Swimming

Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre

Swimming is a great way to have fun and get healthy, whatever your age or level of ability. At Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre we offer a fantastic eight lane, competition swimming pool,  along with a 25m six lane community pool plus learner pool. We offer parent -and - child swim sessions and more. Which means when it comes to developing your skills, teaching your child, holding birthday parties or just having fun, there's never been a better time to take the plunge. 

Swimming Activities

Better Swim School

 Better swim school teaches more than 90,000 swimmers throughout the UK, and over 4,000 swimmers across the three facilities in Barnet. Our Better Swim School programme is designed to be flexible and affordable with experienced, qualified teachers. We support all swimmers to progress and take the plunge, whatever their level of ability. 

Whether you’ve never been swimming before, or you’d just like to improve your technique, we offer swimming lessons for all ages and abilities, at affordable prices.

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Swim for All

Best for: Casual swimmers

If you're looking to build your confidence, work on your strokes, float away any stress, or want to enjoy a swim with your family and friends, try Swim for All.

Swim Safety Rules Apply - One competent adult swimmer may supervise up to 2 under 8's or non swimmers under 16 at a time.

Competent swimmers must be able to swim 25m in a recognised stroke.

Swim for All sessions are included in Better UK memberships.

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Swim for Fitness

Best for: A full body workout

For those wanting a low-impact activity to help them stay healthy, Swim for Fitness could be the perfect choice. These sessions take place in slow, medium and fast lanes, so you can take things at your own pace.

Swim for Fitness sessions are included in your Better membership.

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Family Fun Swim

A family fun swim session for all ages and abilities, with a variety of floats and toys available for everyone to enjoy. One competent adult swimmer may supervise up to 2 under 8’s or non swimmers under 16 at a time.

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HELP KEEP OUR POOLS CLEAN!

  • Shower thoroughly from ‘top to toe’ with soap before entering the pool to remove deodorant, cosmetics, and perspiration.
  • Use toilet facilities before your swim and remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
  • Babies should wear tight-fitting, water proof baby trunks whilst swimming rather than nappies.
  • Please dispose of nappies, trunks, and sanitary products in the bins provided.
  • Do not swim if you have consumed a meal within the last two hours.
  • Never swim if you have consumed alcohol or are under the influence of drugs.
  • Do not swim if you are currently suffering from a cold or flu.
  • Do not swim if you have suffered from food poisoning or diarrhoea within the last 14 days.

 

Aqua Splash Birthday Parties

Celebrate your child's special day with a splash in the learner pool at Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre!

Suitable for all children and young people, we host parties on Saturdays from 15:00-17:00 with floats and toys provided.

- 15:00 - 16:00 - In the learner pool for fun swimming - floats and toys will be provided.

- 16:00 - 17:00 - In the spacious studio room for the after-party fun, with tables and chairs provided. You can use this time to your liking, feel free to bring your own food, games, decorations etc!

IMPORTANT

30 people maximum (including parents and supervisors). 

Swim Safety Rules Apply for our Birthday Parties - One competent adult swimmer may supervise up to 2 under 8’s or non-swimmers under 16 at a time.

The total cost of the Sensory Birthday Party in the Learner Pool is £214.00. Payment must be made online and in advance.

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FAB Benefits

The Fit and Active Barnet (FAB) card is a free pay and play card and available to all Barnet residents, providing them with access to a range of benefits across all five Barnet Leisure Centres.

Review the eligibility criteria using the link below to discover the right FAB card for you. Please note that you will need to select a Barnet leisure centre on registration, however once registered, your FAB Card can be used across all Barnet leisure centres and in community activities where accepted.

Once you have successfully registered for your FAB Card, you will receive an automated email about how to set up the Better UK App to enable you to obtain your digital FAB Card, as well as book and manage activities at your local Better leisure centre. Benefits include the following:

  • Children under the age of 8 swim for free (Monday - Saturday).
  • Young people aged between 8-15 years swim for just £1 (Monday - Saturday).
  • Carers with the Better Carers membership or FAB Card for Carers get free swimming.

FAB Benefits

Barnet Training Scheme

The Barnet Training Scheme works in partnership with Barnet Copthall Swimming Club, the scheme/club is managed by experienced Great Britain Coaches and is one of the leading teams in the UK, offering swimmers unrivalled opportunities to develop their swimming skills to the highest levels in sport.

Barnet Training Scheme provides a comprehensive competitive swimming programme covering swimming and masters swimming. The programme continues on from the Better Swim School lessons and provides participants with the training facilities and coaching expertise required to compete up to International level. 

As one of the leading swimming teams in the UK, they have achieved success at every level, with swimmers regularly winning medals at County, District and National competitions.They have represented and won medals for Great Britain and England at European and World Championships, Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

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Available Squads

Dolphins Squad

This is the first level of competitive swimming after Stage 7 of the National Teaching Plan/Better Swim School. Swimmers will learn the basics of competitive strokes, turns and dives.

Sharks Squad (7–10 years)

Entry upon completion of the Dolphins squad or an assessment. Swimmers will continue to learn the basics of competitive strokes, turns and dives and will also start to learn how to train and use the pace clock.

Prelim Squad (7–10 years)

Entry upon completion of the Sharks squad or an assessment. Swimmers will be introduced to low-level competitions and continue to develop the skills required for racing.

Junior Age Squad (7–11 years)

Entry to this group is though guide competition times for the swimmer’s age. Swimmers will compete at low-level competitions to develop their skills whilst also working towards County level competition.

Age Group Squad (9–13 years)

Entry to this group is through qualifying times. Swimmers will compete at low-level competition to develop their skills and medium-level competitions such as Counties, with a main focus on working towards Regional competition.

Senior Squad (12+ years females/13+ years males)

Swimmer’s entry to this group is through being in the top 30 in Great Britain for their age. Swimmers will compete at medium-level competitions such as Regionals to develop their race skills, whilst working towards National level competition.

Junior Club Squad (9–14 years)

This squad is tailored towards swimmers who have completed Dolphins level and who wish to train for fitness, recreation or competition swimming. The amount of attendance in this group is optional. Swimmers can progress to Senior Club or to one of the other groups if they meet the entry and age requirements.

Senior Club Squad (11+ years)

This squad is the next group on from our Junior Club, and caters for all of the same standards of swimmers but also includes Duke of Edinburgh Award swimming, GCSE and A-Level PE swimming. Swimmers can progress to one of the main groups if they meet the entry requirements, or continue in this group until they are old enough to go to the Masters Group at age 18+.

Masters Squad (18+ years)

This group is for adult swimmers who want to keep fit, socialise, swim in a structured session or wish to compete seriously at Masters swimming competitions.

Ages range from 18 yrs to 80 yrs+.

Disability

Swimmers with a disability may be integrated into a group that meets their physical needs; swimmers may not be with other participants of the same age.

 

To sign up to the Barnet Training Scheme please attend one of our Dolphins sessions for a trial session (Please note we are only offering trials for 10 and under) . Our Dolphins sessions take place at Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre every Tuesday and Thursday at 5.30pm. Trial sessions do not need to be pre-booked.

Alternatively, if you are currently competing in another programme, please contact our head coach with your most recent licensed swim meet personal-best times.

For all other enquiries, please contact Head Coach Rhys Gormley via email. 

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