Squads
Movement of swimmers from the teaching groups through to full squad training is done via the Junior squad. The Junior squad swim one evening per week and further movement through the squad structure demands additional evening and some morning training sessions.
Junior Squad
The first step into club swimming learning how to work out turn around times, using the pace clock, lane etiquette, all turns including Individual Medley. Stroke technique will be emphasized and drills will be introduced to achieve maximum distance per stroke. The competitive start award will also potentially be achieved. This squad will take part in the Novice Series meets, open meets that they qualify for and time trials. They will also be encouraged to look at achieving Development Championships times.
Skill Development Squad
This squad will concentrate on the competitive strokes and adapting them to the swimmer. More emphasis will be put on the importance of the turns, starts and finishes. The majority of the training will be focused around Individual Medleys giving the swimmers a chance to excel at all strokes. The competitive start award will be achieved. This squad will compete in the Junior Summer League, Open Meets that they qualify for and time trials. They will also be encouraged to look at County times to achieve.
Competitive Development Squad
Although stroke work will feature strongly in this squad a lot more emphasis will be put on the actual training. They will be learning new drills, increasing their distances and this is where the intensity will start to make a difference. Pace work will be introduced and an emphasis on the feel of the speed rather than the evidence of a competitor or stopwatch telling them they were faster! This squad will compete in the Summer League, Club Galas, Open Meets that they qualify for which will include County Championships.
Youth Development Squad
This squad is designed for those swimmers wishing to pursue swimming as a competitive sport but do not make the criteria for the Performance Squads. However it will also consist of swimmers that would like to swim for fitness rather than compete. Those wishing to compete will be identified and encourage to enter the available open meets and league galas aiming for County Times. They will also be encouraged to aspire to seeing the Youth Squad as the next move.
Age Group Development Squad (9-12yrs)
The squad will work in line with the BAGCATS and also British Swimming’s LTAD (Long Term Athlete Development) swimming Framework. Each training session will be specific to the swimmers age and ability and will be progressive within each training cycle. The cycles will depend on the swimmers goals and competitions they are entering. This squad is selected on the basis of the fastest swimmers within the ranking system within their respective age groups, together with their attendance, performance at galas and attitude towards training. Therefore performance, attendance and attitude at every single training session has to be of the highest quality consistently! The squad will compete in the Eastern Junior League, (possibly the summer league), specific open meets, club galas and will be getting a full set of County Times. The 9yr olds will be on target for their 10yr Regional Times and the 11 & 12 year olds will be achieving Regional Times and looking at National times.
Age Group Performance (12-15yrs)
This squad is replicated above with the only difference being their age and ability and are selected on their training efforts and attendance. The training will reflect this and they will be expected to perform to the highest of standards at every session. This squad will also be learning to take responsibility for their own training and learning how to manage effectively their training time etc. Again selection has been based on the ranking system together with attitude and performance hence the expectations will be high! They will be entering the same competitions as the younger Age Groupers and will have a full set of County times to achieving Regional Times ready to look at the National times. Their training times will be identical to the younger Age Groupers with the exception of the Sunday where I will expect them to cope with the full two hours. I also expect them to make both morning sessions to get the full benefit of the hours that are available to them. Swimmers in this group should be aspiring to reach the Performance Squad and those that cannot achieve the criteria of this squad will be moved to a suitable squad.
Performance (14yrs+)
This squad is for those aged 14yrs and over and will be based on the Regional and National times and LTAD framework. This will be the most challenging squad in terms of performance and achievement. It is exactly what it says – a “performance” squad which means the swimmers will be completely focused on their own training sets, goals, cycles and meets and will be expected to not only perform but achieve as well. They will be training to win! As role models for the rest of the club the swimmers will have a lot of pressure on them to set the standards in what a training session should look like. They will also get involved with the younger swimmers bringing the club together as one!
A full set of County Times is a given and expectations will be to medal at Regionals gaining National Times. Eventually reaching the finals at the Nationals will also be a goal. This squad will compete in meets selected by the coach and swimmer relevant to their swimming career goals. There will be test sets to monitor training performance and swimmers falling outside of the criteria will be moved to a more suitable squad. Both morning sessions must be attended in order to gain full benefit of the hours available to them and all swimmers in this squad will be expected have swimming as their number one sport.
Youth Squad
This squad is for those swimmers who are close to reaching the criteria for the Performance Squad and will aspire to reaching the Performance Squad. The swimmers will be monitored by test sets and those not reaching the criteria will be moved to a suitable squad. All swimmers must attend the morning session as this squad has been re arranged so they have the Monday night off in order to be able to prepare for the Tues morning session which is a vital session in order for the swimmer to progress to the expected level. They will enter the same meets as the Performance squads and be given the same opportunities and at the same time will be expected to train under Performance conditions. County times will be achieved and the swimmers will be looking at Regional Times in order to progress. They will also have test sets within their training sessions to ensure progress is being made.
Club Squad
This squad is for those swimmers who are finding it difficult to commit not only to the amount of hours available to swim but also to the level of training. This squad does not have any pressure on the swimmer to perform and the swimmer can work them selves as hard or as easy as they wish to and enjoy their training session! They can still compete for the club if they wish to and at any point if they wish to commit to the hours and level of training in another squad they will be invited to a discussion with the Head Coach to discuss the possibility of this happening.
Masters
The Masters squad is available for those who are 16yrs and over. They are given guidance on technique and efficiency in the water as well as speed work and those that wish to can train towards the Open Water swims or Masters Galas that are available. A great way to meet new people and discover the social side of swimming too!!
Water polo
The Water Polo squad, train the younger players in the Diddy, Mini and Intermediate Squads at Beacon Hill on a Thursday night. The Intermediate and Junior players have match play practice utilizing the whole pool and have a specific swim training session.
THE STRUCTURE WILL ALWAYS ENCOMPASS OUR BELIEFS THAT WE CAN CATER FOR EVERYONES NEEDS AND ALL SWIMMERS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SWIM.