Pool Lifesaving Sport The Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships 2021 (APLSC 2021) were to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in January 2021 however a decision was taken to postpone the Championships for 2021. A revised sports plan was implemented after the Northern Territory’s lockdown was lifted in June 2020. Semester 2 training commenced in August 2020 and RLSSANT conducted 22 grassroots carnivals in the NT during the year. Alyangula, Alice Springs, Areyonga, Batchelor, Daly River, Darwin, Gunbalunya, Jabiru, Ngukurr, Nhulunbuy,Tennant Creek, Wattie Creek, and Yuendumu, all hosted pool lifesaving carnivals with over 900 community members participating.
Participation Athlete participation numbers in both the Darwin and Alice Springs clubs increased throughout 2020/2021. Alice Springs reached a 5 year high in athlete attendance. Dry season training in Alice Springs proved successful throughout May and June 2021. The Junior Development program is important to ensure the future of pool lifesaving as a sport in the NT.
Volunteers The volunteer coaches are the lifeline of our sport, and we would like to say a massive thank you to the consistent efforts of the following volunteers.
Darwin Head/National Coach: Alister Lear Assistant Coach/NT Sport Development Officer: Laura Withers Development Coaches: Jaz Cross and Tyla Frost. Guest Coach: Kate Conway
Alice Springs Coaches: Dianne Crisp and Naomi Briggs Development Coaches: Dominic Williams, Kaitlyn Peters, and Amy Stockwell. Guest Coach: Tim Schofield A special thank you to the Australian Pool Lifesaving Champions – Kate Conway and Tim Schofield who volunteered their time to guest coach our future pool lifesaving athletes.
Future The Sport Development team will continue to progress the junior pool lifesaving squads in both Darwin and Alice Springs, along with the fostering of a new development club in partnership with the Nhulunbuy Amateur Swimming Club. This will be done through the link between the Swim & Survive program and an increased promotion of the sport. The junior development program is important to maintain to ensure the future of pool lifesaving as a sport.
ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY (AUSTRALIA) NORTHERN TERRITORY BRANCH
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