The RA Government session approved the project on expanding the pilot swimming program for school-age children in the regions.
Accordingly, the number of free swimming classes will increase, with three groups of beneficiaries in each age group instead of the previous one.
The decision was made due to the demand for more school-age children to be included in the free swimming program in the swimming pools of the RA regions than planned. In 2024, the swimming pool of the Aragats community of Aragatsotn region was recognized as the winner of the grant competition announced by the Ministry.
New competitions for the provision of grants will be announced for other regions in the near future. Important conditions for participating in the announced competitions are the compliance of the swimming pools with technical and sanitary-epidemiological standards, as well as the presence of coaches-pedagogues with professional education and qualifications or persons with higher education, at least 3 years of coaching experience in swimming and having completed joint training courses of the Armenian Swimming Federation and the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.
Training courses for coaches and instructors of various sports, including swimming, are being implemented in accordance with the RA Government Resolution No. 657-N of June 11, 2009, “On Approval of the Program for Organizing the Training of Coaches and Instructors Working in Children's and Youth Sports Schools.” Relevant specialists selected by the Armenian Swimming Federation will also be involved in the mentioned courses, which will contribute to filling the gap in the number of swimming coaches and instructors in the regions. Every year, 2-3 age groups of school-age children will be engaged in swimming in the swimming pools in each pool: the 1st age group will include children aged 8-12,In the 2nd age group - 13-17 years old. The maximum number of participants in the 1st age group should be 12, and in the 2nd - 10. Training sessions in the groups will be held 3 days a week, each session lasting 1 hour.
The program will be implemented for 9 consecutive months, the period of training will be determined by the swimming pool. The RA Government also approved the draft decision to amend the Law "On Physical Culture and Sports" at the session.
Accordingly, an authorizing norm will be established by order of the RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports to create the procedure for naming children's and youth sports schools and general standards. Emphasizing the great contribution of distinguished individuals and those who have made a contribution to sports, including Olympic and world champions, to the development of sports, education of athletes and patriotic upbringing, the naming of sports schools will be a unique assessment of their work.
