SQUAD PROGRESSION
Route through Marlins explained
Maidenhead Marlins swimming club aims to take swimmers on a pathway from early learn to swim, through Age Group and Youth swimming. Swimmers following this pathway will be afforded the opportunity to move on to Senior swimming at specialised training centres and universities (if appropriate) and to continue their swimming with Maidenhead during holiday periods. The club’s Masters squad is available to those 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 Swim England and British Swimming performance pathways and Optimal Athlete Development Framework (OADF).
Below is an explanation as to how Marlins squad structure fits into the OADF:
- Junior 1,2 & 3:
- Foundation stage of OADF. Swimmers are developing all 4 strokes, Start and Turns and Lane Discipline skills. Competition is introduced through internal galas Novice galas and Junior league opportunities
- Junior 4 & 5:
- Intermediate stage of OADF. Accordingly, training becomes more endurance based with skill refinements. Training is now periodised, on a full year cycle, to a carefully planned competition calendar.
- Performance Squad & Competitive Squads:
- Youth Stage 4 of the OADF. Training is periodised within a carefully planned competition calendar. There is a triple peak periodisation within the competitive Season. Performance squad aiming to reach Regional & National level; Competitive Squad aiming to reach Regional & County standard.
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 Squad Criteria Section.
