CWSC ACADEMY

 

RED HATS

The goals of the Red Hats are to increase the adaptation of the body to the water, through acquiring swimming skills (such as pushing and gliding off walls, kicking on front and back, and body position kick and drills) and to progress in a recognisable front crawl and backstroke technique.

Session per week: 1 session, 30 minutes

Age: 4-6 years old

Swimmer to Coach ratio: 8:1

Moving up criteria:​​

  • Attendance record between 75% and 100%
  • Floatation on front and back
  • Correct and continuous kick in streamline on front and back for 15 meters
  • Correct body position kick on front and back
  • Recognisable front crawl and backstroke action
  • Lateral breathing
  • Squad moves are communicated in December, April and July and effective from January, May and September respectively

 

ORANGE HATS

The Orange Hats Squad continues with the progression of Freestyle and Backstroke technique, specifically the arm movements, and encouraging swimmers to learn not to stop, with lots of emphasis on body positioning and correct streamlining. Swimmers are introduced to rotation along both the horizontal and vertical axis, learning how to breathe properly, jumping into water and developing deep water confidence. 

Sessions per week: 1 session, 30 minutes

Age: 5-7 years old

Swimmer to Coach ratio: 10:1

Moving up criteria:

  • Attendance record on TU between 75% and 100%
  • Fundamentals of Freestyle (Body position, pull and Kick) including correct breathing
  • Fundamentals of Backstroke (Body position, pull and Kick) including stroke timing
  • Swim 25m Freestyle and Backstroke without stopping, and with good technique
  • Kick on Front 20 meters without stopping 
  • Kick on Back 20 meters without stopping
  • Comfortable jumping/diving into deep water from side
  • Good Streamlining ability
  • Deep Water confidence - surface dives to pick up things from the floor, can swim unaided in deep water
  • Squad moves are communicated in December, April and July and effective from January, May and September respectively

 

YELLOW HATS

Yellow Hat swimmers carry on developing a continuous Freestyle and Backstroke, holding streamlines and deep water confidence. The new skills learned by Yellow Hats include basic Breaststroke technique (Understanding of Kick and Pull), diving into deep water and underwater kick, learning to tread water, rhythmic freestyle breathing, tumble turns (front to front, as well as front to back), Backstroke starts and finishes. 

Sessions per week: 2 sessions, 45 - 60 minutes each

Age: 6-8 years old

Swimmer to Coach Ratio: 12:1

Moving up criteria: 

  • Attendance record on TU 75 to 100%
  • Correct Streamlining on Front and Back 
  • Fully legal Freestyle Technique (with breathing and tumble turns)
  • 50m of Freestyle without stopping
  • Fully legal Backstroke Technique (including starts and finishes)
  • 50m Backstroke without stopping
  • Basic Breaststroke Technique (understanding of kick, pull, timing)
  • Fully comfortable in deep water (including treading water)
  • Basic Diving skills, and knowledge of Underwater Kick
  • Squad moves are communicated in December, April and July and effective from January, May and September respectively

 

BLUE HATS

Blue Hat swimmers begin learning very basic racing skills and have the opportunity to participate in swimming galas. New skills include fully legal Breaststroke technique, and skills including Underwater Pull-Outs and Turns, basic Butterfly technique (Body position, Timing, Kick, Pull), Legal Tumble Turns (front and back), Vertical Kicking (treading Water), swimming terminology (Distances, Drills, Racing Habits), basic aerobic work, and land based stretches.

Sessions per week: 2 sessions, 60 minutes each

Age: 7-9 years old

Swimmer to Coach ratio: 15:1

Moving up criteria:

  • Attendance on TU between 75-100%
  • Blue Hat Coach and Teaching Coordinator's recommendation
  • At least 50 meters of legal Free, Back and Breast without stopping
  • Good Butterfly for 25 meters
  • Competitive Race Starts off Wall and Block 
  • Competent Freestyle and Back Tumble Turns
  • Ability to perform streamlines off walls, demonstrating correct underwaters
  • Knowledge of racing laws (Starts, turns, finishes)
  • Ability to handle 60-90 minute training sessions (Focus/Patience)
  • Squad moves are communicated in December, April and July and effective from January, May and September respectively