WHAT IS PARA-SWIMMING? 

Para-swimming is Swimming Canada’s fully integrated swimming program for persons with a disability from grassroots to elite.  Para-swimming combines a broad range of disabilities into three categories: 

Physical Impairments 

  • Amputees/Dysmelia; 

  • Cerebral palsy/acquired brain injury; 

  • Spinal cord injury/polio; dwarfism 

  • Others (Major joint restrictions, coordination restriction, limb paralysis/weakness) 

Visual Impairments 

  • Blind; visually impaired 

Intellectual Impairments 

  • Typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance in general. 

HISTORY 

Para-swimming grew out of several different movements in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

During this time, four international sports bodies, divided by means of medical disability eventually combined to form the modern day Paralympic movement. Swimming Canada became the first integrated National Sports Organization in 1993. 

Today, a “sport-first” approach is being taken and international groups have moved towards representing specific sports, with consideration of a person\’s disability as a secondary factor.

The world sport governing body for persons with a disability, including swimming, is the International Paralympic Committee and it operates with sport specific committees that oversee the development of sport for the disability groups. 

PARA-SWIMMING FEES

The following fees are paid to Swim Sask by the club that a swimmer joins. Membership with Swim Sask and Swimming Canada is benefit of joining a Swim Sask affiliated club.  

Clubs have additional fees; please consult with the club(s) you are considering joining for details.  

Pre-Competitive 

  • Learn To Swim: $35/swimmer 

  • Fitness: $35/swimmer 

Swimmers enrolled in sessional “Learn to Swim “and “Fitness” type programs.

Swimmers ages 17 and under, not intending to participate in sanctioned competitive events. September 1 through August 31.

Upgrades to competitive after April 1, the fee of $85 or $145 will be less the $30 Pre-Competitive fee. 

Competitive 

  • Competitive 10 and under: $95/swimmer 

  • Competitive 11 and over: $155/swimmer 

Competitive swimmers of all ages. Swimmers wishing to take part in unlimited sanctioned events. September 1 through August 31.

Competitive swimmer fees are based on the swimmer’s age as of December 31 of the current swimming season.

Fees will be reduced by 50% for NEW swimmers who register on or after April 1. Reduced fee is not applicable to upgrades from Non-Competitive to Competitive.