The 2006-2007 swimming season kicked off for the Maltese swimmers on 28 August when training resumed after the last day of the 2006 National Championships on 30 July.

The coming season will be a very important one for the Malta National team, not only due to the Games of the Small States of Europe 2007 in Monaco but also the 4 top swimmers will be attending the World Championships in Australia.

This trip has been made possible for the Maltese team by FINA and the swimmers will be chosen depending on their results in the local time trials and the busy international program that has been prepared for them. This program will see the team competing in Slovenia 16-17 December, Luxembourg 26-28 January, France 23-25 February, Australia 25 March-1 April and Monaco 4-9 June.

Training for the national team was taken over last May by newly appointed National Coach Andy Colbourn, who took over from the highly successful Steve Kourmos. Mr Colbourn has already set clear standards to qualify as a national team swimmer which has seen the team grow to 20 swimmers.

However following the new policy set out by Mr Colbourn not all of these swimmers will train with him but will remain with their respective club coaches who have done such a fantastic job in developing them to their current level.

It is envisaged that the whole national team will meet to train together once a month with all the coaches present in order to ensure that the swimmers are all heading in the same direction with the same micro and macro cycles applying to all weather training with the national team or their own club.

The new policy has proven to be very popular with swimmers and coaches alike and all are looking forward to a new era of co-operation and improvement.

The last season saw the first time participation of two clubs in the time trials and national championships. These clubs were Exiles from Sliema and Iasis from Marsascala.

Not only did these two clubs field swimmers but it was not a token showing with some very good times being registered and in fact for Iasis some age group records. This now brings the number of active swimming clubs on the island to 6 and can only help to improve standards in the local swimming scene.

Those who are interested in this sport can contact the Aquatic Sports Assocation of Malta by e-mail on [email protected] or on telephone nos. 21322884.