What is Halliwick?

For over half a century people with disabilities have been experiencing freedom in water learning through using the Halliwick Concept.

The development of this concept led to the formation of the Halliwick Association of Swimming Therapy.

The Association

The Halliwick Association of Swimming Therapy (Halliwick AST) is an organisation set up in 1952 by James & Phyl McMillan to develop the teaching of swimming to people with disabilities using the Halliwick Concept. To learn more about our history, take a look at our Story of Halliwick pages.

The three main aspects of the Association’s work are:

• The development of a network of affiliated independent swimming clubs and groups, for people with disabilities of ANY nature, throughout the UK and abroad, where the recreational aspects of swimming is emphasised. These groups may be swimming clubs, special schools, hospitals and training centres and there are currently over 90 affiliated groups, plus personal and overseas affiliates. Clubs affiliated to Halliwick AST (UK) are grouped into Regional Associations called Halliwick ASTRAs, based on county boundaries.
• Running courses in the theory and practice of the Halliwick Concept.
  The Foundation Course prepares the Instructor to work with an individual swimmer under the guidance of a Group Leader. The Advanced Course Teaching is designed for Instructors who lead Groups & train new Instructors.  The Advanced Course Therapy is designed for Paediatric Specialist. Supplementary Courses on assessing, lecturing, disability awareness, moving & assisting and competition are also organised. Halliwick AST as such, DO NOT organise swimming lessons in the accepted sense, for people with disabilities.  An Instructor in the club works with the disabled person in the water, on a one-to-one basis often in a group situation.  Teaching follows a Ten Point Programme of the Halliwick Concept. Water confidence and control of one’s body in the water is taught, leading towards swimming movements.  When the Ten Points have been mastered, more traditional swimming/stroke technique lessons can follow. Depending on the club there is usually a membership fee.Halliwick AST recommends that clubs ask for any person joining, to complete a form of self-certification, simply as a precaution, to say that the person can take part in water activities. (for suggested design of this form, see: http://www.halliwick.org.uk/downloads/selfcertificationForm.pdf
• The organisation of swimming competition at local, regional, national and international level. The galas are run on a timed handicapping method, first adopted by Halliwick AST in 1952, where swimmers compete on the basis of their ability in the water, irrespective of their disability on land.We now use a ‘Zero Tolerance’ time banding.

Halliwick AST produces a range of quality publications, DVDs and teaching resources, which are regularly updated.

These include a highly recommended text book, ‘Swimming for People with Disabilities’, first published in 1981 under the title of ‘Swimming for the Disabled ‘ which was reprinted in 1984 and revised in 1992 as the 2nd edition.  The 3rd edition (2010) is now available under the title of ’HALLIWICK SWIMMING FOR DISABLED PEOPLE‘

There are also currently for sale, 10 leaflets, 14 booklets and 6 DVDs, giving information on various aspects of teaching swimming to people with differing disabilities.

These are detailed on the ‘Halliwick Publications and Equipment’ webpage.

Halliwick AST also issue a Quarterly Newsletter.