About Potters Bar Swimming Club
PBSC was formed in 1968 and trains at the Furzefield Centre in Mutton Lane and at Queenswood School pool in Shepherds Way, Brookmans Park.
The club is a friendly but competitive club with around 200 members that caters for swimmers from five years upwards of all abilities, from learn to swim to those competing in national events. The club is affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), the newly formed ASA East Region and the Herts Amateur Swimming Association. The club is also a member of the Herts Swimming League and The National Speedo League.
The fortunes of the club have varied over the years but we have always been one of the leading clubs in Hertfordshire. The club has produced many quality swimmers who have gone on to win titles at county, district and national events. The most notable amongst these being Caroline Cooper, who whilst a PBSC swimmer won Commonwealth gold in the 100m butterfly and Sarah Price, olympic finalist, commonwealth double gold medalist and world record holder, who started her swimming career at Potters Bar.
Training or teaching sessions take place six days a week, current times are on the website and the noticeboard on the balcony at Furzefield. Occasionally it is necessary to vary these during school holidays, bank holidays, pool closures or to fit around galas.
Swimmers are divided into squads and groups based on ability, fitness and behaviour, movement between these is decided by the coaching staff. The current squads and groups are :-
| Squad 1 | The top swimmers who compete and train regularly, around 3 to 6 sessions a week (up to 9 hours). Age range tends to be 13 years plus |
| Squad 2 | Swimmers who compete and train regularly, around 3 to 6 sessions a week (up to 9 hours). Age range tends to be 11 to 15 years but will include some talented younger swimmers. |
| Squad 3 | Competitive swimmers who train regularly, around 3 to 6 times a week (up to 7 hours). Age range tends to be 9 to 14 years. |
| Squad 4 | Competitive swimmers who train regularly, around 2 to 4 sessions a week (up to 4 hours). Age range tends to be 8 to 12 years. |
| Squad 5 | Swimmers just starting to swim competively, who train twice a week (2 hours). Age range tends to be 7 to 11 years. |
| Groups A - E | Younger swimmers who are either in the "Learn to Swim" scheme or are developing thier strokes (½ hour a week). Ages tend to be 5 to 10 years. |
| Masters | The over 19s who train once or twice a week. Abilities range from those who compete in Masters and team galas to those trying to keep fit. |
The club is run by a committee of up to twelve volunteers, elected each year at our Annual General Meeting in November. The committee is responsible for employing coaching and teaching staff and the general administration of the club.