Squad criteria

Junior Bronze - 1 hour (One session a week)

Swimmers must have an enthusiasm to swim, learn and develop. They must demonstrate good behaviour throughout. Swimming development will follow the Swim England Club Award (SECA) programme for awards 1 and 2. It is important to note that a swimmer must consistantly demonstrate ability and performance for each of the criteria rather than just demonstrate it once. For example a swimmer will be expected to hold their head in the correct streamline position (Arms tight behind the ears head down) whenever they dive in or push off from a wall. This applies to all items in the skills requirement.

Some award elements include hydration and nutrituation elements that we expect parents and guardians to asist with away from the pool, likewise behaviours and other matters. Parents and guardians are key to a swimmer's development and form an ingral part of the swimmer, parent/guardian, coach team.

Junior Silver - 1 hour (One session a week)

Once a swimmer has satisfied the required outcomes from SECA award 2 they can be considered for a move into Junior Silver. The general criteria are as for Junior Bronze, however they will follow awards 3 and 4

Junior Gold- 2 hours (2x 1 hour sessions)

Once a swimmer has satisifed the required outcomes from SECA award 4 they can be considered for a move into the Compete Performance squad where they will develop their competion skills and training behaviours ready for success in the County age group competition level. General criteria are as for Junior Bronze, but swimmers will follow awards 5 and 6

Compete Performance  - 3 sessions, 4 hours total

The first performance level squad will develop and hone a swimmer's competitive skills in the larger competion arena. Swimmers will be developing towards county age group qualification times, where they haven't been achieved already.

County Performance - 4 sessions, 6 hours total

County Performance is the next step in your performance pathway having achieved or a close to County level qualification times. Emphasis will be on commitment, participation and learning to train for longer periods at a higher level developing cardiovascular fitness through technique and drill training.

You will have ambitions to achieve more County times aiming for finals qualification at annual county age group championships and increase participation in open meets. You will increase awareness of quality training. You will also learn about the national rankings system and how to set achievable goals.  Attendance needed is a minimum 85%

• Ambition for County and Regional times
• Increase participation in open meets and target specific meets and galas
• Set and train towards goals
• Develop cardiovascular fitness through technique and drill training
• Increase awareness of quality training
• Be aware of your position in national rankings
• Demonstrate behaviours in line with our Code of Conduct
• Maintain a solid training work ethic
• Maintain a strong peer support ethic

Regional Performance - 5 sessions, 8.5 hours total plus strength and conditioning

You will have County times and if you don't already have them, you will have strong Regional goals.  There will be a commitment to Strength and Conditioning to improve power, flexibility and aerobic capacity.  You will learn how to set goals and plan strategies to achieve those goals, with an aim to improve your National Rankings in all four strokes.  Attendance is expected to be 85% as a minimum

• County Qualified with Regional qualification goals
• Increase participation in open meets and target specific meets and galas
• Evaluate goals and update
• Develop intensity in training
• Commit to strength and conditioning sessions
• Aim to improve national rankings all strokes
• Demonstrate behaviours in line with our Code of Conduct
• Maintain a solid training work ethic, driving to complete or exceed all sets given
• Maintain a strong peer support ethic

Participate and Compete - 3 one-hour sessions

This squad is for swimmers who still desire to train regularly and love to improve on technique and performance. Enjoy competing and have ambition to work hard and improve all four strokes and skills.  You will have awareness of quality training and have a good understanding of perceived effort.  You may have goals you want to achieve at County and Regional level.  Regular attendance is expected, however it is understood that commitment will not be of that required for performance squads.

Any swimmer in this squad has the ability to move into the performance pathway if they demonstrate higher commitment levels and a desire to work towards higher goals demanded of the performance squads.

• Participation in meets and galas if selected
• Be prepare to focus and work in training
• Aim to improve performance in all strokes
• Demonstrate behaviours in line with our Code of Conduct
• Maintain a good work ethic in training
• Maintain a strong peer support ethic

National Performance - 6 sessions, 9 hours total plus strength and conditioning

Having already achieved regional times the aim of this squad is to give you your best possible opportunity to reach your full potential and to get you to the higher National level.  The sacrifice and commitment is not for everyone, the demands of the sport at this level are extremely high and the discipline and belief has to be a constant underlying driving force.  At this level mind set is the biggest attribute that will make dreams come true. A strong work ethic and desire to exceed what was done previously will enable the swimmer to work with the coaches to produce their best possible performances.

The demand to have a place in this squad is high so the expectation of every swimmer to maintain standards of behaviour and effort are critical

Members of this squad are an Ambassador for the Club -you will be representing the Kettering area in the sport of swimming, demonstrating the professional attitudes expected of a swimmer at this level and acting as an example to swimmers in other squads.  

• Goal orientated
• Hard working
• Have achieved Regional times and working towards Nationals
• Committed to swimming as priority sport
• attendance at land training
• Regular participation in open meets and target specific meets and galas
• Target racing specific individuals at open meets
• Be an ambassador for the Club - set the right example for junior swimmers - continue to behave in line with our Code of Conduct
• Maintain the highest levels of work ethic in training
•  Demonstrate the highest standards of peer support and encouragement

Masters - ages 18 - 99+yrs - 3 sessions up to 4 hours

For those over 18 year olds not in the performance pathway. We have masters swimmers with capabilities ranging from development of strokes to competing at Master Nationals.  We also have masters who train in this squad who compete in open water and triathlons.