SCHOOL OF FISH

Martin Hamilton created School of Fish in 2000 with the aim of creating efficient swimmers using a progression which favours correct body position throughout the learning process, without getting too deep! At School of Fish it is believed that the teaching of swimming can be incorporated with an understanding of existence, reality, survival and knowledge. As well as technical perfection, the student should appreciate the sensations which affect the body when learning to swim. This should remain important at any level and at any age.

MARTIN HAMILTON   

Martin started his swimming career at the age of five in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. It was a 50m freestyle race and he was the victor albeit the only competitor! Throughout his teens he went on to swim in Hongkong and Scotland at a high level.

After University he gained the ASA Instructors award and went on to teach in London under the mentorship of Eduardo Ferre. Here he learned the vital importance of body position and stroke technique.

Martin then joined Saint Felix school in Suffolk to head up its swimming program in 1998. Throughout his time there he turned it into the leading Suffolk school for swimming with ASA Dolphin and Porpoise awards in 2003 for all ages, pinpointing the standard of achievement. All pupils achieved 25m by the age of seven in the same year. The school team represented Suffolk in the National Primary School's Relay Championships five years running, gaining two silver and two bronze medals in the process. Martin also took the team to the National IAPS Championships five years running and in 2004 were runners up to Millfield School, Somerset.

During this period, Martin travelled to Australia working closely with Michael Ursu, 2000 Head of Australian Coaches, and gained five coaching awards. When back in the U.K. he developed the 'School of Fish' method and taught at various sites around Suffolk. In 2007 Cardinal Lofts, Ipswich opens the first School of Fish Swim School which will be the flag ship of more to follow. With the use of Swim Schools teaching efficient technique and a series of children's books charting the levels, Martin's vision is to enable parents to have a greater understanding of swimming and a more 'hands on' approach to their child's progression.

"Swim for your life!"