Clubs in Depth - Narrabeen SC

07 November 2021
Narrabeen Swimming Club group shot

Today we're diving into - Narrabeen SC

Established in 1977 by coaching trailblazer, Forbes Carlile, one of the northern beaches' newer clubs has successfully splashed out to build their own identity despite the uncertainty of these challenging times. Narrabeen Swimming Club is located in the Metro North East region of NSW and calls the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation in Narrabeen home. After establishing the club as its own entity in November 2019, the club continues to progress from strength to strength thanks to the amazing parents, committee and coaches who are dedicated to the club's prosperity. Narrabeen SC currently has 180 members who consistently support each other and have developed a very positive group culture.

To find out more about the club, we spoke to club President Justin Barrett, Head Coach Ryo Kito, Registrar Michelle Thacker and Senior Swimmers Luke Bibby and Jess Quinn.

Narrabeen head Coach Ryo Kito with senior swimmers
Head Coach Ryo Kito (Centre) with senior swimmers Luke Bibby (L) and Jess Quinn (Back Centre)

Narrabeen SC in Depth

Overseen by Ryo Kito, Narrabeen SC currently has 3 squads training at their pool: Gold, Green, and Blue Squad. Over the past two years, Narrabeen’s squads have grown from 40 swimmers in 2019 to 70 swimmers this season! Non-swimmers and emerging young swimmers make up the remainder of the club’s membership base.

The club has a great support system. At any major meet you’ll find Narrabeen’s passionate swimmers up in the stands cheering on their

teammates - and they are always the loudest! All swimmers worked together to design the new colours and creative direction of the club, making it truly their own. Everyone has a say in club decisions such as national uniform design, strength and conditioning programs, and physio support at meets. Narrabeen SC takes pride in assisting swimmers to achieve their goals of competing at national and international levels by backing club members financially.

Squad camps were introduced at the beginning of 2021 as a key development tool within the club’s repertoire. The Gold Squad went to Thredbo for an intense three-and-a-half-day camp, training seven times within that period. A team-building exercise at heart, older swimmers helped their younger counterparts complete the gruelling training sessions. The entire squad even made it up to the peak of Mount Kosciuszko! Likewise, junior squad members got the chance to stay in Port Stephens, where they had loads of fun, and also learnt how to train hard and achieve goals.

In their first year as an independent club, Narrabeen SC managed to finish in the Top 10 clubs in the state – a significant achievement and testament to the contribution made by everyone in the pool and behind the scenes. This club triumph also solidified Narrabeen’s values of hard work, resilience, and being hungry to achieve.

What's next for Narrabeen SC

President Justin Barrett and Head Coach Ryo Kito are revered by senior swimmers Luke and Jess as having been crucial to the club’s survival.

“Such ways that these two members have (ensured the club’s survival) include securing lease agreements for pool space, setting up a new gym program and re-branding the club along with a host of other things,” said Luke. “These two are at the core (of) keeping the swimmers swimming.”

Narrabeen SC is currently focused on creating an environment for members and swimmers, particularly younger ones coming through the ranks, to develop their life skills and take things beyond swimming especially after this long COVID lockdown.

They are also currently on the look-out for a Competitive Squad Coach for their Junior Squad. Interested parties should contact Justin with their CV, or for more information.

Find and Contact Narrabeen SC

Club pool: Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Wakehurst Pkwy, North Narrabeen

Club website: https://narrabeensc.swimming.org.au/

Follow Narrabeen SC on Facebook and Instagram

Want to be featured in the next Clubs in Depth?

  • Get in touch with us
  • Contact Olivia Kapocius (admin@nsw.swimming.org.au) to organise an interview.

  • Purpose of Clubs in Depth initiative
  • The purpose of Clubs in Depth is to promote NSW-based clubs to both the Swimming NSW and broader community in order to increase engagement and participation. The article is distributed via our website, social media channels, the Hot Off the Blocks Newsletter and Swimmer Magazine.

    Swimming NSW will also provide featured clubs with a modified copy of their article so it can be distributed to local media outlets as a new member and community engagement tool.

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