Starfish
Mailing Address: PO Box
9408 Niskayuna, NY 12309
Starfish History
The Starfish Swim Club began its mission to provide quality
instruction and coaching to the Albany area as the SUNYA Swim Club
in 1965. Originally it served the University of Albany and
surrounding community families. The University of Albany pool
served as the first training site for the club. In 1980, the club
was incorporated as a non-for-profit educational corporation named
the Albany Starfish Swim Club. As the club grew in numbers,
additional training sites were sought to adequately address the
training needs of its swimmers. In 1988, the Voorheesville Swim
Club merged with the Albany Starfish and the name of the club was
changed to the A-V Starfish. The club recently returned to the
Albany Starfish name which more accurately describes the diversity
of its membership throughout the greater Albany region. For more
information, see the Parent Handbook (link to handbook)
The Albany Starfish Swim Club has
been committed to achieving excellence in athletics, academics, and
public service for over 40 years. Our goal is to develop
competitive swimmers both as athletes and as well rounded young men
and women. We also offer quality learn to swim programs for all
children regardless of race, color, religion, or financial
means.
Mission, Vision and Core Objectives
Our mission is to provide our
members with the tools necessary to reach the highest levels of
success within the sport of swimming and to instill the qualities
which will assist them in achieving success throughout their life
during and after their competitive experience.
Core
Objectives
Maximize Potential: Through a well organized and defined
program, swimmers in both the learn-to-swim and competitive
programs will have the opportunity to progress at their own pace,
to the highest level of proficiency they choose to pursue. Coaches
and instructors will consistently challenge each swimmer to take
the next step on the road to excellence, providing a positive and
rewarding atmosphere in which to do so.
Information/Education: Through it’s staff, the
Starfish Swim Club will provide information to swimmers and parents
so all may come to know the benefits of the competitive swimming
experience. As a “lifetime” activity, swimmers can
benefit from a relationship with swimming long after their
competitive years have concluded.
During the competitive years, the better the athlete and parent
understands the dynamics of developing a competitive swimmer, the
better prepared they will be to work together with the coach to
achieve the highest degree of success possible within the
sport.
Promotion/Exposure: It is the goal of the Starfish Swim
Club to promote the sport of swimming within the Capital District.
In doing so, the club looks to maximize it’s ability to
provide opportunities to as many new members as possible. The more
people learn about our sport, the more likely they will be willing
to participate.
Achieve Competitive Success: We provide our staff with
ongoing opportunities to enhance their knowledge base, to better
enable them to provide swimmers at all levels with sufficient
training, supervision and motivation to excel. It is our goal for
all to achieve success.
With guidance from their coaches, each swimmer will have the
opportunity to define “success” as it applies to them
individually. From that point, the entire Starfish organization is
committed to assisting each swimmer in their quest to achieve that
goal.
