Membership

ASA and Membership Fees 2024

A PDF file of this information can be found by clicking here

Dear all

As a Swimming Club, in January of every year we have to renew all swimmer’s and volunteers memberships.

We require a completed membership form with any amendments, as well as membership fees for Bilston Swimming Club – which is a one off fee £25 as well as the ASA fee which comprises a combined fee for County ASA, Swim West Midlands and Swim England.

We have tried hard to keep your Bilston Membership Fee incredibly competitive compared with local Clubs eg Wolverhampton Swimming Club – around £45. Boldmere Swimming club - around £200. This money is to cover additional running costs of the club eg volunteer ASA fees/ training fees for officials/coaches/teachers, officials tops, competition expenses etc. - it is not for pool fees or coaches fees (this is the monthly fee payment).

ASA fees are set by Swim England, West Midlands Swimming and Staffordshire ASA.

Your ASA fee is a one-off payment which is essential for any member - it provides insurance for our swimmers when training and competing and allows our swimmers to compete in Galas and Open Meets. There are different categories depending on age and swimming status.

Category 1 (Swim Train)  Individuals who are learning to swim. As a Club Train member you can compete in low level competitions with an exemption under Swim England regulations.

Category 2 (Club Compete) MAJORITY OF SWIMMERS Swimmer’s who train as part of the Club and compete in all levels of competitions.

Category 3 (Club Support) Anyone who volunteers or is paid by the club including committee, officials, teachers, coaches, team managers

Membership Procedures

NEW MEMBERS
Upon joining us, we will require a membership form to be completed in full, Coaches are required to send out the membership form for new swimmers to the club, once the membership form has been completed it will need to be sent back electronically to the membership team at the following email address bilstonsc.membership@gmail.com No paper forms will be accepted.
Within 48 hours of new membership from being received by membership team, a link to go cardless will be sent to the parent/guardian of the swimmer, this link will need to be accepted as soon as possible. The parent/guardian will receive an e mail from the membership team informing them that the link to go cardless has been requested.

PAYMENT OF FEES UPON JOINING
Go Cardless payments requested will be: -
ASA Fees: this is required upon joining, this ensures that your child is covered by Swim England’s insurance to both train and compete, (appropriate to age and swimming category for the current year- annual fee)
Membership fees: This is to become a member of the club for the current year (annual fee)
Also monthly swim fees will be requested dependent on what squad the swimmer will be in, fees are due monthly and will be collected on the 1st of each month.
Until the link to go cardless has been accepted by the parent/Guardian, the swimmer WILL NOT be permitted to swim with Bilston Swimming club.
Once membership have received notification from Go cardless that they have signed up, we will then notify the coach, we will also confirm by e mail to the parent/guardian informing them, and welcome them to the club. (The coach will be copied into this e mail)

MOVING SQUADS
If your child moves squad, your child’s coach will notify us here at membership, you WILL NOT need to make any adjustments to your payment, it will be amended by membership via go cardless.

EXISTING MEMBERS
Membership form is to be completed on an annual basis, this will be done electronically No paper forms will be accepted.
Go cardless payments requested will be:
ASA Fees this ensures that your child is covered by Swim England’s insurance to both train and compete, (appropriate to age and swimming category for the current year- annual fee)
Membership fees for the current year (one off Annual fee)

MOVING SQUADS
If your child moves squad, your child’s coach will notify us here at membership, you WILL NOT need to make any adjustments to your payment, it will be amended by membership via go cardless.
Non-Payment of Fees
Please note that if fees are not paid, your child will not be permitted to swim until such time that all payments are made.
The club is a non-profit making organization so prompt payment of fees is essential to keep the club afloat.
Collecting fees can be difficult and time-consuming so please help by paying these amounts as soon as you receive a request to do so.
Remember that the person asking you is going to be an unpaid volunteer, giving up their own time for the benefit of the club.
If you have a query please contact the Membership Team via e mail Bilstonsc.membership@gmail.com

COACHES
If the coach intends to move a swimmer to a different squad, you will need to e mail the membership team, informing them to which squad they will be going into, membership need to be notified at least 7 days prior to the last day of the month, so that the payment can be adjusted on go cardless in time for the following months payment.
Coaches will need to advise membership of poolside helpers, this is to make sure that they are registered with Swim England and have an ASA number assigned to them.

The email for the membership team is as follows:- bilstonsc.membership@gmail.com

I hope this explains the fee structure and why it unfortunately needs to be charged.