Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club
Nurturing homegrown talent - from early development to performance swimming
2025 SOUTH EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS
AGE GROUP 5th RANKED CLUB
2025 HAMPSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OVERALL 3rd RANKED CLUB
2025 NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS OVERALL 5th RANKED CLUB
Our Club at a Glance
• Over 50 years at the heart of Basingstoke
• 400+ Members across Swimming & Water Polo
• 16 Squads from Skills Academy to Performance
• Medalists at County, Regional, National & World
Basingstoke Bluefins is a thriving community club at the heart of North Hampshire – recognised as one of the South East Region's top performing swimming clubs.
We provide clear structured pathways across aquatic sport – from competitive swimming, starting in early Skills Academy and progressing through to National medalists, with regular access to 50m training, to a well-established water polo programme, alongside masters and fitness squads for all ages.
With a reputation for strong coaching, purposeful training, and a supportive team culture, Bluefins gives every member the opportunity to develop, compete and enjoy the sport, whatever their stage or ambition.
Join a club that balances performance with community.
NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE - 3 TEAMS
2025 - 3 TEAMS A TEAM: 9th PREMIER DIVISION - B TEAM: 10th DIVISION 1 WEST - C TEAM: 12th DIVISION 2 WEST
2024 - 3 TEAMS A TEAM:15th PREMIER DIVISION - B TEAM: 9th DIVISION 1 WEST - C TEAM: 9th DIVISION 2 WEST
2023 - 2 TEAMS A TEAM: 1st DIVISION 1 WEST - B TEAM: 1st DIVISION 2 WEST - ARENA LEAGUE DOUBLE CHAMPIONS
Parent Guides
Clear, practical guidance to help you understand how competitive swimming works.
Parents new to the sport often tell us swimming feels complex at first, with unfamiliar terminology, squad pathways, competition formats and rankings that are not always easy to follow.
Developed in collaboration with our coaching team, the Parent Guides explain how swimming works in practice, how progress is measured and how parents can best support their swimmers.
Together, the guides provide the confidence families need to navigate competitive swimming and support long term development from first galas onwards.
How Swim England Rankings Actually Work
Guide to Auto and Base consideration times
Discover Bluefins Water Polo
Fast, fierce, and full of fun — Water Polo at Bluefins blends swimming fitness, teamwork and strategy in one dynamic sport.
It’s a brilliant challenge for swimmers who love competition and want to build all-round strength, confidence, and control in the pool.
From our Academy Squad (ages 9–13) through to Junior, Men’s, and Women’s training, players learn how to move, pass and communicate as part of a true team.
As part of the Hampshire Water Polo Network, Bluefins members enjoy joint fixtures, regional tournaments and exciting development opportunities across the South East.
Swimming Pathways & Progression
At Bluefins, swimming is not one size fits all. Our pathways are designed to complement each other, giving every swimmer the right balance of skills, challenge and enjoyment at the right time.
A hallmark of Bluefins is flexibility. Swimmers are not locked into a single route. Our coaches monitor progress daily and open booster opportunities when swimmers are ready. Pathways adapt to age, ability and ambition so swimmers remain challenged, supported and motivated to grow.
Each season, our pathways support swimmers with different goals, from County racing through to Regional and National competition, while also providing routes for those who swim for health, enjoyment and fitness. Whatever the aim, Bluefins offers the structure, coaching and team environment needed to thrive.
Squad Highlights in Our 5 Pathways
Skills Development – Skills Academy entry squads 1-4, the umbrella for swimmers moving from lessons to club training.
Competitive – Competitive Development & Age Group Competitive.
County – County Development.
Performance – Age Group Performance, Youth Performance, Regional Performance & National Performance.
Club Fitness – Club 1 (Junior) & Club 2 (Senior).
Skills Academy
Ages 7–11
The starting point for every Bluefins journey. Swimmers move beyond lessons into structured training, refining technique across all four strokes and building the confidence to train with purpose. Sessions introduce teamwork, discipline, and good habits, while fun galas provide a first taste of racing. Coaching creates strong foundations for future progression.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Club Fitness
Ages 11+
Swimming for life. Not every swimmer wants the intensity of Performance or the pressure of competition, but many still value the benefits of structured training. Club Fitness provides a flexible, sociable squad focused on health, wellbeing and enjoyment. Swimmers maintain good technique, stay active and remain connected to the sport in a supportive environment.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
& FITNESS
Competitive Squads
Ages 8–15
Where racing begins. Swimmers learn pacing, dives, turns and finishes — the details that bring races together. Licensed meets and galas build confidence, while training develops consistency, stronger race skills and steady readiness for County Development through focused practice.
This pathway balances fun with the first meaningful steps into competitive swimming.
COMPETITIVE
PATHWAY
County Development
Ages 9–15
A stage of progression and resilience. Swimmers broaden racing across strokes and distances, targeting Hampshire County qualifying times. Training becomes more focused, linking effort directly to results, while open meets provide valuable competition.
This stage builds consistency, stamina and discipline, preparing swimmers with the skills and mindset for Performance.
COUNTY
PATHWAY
Performance Squads
Ages 10+
For swimmers with the commitment and ambition to push further. Training is demanding and rewarding, combining advanced technical work with preparation for high-level competition. The goal is success at County, Regional, and National level. Swimmers sharpen strategies, take ownership of their training and develop the mindset needed to excel under pressure.
PERFORMANCE
PATHWAY
While the five core pathways form the backbone of the club, Junior Masters and Masters squads sit alongside them, bridging the gap between the Fitness and Performance pathways. These squads offer opportunities for older or returning swimmers to stay active, train with purpose and compete at County, National and World Masters level.
Why Our Pathway Works
Clarity
Parents and swimmers know what each stage offers and how progression works.
Flexibility
Movement between pathways means swimmers are supported as goals and circumstances change.
Balance
From competitive racing to fitness and wellbeing, there is a place for every swimmer.
Progression
Skills developed at each stage prepare swimmers for the next step.
Wherever you start, there is a place for you at Bluefins. From first strokes to County competition and from performance racing to lifelong fitness, our pathway ensures every swimmer can find the right squad, the right challenge and the right support.
📩 Ready to take the next step? Contact us to arrange a trial swim and discover your Bluefins pathway.
Squads & Pathways Guide
Our full Squads and Pathways Guide (2026) brings the club structure together in one place, from Skills Academy and Competitive squads through to County, Performance, Club Fitness, Junior Masters and Masters.
It shows how each squad fits within the wider programme, the typical age ranges, and how swimmers progress over time, aligned with our Bluefins development philosophy and Swim England’s interpretation of the Optimal Athlete Development Framework (OADF).
Designed for new and existing families, the guide provides a clear reference for understanding where each squad sits, how movement works, and how our pathways support swimmers with different goals, from performance racing to lifelong fitness.
2025 Swimming Performance Stats
Ready to start your Bluefins journey?
👉 Weekly trials available — just contact our Amazing Ali to book your swimmer's place.
Racing, Fitness or Water Polo - Find out where you belong in the water.
