Laois Marlins Squad Structure
General Criteria for c Groups
Inclusion in all of Laois Marlins' swimming training squads is based on the availability of places, coach agreement, signed registration and parent consent forms, Swim Ireland Affiliation, payment of fees, and the agreement of representatives of the Laois Marlins Swim Club committee.
Membership of all squads is at the discretion of the Head Coach. The make-up of the squads has a key role in the training environment, and the Head Coach will ensure that all movements between squads are done with the best interests of our young swimmers in mind.
Laois Marlins Squad Structure
Train to Train Squad
Training Times:
Saturday 6.45 am – 7.45 am
Train to train provides a link between swimming lessons and pre–club involvement
Junior Squad
Training Times:
Monday: 6 pm – 7 pm
Saturday: 6.45 – 7.45 am
There is a strong emphasis on technique and learning about competing. Swimmers learn to swim with disciplined technique and begin to learn about training for competitions. The swimmers spend two hours per week in the water under the guidance of their coaches.
Many junior swimmers will attend their first galas and will enter races in all strokes and individual medley, normally at the 50m level.
They will also swim in relay races. A novice swimmer in the junior squad will be aiming to achieve several firsts in swimming, and each is very important to their development. These can be:
- Completing all training sessions to the best of their ability.
- Attending their first gala. Ideally, they should aim for 4-6 galas over the swim year and only in galas suitable for beginners. Level 1 galas are most suitable.
- Only pick 2-3 races per gala and in the 25-50m distance.
- Getting a first Personal Best (PB) in all 4 main strokes
- Using starting blocks for the first time
Junior Development Squad
Training Times:
Monday: 6 pm – 7 pm
Thursday: 6.00 - 7.30 pm
Saturday: 6.45 am – 7.45 am
Junior Development will continue to focus on technique, but will also progress to focus on competition and increasing involvement in galas. Swimmers will be encouraged to enter galas over the swimming year with increased distance and in all strokes. There will also be an increased focus on endurance, time progression, and efficiency in all 4 strokes.
Senior Development Squad
Training Times:
Monday: 7 pm – 8.30 pm
Thursday: 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm
Friday: 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Saturday: 7.45 am – 8.45 am
Senior Development is the next phase of progression through the club. Swimmers continue the development and improvement of technique in all four strokes. Training intensity and frequency increase, with an increased focus on endurance. Swimmers will attend numerous galas over the swimming season as recommended by their coaches.
Senior Squad
Training Times:
Monday: 7 pm – 8.30 pm
Tuesday: 5.30 am – 7.30 am
Thursday: 5.30 am - 7.30 am
Friday: 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Saturday: 7.45 am – 9.45 am
In our Senior Squad, swimmers build on their skills with increased training intensity and a continued focus on technical excellence across all strokes. They train up to 9 hours per week in the pool, with the option of an additional strength and conditioning session in the gym. As they develop into strong competitors, swimmers aim to achieve Leinster qualifying times and National standards to compete at meets such as Irish nationals, Irish Open
Masters Squad
Laois Marlins Swimming Club has three Masters Squads reflecting our commitment to ensuring swimming is a lifelong activity. The Masters both compete at regional, national and international competitions and train for health and leisure motives.
Masters 1 Training Times
Tuesday: 5.30 am – 7.30 am
Thursday: 5.30 am - 7.30 am
Masters 2 Training Times
Tuesday: 5.30 am – 6.30 am
Thursday: 5.30 am - 6.30 am
Friday: 8.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Masters 3 Training Times
Tuesday: 6.30 am – 7.30 am
Thursday: 6.30 am - 7.30 am
Friday: 8.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Staying in Contact
Please make sure that you have joined the Laois Marlins WhatsApp group
Coaches are happy to discuss swimmers' progress - if you have something you would like to discuss in more detail, please email the coach at [email protected] and arrange a time. Engaging with coaches or swimmers during a session is a distraction for the whole group: coaches need to be able to give their groups their full attention during a session, both for the successful delivery of the session and the safety of the kids in the group.
Looking to join Laois Marlins?
We hold trials a number of times a year - please note that there is limited availability in the club.
Children are required to meet the following criteria for trials:
1. Swimmer can complete 2 lengths front crawl (basic, regular breathing);
2. Swimmer can complete 2 lengths back crawl, with reasonable body position;
3. Swimmer can complete 1 length basic breast stroke with reasonable body position;
4. Swimmer can complete 1 length basic butterfly kick, with a float;
5. Swimmer can somersault or tumble anywhere in the pool;
6. Swimmer can dive off the pool edge head first in either a sitting, kneeling, or standing position;
7. Swimmer has water confidence in all depths of the pool;
8. Swimmer is mature enough to take instructions.
9. Swimmer will affiliate with Swim Ireland.
N.B. Your child will be assessed by the Head Coach, who will decide whether or not your child is a competent enough swimmer to join the club.
Depending onthe availability of places in the squads, there may be a waiting time before your child can actually start.
Ranking the Swimmer
Many factors inform squad selection and ranking within squads. The club is now ranking the swimmers according to their Individual Medley (IM) times, allowing assessment over Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle. IM times will be refreshed through both competition and club time trials, and increasingly, the 200m/400m IM will be used for the Senior squad as this provides more information on the swimmer's stamina and competitive abilities.
This encourages the development of well-rounded swimmers and the development of all four strokes.
With young swimmers, performance factors are really dynamic as they are still young and developing. Squad selection, therefore, is informed by current performance, future potential, training engagement, competition engagement, and the motivation of the young swimmer.
Work and Expectations
The Criteria for retaining a lane place with LMSC are based on 2 key areas:
-Training and competition application
-Training/Gala attendance
The Head Coach reserves the right to move swimmers outside the guidelines where it is felt it will benefit the club and/or the individual. The make-up of the squads has a key role in the training environment, and the Head Coach will ensure that all movements between squads are done with the best interests of all children in mind.
Head Coach
Padraic Dolan | [email protected]
