Swimming Trials

Ready to Dive In?

What are trials?

Think of trials as a "swimming assessment" rather than a formal test. It's a chance for our coaches to: 

• See what strokes your child can do 

• Gauge their confidence in the water 

• Assess their overall technique 

This helps us place them in the right group to maximize their improvement and fun! Our training sessions can be quite active (even our newest swimmers will be covering around 30-40 lengths in an hour!), so trials help ensure everyone is ready to jump in and enjoy themselves. 

About our Academy Squads

Our Academy squads are structured to help swimmers progress at their own pace. Swimmers start in our Bronze squad and work their way up to Silver and then Gold as they master various skills.

We understand that starting a new sport can be a big commitment, so the training commitment starts slowly. And don't worry, there are no 5am starts at this stage (that's a common misconception!). 

What to expect

• Arrival: Please arrive at the pool at 10 minutes before your scheduled session and look for one of our friendly team members in a green Team Waveney top. They'll greet you and show you where to go. 

• Changing Rooms: Your child will then head to the changing rooms to get ready. 

• Poolside Viewing: Parents are welcome to watch the trial from the poolside. We have plenty of seating available. 

Is my child ready for a trial?

Ideally, your child should have completed at least Stage 7 of a Learn to Swim program.

This means they can swim front crawl and backstroke for a reasonable distance and are comfortable in deeper water. Correctly performed breaststroke and butterfly for a minimum of 25m is also a requirement. 

Don't worry if your child hasn't been through a formal program! We assess each child individually. We're looking for water confidence, basic stroke technique, and a willingness to learn. Even if they're not quite ready for our Academy squads, our coaches can provide valuable feedback. 

It is important to understand that the academy is focussed on learning competitive skills and improving technique, it is not a learn to swim environment that will teach the basics of a stroke so if your child has not quite mastered the minimum standards of the 4 strokes they will often be better served with continuing swim lessons or having focussed lessons.

What happens at the trial?

Your child will be asked to swim a variety of strokes and distances so our coaches can understand their current swimming level. Our coaches are experienced in dealing with any nerves and will make it a fun experience.

They'll also be looking at your child's technique, water confidence, and overall attitude. 

What to bring: 

• Swimwear 

• Swimming hat 

• Goggles 

What happens after the trial?

After the trial, please meet us back at the initial meeting point. We'll let you know if your swimmer has been offered a place in Team Waveney Swimming Club and which squad they'll be in.

If they're not quite ready yet, they'll receive feedback from the coaches and where appropriate we will advise when they should try again. 

Next trial date: Monday 15th December 2025

Waterlane Leisure Centre, Water Lane, Lowestoft

5:50pm arrival for 6pm start (trial is 30 minutes, finishing at 6:30pm)

Waveney Valley Leisure Centre, St John's Hill, Bungay

6:50pm arrival for 7pm start  (trial is 30 minutes, finishing at 7:30pm)

Registering for a trial?

Please register your interest using the link below: 

• Younger swimmers select "Academy Trials" 

• Experienced competitive swimmers or Masters swimmers select "Registration of Interest Competitive/Masters"