Squad structure

The new squad structure reflects the updated swimming strategy that the club has been implementing for the past few years and takes into account two main factors when determining squad placements: age and swimming times.  Swimmers are grouped by the calendar year in which they were born, and by their times against a target list for that age within each squad.  The detailed squad criteria are downloadable at the bottom of the page.  As an example, a swimmer born in 2006 could be in Cadets, Minimes, or Elites depending on their eligibility.

All squads will have targets and be training for appropriate competitions; this way they will be grouped so they are training with swimmers of a similar age and similar times to give them the optimum training experience.  All swimmers, regardless of squad, will have performance targets set by coaches, and this way will have the best chance of progressing and achieving them as the training for each squad can reflect individual targets within the group.  Determining squads in this way will ensure that the training is appropriate both for the age, physical development and ability of the swimmer, and also help the coaching team to ensure swimmers are targeting the right meets and events throughout the year as part of the overall strategy.

Squad movements will take place once a year.  Times achieved will be reviewed after the last meet on the summer schedule, and any changes will take effect when training resumes in August/September.  In September this year a new training schedule will take effect to link to the new squad structure.