CLUB SQUADS
The Club Squads are ideal for those swimmers who do not meet the full criteria (qualifying times or training session attendance) required for the Future Stars or Performance squads. Squad assignments are monitored throughout the year which means that Club Squad swimmers will always have the opportunity to move into the squads which require a greater time commitment or more competitive qualifying times. This is, of course, dependent on the swimmer demonstrating the desire, time availability and skill set required.
BRONZE SQUAD
The training emphasis will be on continued fitness development and general swimming technique. In addition to group instruction, the coaches endeavour to give specific, individual feedback to help swimmers improve. Aquatic disciplines like water polo may also be used. Bronze squad swimmers will still be invited to competitions throughout the year, but there is no requirement to comptete.
Age: 9-13 years old (age as of 31 December each year)
Squad criteria:
- Complete legal 50m of all 4 strokes
- Recommended to be able to complete legal 100m free/backstroke
- There is no minimum attendance requirement but regular attendance is recomended for individual development
Criteria for squad exit:
- Showing no demonstrable progress towards achieving Silver standards
Pathways:
- Exceeding performance levels - potential for consideration for a move to Silver
- Criteria not being met - connection to leisure provider links
SILVER SQUAD
The training emphasis will be on continued fitness development and general swimming technique. In addition to group instruction, the coaches endeavour to give specific, individual feedback to help swimmers improve. Aquatic disciplines like water polo may also be used. Silver squad swimmers will still be invited to competitions throughout the year, but there is no requirement to comptete.
Age: 10-14 years old (age as of 31 December each year)
Squad criteria:
- Complete legal 50m of all 4 strokes
- Recommended to be able to complete legal 100m IM/freestyle/backstroke/breaststroke
- Recommended to be taking racing opportunities when available
- There is no minimum attendance requirement but regular attendance is recomended for individual development
Criteria for squad exit:
- Showing no demonstrable progress towards achieving Gold standards
Pathways:
- Exceeding performance levels - potential for consideration for a move to Gold
- Criteria not being met - connection to leisure provider links
GOLD SQUAD
The Gold Squad is for swimmers aged from 12+ and includes County and Regional Qualifiers, as well as potential members of the CWSC National Arena League Team. The Squad is ideal for talented swimmers who enjoy competitive training and swimming yet find they need time to continue other activities (sporting or otherwise). These individuals often find they do not have the flexibility to commit to the Performance Squad training schedules. This allows them to improve their swimming ability to the competitive level at which each individual swimmer wishes to achieve.
The training emphasis will be on continued fitness development and general swimming technique. In addition to group instruction, the coaches endeavour to give specific, individual feedback to help swimmers improve. Aquatic disciplines like water polo may also be used. Swimmers will still be invited to competitions throughout the year.
Age: 12+ (age as of 31 December each year)
Squad criteria:
- Complete legal 50m of all 4 strokes
- Complete legal 100m IM/freestyle/backstroke/breaststroke
- Complete legal 200m IM/freestyle + one other 200m event
- Recommended to be working towards County/Regional consideration (CT) and qualification (QT) times
- Recommended to be taking racing opportunities when available
- There is no minimum attendance requirement but regular attendance is recomended for individual development
Criteria for squad exit:
- Not fulfilling squad criteria
Pathways:
- Exceeding performance levels - potential for consideration for a move to Junior Performance
