Foundation Establishes Swimming Clinics

By Louis Daignault

National wheelchair swimming coach Alex Cranfield-Sinclair wants Canada’s young disabled athletes to get into the swim of things.

“Swimming has not been one of the most popular sports for the disabled,” says Sinclair from her home in Peterborough, Ontario. “It did quite well 10 years ago, but other sports, especially track, really picked up.”

That could change this summer when three Canadian cities host the first Ada Mackenzie Memorial Foundation swimming development program, which will be a combination of clinic and competition. Although specific dates are not yet finalized, Toronto and Halifax will likely hold the event in June, with Calgary a probable bet in September.

“The purpose of the clinic is to encourage young athletes to participate in swimming through entry level competition,” says Cranfield-Sinclair, “and community swimming instructors are invited to learn about ways to coach the disabled.”

The clinic will be split into three sessions and will include techniques and a competition. The overview will cover the history of disabled sport, the classification system used for the disabled, swimming techniques and a competition. The overview will cover the history of disabled sport, the classification system used for the disabled, swimming techniques, competitive rules and competition opportunities.

The session dealing with swimming techniques will take place in the pool and will be coupled with a review of the first session and an introduction to stretching and dry-land training for disabled swimmers.

The competition will feature races over 25m and 50 m in all the traditional swimming events – freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke, along with races in 75m individual medley, 100m freestyle and a 4 x 25m medley relay.

Each swimmer will be awarded a certification of participation.

“We’re especially keen to get the youngsters involved,” says Cranfield-Sinclair. “We want to develop a larger base for the future.”

Two coaches who are experienced in disabled swimming will be selected to conduct the sessions. One must also be an experienced functional classifier; in other words, able to judge the different levels of disability in order to match the swimmers equally.

“We hope to attract about 15 swimmers to each session” says Cranfield-Sinclair, adding that it’s not the numbers that are important, but the level of interest from the participants.”

Canada is traditionally a leader in disabled swimming at international competitions.

At the 1989 World Stoke-Mandeville Games, for example, Canada was led by Tom Hainey of Atikokan, Ontario who won six gold medals and Nora Bednarski of Halifax, who captured three silver medals and one bronze.

The swimming development program is named after Ada Mackenzie, one of Canada’s greatest female athletes. She won eight Canadian senior women’s golf titles and several tournaments in the United States during her remarkable competitive playing career which spanned 57 years. The Memorial Foundation established in her name has a long history of financial support to wheelchair sports.

? Louis daignault is a C.W.S.A. correspondent holding particular interest in wheelchair basketball and track and field events.

CWSA VIIDEOS*:

Reach for the stars

A video on the potential for young Canadians with physical disabilities to participate in physical activity and wheelchair sports. Produced by Don Alder. $25

Fitness for the beginner and sports training for the beginner

This two-part series offers Canadians with physical disabilities an opportunity to improve their fitness levels in their own homes. The beginner level tape is for those interested in improving their personal fitness, while the advanced level tape is an introduction to training for wheelchair sports. Produced by Paul Norris. $25 each, $40 set

Push!

Canada’s most prominent wheelchair athletes demonstrate the potential of all Canadians through an in-depth, comprehensive look at wheelchair sport and its influence on their lives. Produced by Eli Gorn. 30-minute version, $25. 60-minute version, $35

Basketball Classification:

A technical explanation of the new functional classification system used in wheelchair basketball to ensure balanced participation of those athletes with greater and lesser disabilities. $20
*Available in VHS only

CWSA MANUALS:

Tennis everyone:

This manual was developed by experienced instructors and players in order to increase the number of wheelchair tennis participants, while providing some guidance for those already playing the game. The numerous photographs and diagrams are presented in an easy-to-follow format, making the book enjoyable and informative. Also available in French. $13

Junior Sport Booklets:

A series of five handbooks for young athletes covering the following topics: physical fitness, track, swimming, movement education, and sledge hockey. A useful guide for teachers and recreation professionals. Available in English and French. $3.50 each, $12 set of 5

Coaching the Wheelchair Swimmer:

This Level 1 technical manual is part of the National Coaching Certification Program and covers areas of coaching such as adaptations (accessibility, transfers, rules), the swimmer, techniques, training and classification. Also available in French. $12

Wheelchair Basketball:

This Coach’s Manual Level 1 Technical is part of the National Coaching Certification Program and covers areas of coaching such as offensive skills, defensive skills, teach offense and defence, wheelchair basketball rules, design and classification. $12

All videos and books are available through:

Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association,
212-1600 James Naismith Drive,
Gloucester, ON
K1B 5N4.

CWSA
Upcoming Events:

Basketball Nationals:
Vancouver, May 3-6

Canadian Racquetball Championships*:
Montreal, May 22-26

Nabob Challenge Day:
Nationwide, June 2

Harry Jerome Track and Field Classic*
Burnaby, BC, June 9

US International Shooting Championships*
Prado tiro, USA, June 25-28

Metro Toronto Wheelchair Challenge
Toronto, Jun 23

Variety Village 10K Race
Toronto, June 24

World Cup Basktball (W)
Ste-Etienne, France, July 3-12

Western Canada Games*
Winnipeg, July 6-14

World Championships for the Disabled
Assen, Holland, July9-26

Canadian Track and Field Association Junior Championships*
Saint John, NB, July 14-15

Canadian Archery Championships*
Brandon, Mon., July 15-21

Goodwill Games*
Seattle, USA, July 20 – Aug. 5

World Stoke-Mandeville Games
Aylesbury, England,
July 28 – Aug4

Canadian Track and Field Association Senior Championshiips*
Montreal, Aug, 3-5

World Racquetball Championships*
Caracas, Venezuela, Aug. 4-12

Basketball Gold Cup (M)
Brugges, Belgium, Aug. 5-12

Canadian Wheelchair Marathon
Toronto, Sept. 8

*INTEGRATED

For more information contact the CWSA provincial contact nearest you, or the national office:
C.W.S.A.
212-1600 James Naismith Drive
Gloucester, Ontario K1B 5N4
(613) 748-5686

CWSA
Provincial Contacts:

British Columbia
Kathy Newman, Executive Director, Suite 224, 1367 W.Broadway,
Vancouver, B.C. V6H 4A9
(604) 737-3090

Alberta
Henriette Groeneveld, Technical Director,
Percy Page Centre,
11759 Groat Road,
Edmonton, Alberta T5M 3K6
(403) 453-8687

Saskatchewan
Bev Dillon, Executive Director
2310 Louise Avenue,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7J 2C7
(306) 955-2922

Manitoba
Doug Grant, Executive Director,
1495 St. Matthews Avenue,
Winnipeg, Manitobe R3G 3L3
(204) 985-4145

Ontario
Sue Mount, Program Manager,
1220 Sheppard Avenue East,
Suite 10,
Willowdale, Ontario M2K 2X1
(416) 495-4086

Quebec
Richard Tetrault,
2025 Morrison,
ste-Hyacinthe, Quebec G1S 2L7
(514) 7711-2406

New Brunswick
Noren Guptill, Executive Director,
65 Brunswick Street,
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 1G5
(506) 453-1798

Nova Scotia
Nancy Angus, Executive Director,
P.O. Box 3010 South,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3G6
(902) 425-5450

Prince Edward Island
Linda Burns, Program Coordinator,
P.O. Box 841,
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7M1
(902) 368)-4540

Newfoundland
Jackie Butler,
Administrative Assistant,
P.O. Box 6292,
St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 6J9
(709) 739-0606