How to Request a Trial at Bottisham Swimming Club

Updated

Bottisham Swimming Club (BSC) takes new swimmers through a trial, not a direct sign-up. To request one, complete the trial request form on the club website; the Membership Secretary or Head Coach will then contact you when a trial space becomes available. Trials are run for swimmers aged 8 and above, three times a year.

Before you request a trial

The club is clear about who it is set up for, and checking this first saves you a wasted request.

  • Age: Trials are for swimmers aged 8 and above.
  • Ability: Young swimmers usually start from about age 8 if they have reached roughly Level 7 or 8 in their swimming lessons. The club describes itself as taking competent junior club swimmers aged up to 18 into its B and A squads, subject to space.
  • Location: Training takes place at Bottisham Swimming Pool on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at Impington Sports Centre on a Sunday afternoon. The A squad also trains at Impington on a Monday evening.
  • Commitment: The club expects hard work, commitment and good behaviour in the pool. The A squad is for swimmers aged about 12 to 19 who are fully committed and compete regularly.

If your child is below Level 7–8 or under 8, the trial route is not the right starting point yet — keep building lessons first.

How to submit a trial request

  1. Go to the club website at bottishamswimclub.org.uk.
  2. Find the Request a Trial option in the site navigation.
  3. Complete the trial request form with your child's details.
  4. Submit the form. The Membership Secretary or Head Coach will be in touch when a trial space becomes available.

There is no instant confirmation step described on the site — the response depends on trial space opening up, so expect to wait rather than receive an immediate place.

What happens after you submit

Your request enters the queue for the next available trial slot. The club runs trials three times a year, so timing your request matters: submitting just after a trial round may mean a longer wait than submitting shortly before one.

Once a space is offered, your child would typically be assessed for the appropriate squad. The club's progression path runs Academy Squad → C squad → B squad → A squad over a number of years, and many swimmers stay until they leave college or go to university.

Who to contact

  • Membership Secretary or Head Coach — the first point of contact after you submit the trial request form.
  • Club Welfare Officer — listed on the site at [email protected] for safeguarding matters.
  • Swim England welfare contacts — the site links to Swim England child safeguarding contacts and the Swimline helpline on 0808 100 4001.

Safeguarding at the club is run in accordance with WavePower, Swim England's safeguarding policy.

Common sticking points

  • Requesting too early on ability. If your child has not reached around Level 7–8, the trial is unlikely to lead anywhere yet.
  • Assuming a place is guaranteed. The club states it takes swimmers into B and A squads "as long as we have the space to do so" — capacity is a real constraint.
  • Missing the three-times-a-year rhythm. If you do not hear back quickly, it may simply be that no trial round is running at that moment.
  • Not checking training locations first. If Bottisham and Impington are not workable for your family, sort that out before requesting a trial.

Is BSC the right fit?

BSC suits families who want a friendly, family-orientated club with a competitive focus — it has about 120 members aged 8 to 19, is run by parent volunteers on a committee, and includes swimmers of exceptional talent alongside those working to develop and improve. If your child wants competitive swimming within that structure and you can commit to the training schedule, request a trial through the website form. If you need a club closer to home or a purely recreational programme, look elsewhere first.