Fremantle CBC, Lynwood/Ferndale and Kingsway.
Each of these clubs worked as part of a sub-committee to develop a strategic plan for their Integrated Football teams.
During 2010 the players were playing stand-alone social games once per month.
A series of new ‘come and try’ days were organised for 2010. As a result, two new teams were formed - High Wycombe and Warnbro.
A five-team competition was formed for the 2011 season with games played regularly on Saturday, immediately after the home team’s league game. A carnival-style grand final day concluded the season with Fremantle CBC winning the inaugural grand final.
Project (interim) results
Players with an intellectual disability gain a complete football experience. From training and playing in a team environment, to engaging with other players and members of their club through club activities.
The Fremantle CBC Integrated Football players always attend club functions, are dressed in club apparel and socially integrate with other members of the club.
The Fremantle CBC team has developed to include a full social calendar, including attending a quiz night, having players selected to play in a Life Members versus All Stars game, attending an end of season club dinner and visiting Parliament House where they met both the Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Disabilities.
One parent remarked that, “The program right from the outset has proved to be the most ‘normalising’ activity experienced by our son in his 18 years. What has emerged is a team of young men totally accepted and embraced by a mainstream football club. The program has provided the opportunity to increase physical fitness, to learn skills and to experience camaraderie in a ‘normal’ setting”.
Where to from here?
The committee aims to increase participation in 2012. Other clubs are following a similar model to Fremantle CBC in an effort to achieve this.
Fremantle CBC is developing an off-season basketball team and beach training program to increase the players’ fitness levels and to keep the team together socially.
The hope of parents is that the team will continue with football for many years to come, and the players say they can’t wait for pre-season training to start.
Critical success factors
Strong leadership and coordination from WAAFL.
Strategic plan developed by WAAFL and the participating clubs to drive development of the league.
Establishing the Integrated Football teams in pre-existing football clubs.
Creating links to the disability sector to engage potential players.
Moving games to Saturday afternoons has exposed the teams to a larger audience in an integrated setting.
Training on the same night as the senior sides has increased the Integrated Football team’s exposure to the rest of the club.
Weekly training keeps players involved, providing information exchange opportunities.
Strong volunteer base to assist in team management, game day duties etc.
Proactive team managers who persist with individuals and maintain regular communication.
Reliable transport for the players - transport has proved to be an issue for some clubs.
Supportive parent audience that is nurtured and given appropriate responsibility by the club.
Project contact
Cameron Agnew
General Manager
Senior Metropolitan Community Football
West Australian Football Commission
Telephone (08) 9287 5522
Email cagnew@wafc.com.au
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