Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. Can't find what you need? Get in touch.
Joining LSC
How do I join the club?
Fill in the membership enquiry form on our Contact page. Our Membership Secretary will be in touch within 3 working days to discuss availability and arrange a Swim Trial if there's a suitable space.
What is a Swim Trial and what happens at one?
A Swim Trial is a short assessment session where our coaches watch your swimmer in the water to work out which squad best matches their current ability. There's no need to prepare anything special — just bring normal swimming kit and a positive attitude.
My child has never swum competitively — can they still join?
Yes. Our Swim Academy is specifically designed as the entry point for swimmers new to structured training, progressing them through Stages 1–9/10 before moving into our squad system.
Is there a waiting list?
Places are in high demand and availability varies by squad and age group. Our Membership Secretary will let you know the current situation when you enquire.
Fees & Payments
How much does it cost?
Fees vary by squad, since more advanced squads train for more hours per week. A full breakdown of current fees for every squad is on the Squads page. There's also a one-off joining fee for new members (except Swim Academy and Masters) and an LSC membership fee charged each term.
How and when do I pay?
Fees are added to Sports Engine on the 1st of the month before each term starts (1 September, 1 January, 1 April) and are payable termly in advance. See the Squads page for full payment terms.
What if my child is injured or ill for an extended period?
Credits are available for injury or illness lasting 6 weeks or more, with a medical certificate. See our full fee policy on the Squads page for details.
Kit & What to Bring
What kit does my swimmer need?
At minimum: a filled drinks bottle, kick board, pull buoy, goggles (plus a spare pair) and an LSC hat (plus a spare). More advanced squads also need training fins, a training snorkel, hand paddles and other equipment — the specific list for each squad is in our Squad Criteria document, downloadable from the Squads page.
Where do I buy LSC kit?
Visit our Kit Shop page to order official LSC training and competition kit. Our official supplier Arena also offers club members 15% off with code LSC15 at arenaswimuk.com.
Do I need to buy an LSC swim hat?
Yes — an LSC hat (plus a spare) is required equipment for training and is worn at galas to represent the club.
Training & Timetable
Where do sessions take place?
LSC trains across multiple venues in Surrey including Leatherhead Leisure Centre, St John's School, St Teresa's School, Reed's School, ACS International School and Epsom College. Session locations vary by squad — see the Timetable page for exact venues and times.
What happens if a session is cancelled?
Cancellations (for example due to pool closures or adverse weather) are communicated directly to parents by the squad coach or via the Academy Portal. Check with your squad coach if you're ever unsure whether a session is going ahead.
How do squad moves work?
Movement between squads is based on technical ability, commitment, attitude and performance, assessed by the coaching staff — not just time served. Full squad movement criteria are on the Squads page. Squad moves are usually made at the end of each term.
Galas & Competitions
Does my swimmer have to compete in galas?
This depends on the squad. Competing is encouraged but not mandatory in our Junior Club, Intermediate Club and Youth Club squads — but swimmers in Transition Squad upwards are generally expected to enter our Club Championships as a minimum, with higher squads expected to compete more regularly. See the Squads page for specifics.
How do I find out about upcoming galas?
Our live gala calendar is on the Galas page, kept up to date by the club admin team. Your squad coach will also let you know which galas you're expected to attend.
Where can I see the club's all-time records?
Full club records, broken down by age group, gender and course length, are on the Galas page under Club Records.
Safeguarding & Welfare
Who do I speak to about a welfare concern?
Contact our Club Welfare Officers directly — details and full safeguarding information are on our Safeguarding page. If a child is in immediate danger, always call 999 first.
Are your coaches DBS checked?
Yes — all coaches, teachers and volunteers working with swimmers are properly vetted and DBS checked, in line with Swim England's Wavepower guidance and our SwimMark accreditation.
Still have a question?
Get in touch and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.