Coach: Sam Woodward

Squad Criteria

Novice (Swim Skills): Age Group Guide: 6 - 10

Entrance Criteria: 6yrs + able to swim 100FC, 50BC, 50BRS, Basic FLY plus good water skills.

The next step from learn to swim and the first step into competitive swimming. Swimmers cannot compete in licensed meets or galas until they are 9 yrs of age but here in Novice our young athletes will learn the four competitive strokes plus race starts and turns. Lead by ex-Hampshire swimmer Mark Corben under guidance of Age Group Coach Sam Woodward.

C Squad (Learn to train): Age Group Guide: 9 - 11

When swimmers are confident on all four competitive strokes and show good water skills (Floatation, Dives, Turns) they will progress to B squad. Here swimmers will be coached for competitive swimming, with emphasis on technique and skills that the young athlete will use to progress through the squad system and be a successful swimmer in the long term.

B Squad (train to train): Age Group Guide: 9 - 11

Swimmers will continue their skill development while starting to work their aerobic engine, preparing them for A Squad.

A Squad (train to compete): Age Group Guide: 10 - 13

All athletes in this squad will be classed as 400 IM swimmers, working their aerobic system on all four strokes while further developing their race skills.

Basic sets that swimmers should be able to complete:
20 x 100 on 1.30 / 1.40, 10 x 200 on 3 / 3.30, 5 x 400 on 6.30 / 7

A Squad Training Guidelines

10 years - 9.75 hours per week, including at least 4 hours at early morning training
11 years - 11.75 hours per week, including at least 6 hours at early morning training
12 years - 13.75 hours per week including at all 8 hours at early morning training
13 years - 13.75 hours per week including at all 8 hours at early morning training

How will you progress?

The fastest way to improve your swimming skills is by attempting to attend as many sessions as possible, if you only make one session per week then your improvement will be limited.

Swimmers will progress through the squad system on merit and skills. When the coaching staff believes a swimmer is physically and mentally ready then they will start to trial in the next squad allowing them to slowly adapt to the work level and expectations of the new squad. After a trial period swimmers will then move into the squad full time.

Every 4 months the coaching staff will sit down and review every swimmer in the programme and discuss possible squad movement.

Swimmers must have a good attitude towards training, competing and must always be punctual.