Today is national Swim A Lap Day and with the fantastic Go Play Summer Offer of £2 a Swim just around the corner, Nicki is here to chat all things pool based!

I learned to swim at the old Dunkeld Road Swimmies. My Uncle George taught me breast stroke as I watched on in wonder at my cousin Wendy who could swim like a fish.  She was a fully-fledged Pullars Swim girl and would spend every possible minute in the pool, racing up and down and competing alongside her fellow club members. (As a little aside, if you have memories of Live Active from years gone by we'd love to hear from you! Find out more>>>)

Swimming is one of those fantastic sports that brings joy to participants of every age.  From teeny tiny babies taking their first little splash to performance athletes looking to shave precious nanoseconds off their time, the pool is a place of fun and energy.  And don’t ask me why, but there is something particularly satisfying about a bowl of chips or an ice-cream after a swim!

Here is our TOP FIVE WAYS TO GET YOUR SWIM ON with LAL this summer.

1) KEEP FIT

Today is national Swim A Lap Day, (https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/swim-a-lap-day/) and it got me to thinking about how long it is since I jumped in at the deep end and took in a few lengths.  I used to go all the time when Cain was young and yet somehow, classes and the gym became my exercise of choice and I drifted from the pool.  Why I don’t know because swimming is, without question, an amazing way to blitz through the calories and burn some fat. Also, as swimming is a non-impact sport, it's neutral on common problems areas like the lower back and knees making a great option for those of us who are a bit less bendy than we once were! 

2) GO PLAY SUMMER OFFER

This summer, Live Active Leisure is encouraging parents to bring that love of the pool to children by offering a £2 entry to ALL POOLS for the entire month of July. Their amazing GO PLAY offer runs 1^st to 31^st July and is open to kids age 5 – 15 (remember your under-fives swim free all the time!).

3) SUMMER CAMP

Kids can learn to swim all year round at Perth Leisure Pool but loads of parents find the summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to help those skills develop into another level.  The week long camps will keep them entertained, give them a chance to hone their stroke and to burn off some summer energy! These camps run for non-swimmers up to level 8 but they do fill quickly so make sure you get in now!

There are also private 1 to 2 lessons for children at Perth Leisure Pool offer great value and are a great way to help your child learn to swim or provide extra tuition and confidence in the water. Lessons are 30 minutes long and take place on various dates over the holidays.

This year sees the return of the fabulous Skate & Swim Camp where kids age 8+ can enjoy a skating session followed by Wet & Wild pool session which giveskids the chance to muck about and have fun playing some fab water sports. These are also available as single Wet And Wld sessions (could I pass for 15 I wonder?)

Check out all Summer Camp info over on the summer programme>>>  

4) CHEER LOUDLY

Perth City Swim club member and Live Active Talented Athlete, Stephen Milne, will be heading out to Rio to take his place in Team GB Swim Squad.  One of our own, Stephen is a former Perth Academy boy who has been a member of Perth City Swim Club since he was nine years old.  He is also joined by former club member Camilla Hattersley who now lives in Edinburgh where she studies.   To say we are excited doesn’t begin to cover it! #GoStephen #GoCamilla #Rio2016

5) SWIM DISCO

All year round including summer your kids can join the coolest in town with the Perth Leisure Pool and Live Active Loch Leven Swim Discos.  Children aged 8 and older love to listen to the latest music, have fun with their mates and take part in some amazingly fun water games and competitions.

So there we have it - lots of ways for lots of ages to enjoy swimming this summer - stay cool and jump in!

*****

Handy Swim Links

Perth Leisure Pool - www.liveactive.co.uk/perth-leisure-pool

POOL PROGRAMME - www.liveactive.co.uk/pool-progs

Summer Camp Programme: -  www.liveactive.co.uk/holiday-programmes/392-summer-holiday-programme/file

Stephen Milne Swimmer - www.stephenmilneswimmer.uk