ESC Squad
ESC Provides teaching and coaching from lessons on learning to swim up to Elite performance with all the stages in between. The Club is accredited to swim england Swim Mark . All teaching/coaching is by swim england qualified staff and teaching follows the National Teaching Plan.The Club has a programme of Continuing Professional Development for their coaching staff.
The Squad - which has consistently produced champions at every level from Novice to International competition.Under the direction of Ealing’s Chief Coach Dave Heathcock, himself an Olympic coach, over 20 swimmers have been selected for GB and English teams, many of whom have won medals in international competition.The squad currently has a world and commonwealth para champion along with a para swimmer on the world potential programme. A further twelve have been selected for England South teams and several others have represented their countries at major championships. Ealing has also coached several international triathletes including Michelle Dillon who finished sixth in the Athens Olympics.
The Mission Statement of the Squad is to give every swimmer the opportunity to maximise his or her swimming potential and in doing so to give them a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.
In addition to an extensive and varied timetable of swimming sessions, training includes mobility, Pre pool warmups with (weight training for the seniors (at the appropriate level). We aim to hold regular training camps both home and abroad.
There is a structured competition programme which aims to give every swimmer the opportunity to compete at his/her level.
The Club competes in National, County and Regional competitions and in open meets including graded/development competition. There is usually one meet abroad during the year.
Swimmers are given a training planner at the start of each training cycle and an annual training/competition calendar and there are frequent meetings with the swimmers either as a group or on an individual basis.
Ealing swimmers have regularly taken part in the GB World Class and Talent Identification programmes and Dave Heathcock, Allan Thornton and Helen Thornton are British and English Talent coaches respectively.
Success in the water is often equalled by success in other areas of life. Many squad parents find that the discipline of training and the self-reliance that comes with membership of the Squad, rubs off on to school work with many swimmers achieving excellent exam results while continuing to train hard. Membership of the Squad brings with it the opportunity to travel and its own social life both for swimmers and parents – regularly meeting up at 5am creates its own brand of bonding. ESC Squad is highly professional but also friendly and well integrated.
The Structure
The Squad currently numbers over one hundred swimmers and is divided into five sections from Tadpoles up to Seniors. There is an age range of seven years and above. There is also a masters section for older swimmers who wish to continue training but can't maintain the sessions required. Each section of the Squad has its own designated coach.
Entry into Squad
Swimmers generally enter the ESC Squad programme at age 8/9yrs from one of Ealing’s Houses by joining our youngest squad – Tadpoles.
Squad trials are held once or twice times per year. However it is also possible to join at a later stage. Swimmers who are interested in joining the squad programme should speak in the first instance to their own coach or contact Dave Heathcock (07796 675361) if not a member of the Club.
The criteria for joining or progressing through the squad programme are on the web page.-
Progression is at the coaches' discretion. Swimmers must satisfy squad coaches that they are able to cope with the relevant training. Please see below for further information.
Training
All training is based upon the needs of the swimmer to develop their full potential.
The squad consist of the following Groups
Important dates:
| Term Start date 2 January 2023 | Term End date TBA 2023 |
| Winter term start TBA |
