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swimming

Swimming is a sport that plays to our nature and our circumstances. It has been a defining part of the Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) since our establishment, and has immovably remained one of the most significant sports in the country.

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encourage

The ASA’s administration of the sport occurs at a number of levels, and wherever possible seeks to encourage engagement from athletes.

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all-age groups

ASA provide Time Trials for all age-groups which are held every month, thus giving all swimmers the opportunity to gauge their progress.

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Key Player

Malta has been a key player in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), winning a number of medals. For this reason, the ASA is incredibly proud of our legacy at the GSSEs.

Our Story

Maltese athletes are conditioned by a number of limitations – the size of the country, funding opportunities, facilities, resources, and, of course, the weather. Swimming is a sport that naturally aligns with these conditions. On an island that enjoys over 300 days of sunshine, over half a year of adequate sea temperature for bathing, and a culture wherein many children learn to swim before they can walk; swimming is a sport that plays to our nature and our circumstances. It has been a defining part of the Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) since our establishment, and has immovably remained one of the most significant sports in the country.

The ASA’s administration of the sport occurs at a number of levels, and wherever possible seeks to encourage engagement from athletes. Our swimming activities are run by the Swimming Technical Committee composed of club representatives and chaired by the Vice President – Swimming. Time Trials for all age-groups are held every month, thus giving all swimmers the opportunity to gauge their progress.

Our swimmers are our asset. The ASA is proud to have supported a number of talented, successful swimmers including Angela Galea, two-time Olympian, three-time medal winner at the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE); Neil Agius, national record holder and competitor at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens; Andrew Chetcuti, national record holder and competitor at the 2012 Summer Olympics; Gail Rizzo competitor at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and assistant coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, five-time medalist at the Games of the Small States of Europe in three editions; Ryan Gambin, part of the Maltese squad for 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and competitor in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; and many more.

Aside from the National Swimming Championships, which are organised annually in June/July, the focus for our National Squad is their participation in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE). Historically, Malta has been a key player in these games, winning a number of medals. Our success there is a reflection of our parity when competing with teams of a similar sized outfit to ours. For this reason, the ASA is incredibly proud of our legacy at the GSSEs. Besides this competition, National Team Swimmers also participate in the FINA World Championships and the LEN European Championships, in both long course and short course events.

We also place great value and esteem in our young, developing athletes. Since 1994, the ASA has organised an annual International Age-Group Swimming Meeting on the weekend after Easter. The event has not only become a regular feature of the Association’s calendar but is also eagerly awaited by the foreign clubs which regularly participate in it.

Our swimmers have always been nurtured and championed by a hard-working coach, who is engaged on a full-time basis to lead the National Squad and promote swimming amongst Maltese youths.

We are proud of our swimming reputation, both nationally and internationally, and owe it to energetic administrative staff, accomplished swimmers, and dedicated coaches. We are honoured to be able to have shaped, and to continue to shape, the history of swimming in Malta.

waterpolo

Water polo is one of the most captivating and fast-paced games in the world, combining virile sportsmanship, quick action, and athletic stamina. It has enjoyed enduring popularity with Maltese sports fans for decades and has been at the heart of the work carried out by the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA).

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competitiveness

The legacy of Malta’s men’s water polo National Championships is famous for its fierce competitiveness and ardent fan base.

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all-age groups

Summer months include league competitions for age groups under 13, 15, 17, and 20. The latter three age groups also play in a winter league, whilst festivals are organised for the under 11 teams.

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right infrastructure

The talented club players form part of Malta’s National Water Polo teams, both male and female, at junior and senior level. The ASA is proud to support these teams, providing the right infrastructure for them to be able to flourish at international competition level.

Our Story

Water polo is one of the most captivating and fast-paced games in the world, combining virile sportsmanship, quick action, and athletic stamina. It has enjoyed enduring popularity with Maltese sports fans for decades and has been at the heart of the work carried out by the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA).

The legacy of Malta’s men’s water polo National Championships is famous for its fierce competitiveness and ardent fan base. Both the winter and summer leagues are amongst the most well attended competitions in Malta. Eleven teams participate in these competitions, and are ranked in the Premier and First Division leagues. The format of the competitions is decided periodically by the ASA Council. At present, the summer season kicks off with the President’s Cup, a match between the League Champions and the Knock Out winners of the Premier Division, the Ghaqda Gurnalisti Sports Cup, and the Super Cup, the equivalent for the First Division and the Women’s Division, respectively.

The Knock Out competitions are held simultaneously with the leagues and all teams battle it out to add another trophy to their club’s silverware.

Apart from organising the summer league and Knock-Out competitions, the ASA is responsible for the youth divisions programme. Summer months include league competitions for age groups under 13, 15, 17, and 20. The latter three age groups also play in a winter league, whilst festivals are organised for the under 11 teams.

The talented club players form part of Malta’s National Water Polo teams, both male and female, at junior and senior level. The ASA is proud to support these teams, providing the right infrastructure for them to be able to flourish at international competition level.

2015 was a historic year for Maltese water polo as both the Junior (U17) and the Senior team qualified for the finals of the 1st European Games (Baku, Azerbaijan) and the European Water Polo Championships (Belgrade, Serbia) respectively. The Senior men’s team placed 15th in the final ranking beating Turkey on penalties, whilst team player Steve Camilleri was top scorer of the Championships.

The Women’s National Team participated in the 2016 EU Nations Junior Women Water Polo Competition in Odense Denmark, the first ever participation by the Women’s Team in local history. They placed 4th overall and exceeded all expectations.

In our local competitions, we engage both foreign and local referees to control matches of the top divisions. A number of Maltese referees’ qualifications are recognised by the LEN and the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), giving them the opportunity to officiate international matches.

The ASA is responsible for the smooth running of all local tournaments, but has also been entrusted to host prestigious international competitions such as the LEN European Junior Water Polo Championships (1985, 2007, 2013), the LEN Champions League, the LEN Euro Cup, the COMEN Water Polo Cup and the European B Water Polo Championships (1996 and 2000). We are currently enjoying one of the most exciting chapters in the history of Maltese water polo and it is our ambition to see water polo named as Malta’s national sport. We join our players, coaches, referees, and supporters in their unwavering enthusiasm for the seasons ahead.

open water swimming

Open Water Swims are organised by Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club under the auspicious of the ASA of Malta.

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encourage

The ASA’s administration of the sport occurs at a number of levels, and wherever possible seeks to encourage engagement from athletes.

!

all-age groups

ASA provide Time Trials for all age-groups which are held every month, thus giving all swimmers the opportunity to gauge their progress.

&

Key Player

Malta has been a key player in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), winning a number of medals. For this reason, the ASA is incredibly proud of our legacy at the GSSEs.

Our Story

The Swimming Section of the Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club is a very active one with all year round sessions held both at the National Swimming Pool as well as in the open sea. Training, under the guidance of the Club’s Head Coach, is given every Saturday morning and the sessions are split up in 3 groups each being coached at different times.

These groups include the beginners, improvers and advanced swimmers. In addition, Club members who are also members of the National Pool, are given two to three weekly session print outs.

The aim of the Club’s Swimming Section is to promote the discipline of Open Water Swimming, be it Long Distance Swimming or Marathon Swimming.

The Club organises annually:

The Birkirkara St. Joseph Open Water Swimming Championships held between June and August,
The Gozo-Malta Open Water Swimming Competition (5.5K) held in mid-August, and
The Malta-Gozo-Malta Open Water Swimming Competition (11K) held in mid-August.
The Club’s Head Coach is Ms Isabelle Zarb, (Level 2 ASA UK).
The members on the Club’s Swimming Board are Ms. Isabelle Zarb (Chairperson), Mr. Roberto Demicoli and Mr. Andrew Grech.

For more information kindly visit the club’s website or call Isabelle Zarb on 79829391 or Euchar Camilleri on 99466256