All Swimmers in the Competitive Squads will be selected and assessed by the Head Coach
The Competitive Squads are for those swimmers who wish to take their swimming more seriously and who are motivated to compete at club, inter club, metropolitan, state age, state open, national age, national open and international levels.
All swimmers in the Competitive Squads are expected to be a member of a registered Swim Club and make regular attendance to club races in the summer months.
Swimmers who train in the competitive squads will be identified as having talent and / or the commitment to attaining the above standards.
The Head Coach will inform Swimmers and Parents of their selection into the competitive squad program and ascertain if the swimmer is capable and prepared to commit to the requirements of the program.
Performance and attendance requirements are a pre-requisite for these squads. Please note that if a swimmer does not consistently attend the required number of sessions per week, they will be placed into a squad indicative of their training commitment.
Bronze Squad
This squad is designed for swimmers who have learnt the basics of squad training and the basic drill movements in all four strokes.
Goals:
- Improve gross movements and refine the coordination in all four strokes
- Improve endurance and speed
- Improve and further develop their racing skills
- Further develop streamline in all four strokes
- Components include starts, finishes for all four strokes, refinement of freestyle turns and introduction to the other three competitive stroke turns
- Prepare for school, zone and regional swim meets by learning the basic rules of correct starting instructions and rules of swimming
Attendance requirements:
- 2-3 sessions per week
- Recommended minimum 2 sessions per week
Requirements:
- Become a member of a registered swim club
- Make regular attendance to club races in the summer months
- Be prepared to race at external meets (as recommended by the Head Coach)
- Undertake training on a regular year-round basis, including holiday periods where feasible
Age guidelines:
Up to 10 years old
Duration:
60 and 75 minute sessions available
Equipment required:
Fins and snorkel
Silver Squad
Goals:
- Develop swimming stamina through more complex endurance and speed swim sets
- Increase mileage while still maintaining correct technique and skills (starts, turns and finishes)
- Further develop all four competitive turns and Individual Medley turns through more repetitions and specific practices
- Prepare swimmers for school, zone, regional and NSW Metropolitan swim meets by learning the rules of correct starting instructions and competition rules of swimming
Attendance requirements:
Requirements:
- Become a member of a registered swim club
- Make regular attendance to club races in the summer months
- Be prepared to race at external meets (as recommended by the Head Coach)
- Set a minimum goal and showing commitment to attaining qualifying standards for the NSW Metropolitan Swimming Championships in either or both Winter and Summer seasons
- Undertake training on a regular year-round basis, including holiday periods where feasible
- Must be willing to attend 3 sessions per week which includes one of the morning sessions for a Term before moving forward to Gold Squad
- Dryland activation sessions available before all sessions
Age guidelines:
Up to 14 years old.
Duration:
- 75, 90 and 105 minute sessions available (depending on location)
- 16 sessions available across 3 sites
Equipment required:
Fins, hand paddles, and snorkel.
Gold Squad
Goals:
- Further develop all training energy systems through more complex training methods
- Increase mileage while still maintaining correct technique and skills
- Build strength and improve flexibility by attending regular dry-land sessions
- Prepare swimmers for school, zone, regional, metropolitan and NSW State Championship swim meets
Attendance requirements:
- 5-7 sessions per week
- Minimum 5 sessions per week
Requirements:
- Become a member of a registered swim club
- Make regular attendance to club races in the summer months
- Be prepared to race at external meets (as recommended by the Head Coach)
- Set a minimum goal and showing commitment to attaining qualifying standards for the NSW State Swimming Championships in either or both Winter and Summer seasons
- Undertake training on a regular year-round basis, including holiday periods where feasible
- Must be willing to attend a minimum of 5 sessions per week
- Must be willing to attend 7 sessions per week for a Term before moving forward to Performance Squad
- Attend at least 1 Dry-Land session per week unless prior arrangements have been discussed with the Head Coach
- Dryland activation sessions available before all sessions
Age guidelines:
13+ years old
Duration:
- 90 minute - 2.5 hour sessions (2.5 hour with dryland activation)
- 21 sessions available across all 3 sites
Equipment required:
Fins, hand paddles, and snorkel
Performance Squad
Goals:
- Continue developing all training energy systems through more complex training methods
- Increase mileage while still maintaining correct technique and skills
- Build strength and improve flexibility by attending regular dry-land sessions
- Prepare swimmers for Metropolitan, NSW State, National Age and Open Championship swim meets
Attendance requirements:
- 7 - 9 Sessions per week
- Recommended 9 sessions per week
Requirements:
- Become a member of a registered swim club
- Make regular attendance to club races in the summer months
- Be prepared to race at external meets (as recommended by the Head Coach)
- Set a minimum goal and showing commitment to attaining qualifying standards for the Australian Swimming Championships
- Undertake training on a regular year-round basis, including holiday periods where feasible
- Must be willing to attend a minimum of 7 sessions per week
- Attend Dry-Land session unless prior arrangements have been made with the Head Coach
Age guidelines:
Minimum age 13 years
Duration:
- 90 minute - 2.5 hour sessions (2.5 hour with dryland activation)
All swimmer movements will be at the discretion and encouragement of the Head Coach
Equipment required:
Fins, hand paddles, and snorkel
For a list of recommended products, please email john.bladon@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.