Squad Structure
The diagram shows the squad system and route through Maidenhead Marlins. Movement between squads is decided by coaching staff based on a number of criteria including age, training attendance, training capability and open meet performance times. For more details on how swimmers progress through the club, please see the article below.

Route through Marlins explained
Maidenhead Marlins swimming club aims to take swimmers on a pathway from early learn to swim, through stroke development, Age Group and Youth swimming. Swimmers following this pathway will be afforded the opportunity to move on to Senior swimming at specialised training centres (if appropriate) and to continue their swimming with Marlins during holiday periods. The club’s Masters squad is available to those returning from Senior swimming programmes who wish to continue with “ lifelong participation”.
Our squad structure is underpinned by the competition requirements of the current competitive structure of British swimming as well as the sound principles of the ASA and the Sport England Long Term Athlete Development Document (LTAD) [1].
The club’s squad names are linked to the Age Group Categories, which differentiate according to the current competitive structure of British swimming. Age Group swimming refers to swimmers in the 9 – 13 year old range. Youth competition refers to swimmers aged 14 – 18. Senior competition refers to swimmers 18 +.
At Regional and National level, there are separate competitions for Age group and Youth Swimmers.
Below is an explanation as to how Marlins squad structure fits into the LTAD:
This structure gives swimmers the foundation and skills to move to the Senior Programme of their choice, ready to maximise their future development and fulfil any aspirations to Elite swimming.
NB: Each squad has its own criteria for earning and maintaining a place in it, along with clearly defined training objectives and expectations. These are available on the club web site.
[1] To fully appreciate the technical differences between stages of training, it is important that this document is considered (read) in conjunction with the LTAD document attached below.
Attachments:
Long Term Athlete Development Guide.pdf
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