The St. John's Legends Swim Club, originally NAAC - the Newfoundland Aquarena Aquatic Club, was founded in 1978 following the construction of the Aquarena and the city's hosting of the 1977 Canada Summer Games. The club developed quickly under the direction of its first head coach Tom Arusso and within two seasons Paula Kelly had been named to Canada's 1980 Olympic team. Over the years the club has continued to be a leader on the provincial swimming scene. Athletes such as Iain Tennent (1993 Canada Games gold and silver medallist), Adrian Costello (1993 National Youth team member), Suzanne Drodge (1995 Junior National Champion), and Steven Thornhill (2001 Junior National Bronze medalist), have helped to keep the Legends name on the swimming map of Canada.

The Club is affiliated with Swim Newfoundland and Labrador and with the National Sport Governing body Swim/Natation Canada. A hard working volunteer Board made up of parents of Legends swimmers operates the Legends Swim Club. The Board meets regularly and parents are encouraged to become involved in the club.

The Legends offer programs for a variety of ages and skill levels, from our pre-competitive Little Legends squads (young, inexperienced, novice swimmers) to our National squad (dedicated athletes competing at a national level). The Legends also have a partnership with Memorial University by assuming the delivery of the training and competitive programs for the Memorial University Sea Hawk Swim Team. This broadens the scope of our program.

Legends swimmers compete against swimmers of the same age and ability levels across the province and across the country. New swimmers may choose not to compete until the parents, coach and swimmer agree that the individual is ready.

The Legends Swim Club currently trains out of two pools, the Aquarena and the Memorial University pool. This offers an excellent combination of training facilities for all club members.

The Legends Swim Club employs a full-time Head Coach, full-time Assistant Head Coach, and thirteen part-time Assistant Coachesr. Our coaches are well trained and motivated individuals eager to help each child strive to achieve his/her fullest potential.

 

Club Philosophy and Goals

The primary purpose of the St. John's Legends Swim Club is to provide an opportunity for each of its members to attain his or her maximum potential in competitive swimming. In pursuing this goal, it is our belief that each swimmer will derive significant benefits in the areas of:
1) Character development - understanding the value of hard work and commitment, learning to contribute to a team effort, and self-image enhancement.
2) Internal rewards - experiencing the unique satisfaction that follows 100% unconditional commitment.

Mission and Philosophy of the St. John's Legends Swim Club:
The Club will strive
-To maintain and develop a competitive swim team, having as its goals the maximisation of the potential of all members as competitive swimmers and the maximisation of personal satisfaction and growth on the part of the members through the Club's training, competitive, and social programs.
- To cost-effectively deliver a superior program from developmental to elite levels of training and competition for the athletes and coaches of the St. John's Legends Swim Club. This will be accomplished by co-ordinating the initiatives and programs -- from TIP to the National Squad -- and working interdependently with the coaching staff, athletes, parents, and executives.

Goals of the coaching staff:
The coaching staff will strive:

- For excellence through stroke development, training development, teaching discipline, emphasising self-improvement, and having fun.
- To increase the membership and improve the quality of the club.
- To instill the qualities of Respect, Trust, Commitment, and Support in swimmers under their direction.
- To emphasize individual progression within the squad and the club.
- To always be supportive of fellow coaches and be a united staff.
- To be a Nationally Competitive club:
a) By placing among the top thirty Canadian clubs in Age Group rankings.
b) By having swimmers consistently perform at all national levels (Age Group, Easterns & Senior).
c) By consistently placing among the top three clubs in the Atlantic region.
d) By consistently placing first at the Newfoundland and Labrador short and long course Provincial Championships.

 

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