Squad Information

Below details the criteria’s for each squad including personal attributes (linked to British Swimming’s New Optimal Athlete Development Framework, equipment and competition focus.

Please refer to the Squad Structure, Training Timetable and Coaches page for further information.

NB: If you are viewing this on a smaller screen/mobile phone, please scroll to the right to see the full table.

Elite Squads

    Senior Elite Inter Elite Junior Elite
The Person Age  15+ during season  13+ during season  11+ during season
Personal Attributes
  • Swimmers are highly motivated, demonstrating independence and responsibility.
  • Swimmers are a role model to others around them.
  • Strong communication skills and honesty with coaches, team mates and family.
  • Resilient, enjoys the journey and technically strong.
  • Committed, with the required time to focus on swimming as predominant sport.
The Athlete Attitude & Effort

Minimum 10mins pre and post pool every session.

Competition timelines discussed and followed.

Goals discussed with coach and monitored throughout the season.

Minimum 10mins pre and post pool every session.

Competition timelines discussed and followed.

Goals discussed with coach and monitored throughout the season.

Minimum 10mins pre and post pool every session.

 

Goals discussed with coach and monitored throughout the season.

Attendance

7+ sessions including 2 mornings.

All land training sessions.

All Qualifying events, selected team competitions and advised open meets.

6-7+ sessions including atleast 1 morning

All land training sessions.

All Qualifying events, selected team competitions and advised open meets

5-6+ sessions including Thursday morning.

All land training sessions.

 All Qualifying events, selected team competitions and advised open meets
The Performer Competition Focus Target = Regional Finals & National qualification.

Must have qualified for a Regional event.
Target = Regional champs & progression to Nationals.

Must have qualified for a Regional event. Swimmers within 3% of qualifying times will be considered by coaches
Target = County Champ Finals & progression to Regionals.

Must have qualified for County Championships in more than one event.
  Equipment

Pull Buoy and Hand Paddles

Short Fins and Snorkel

Gym Mat, Roller and Bands. Drinks Bottle

Pull Buoy and Hand/Finger Paddles

Short Fins and Snorkel

Gym Mat, Roller and Bands. Drinks Bottle

Pull Buoy

Short Fins and Snorkel

Gym Mat and Drinks Bottle

Performance Squads

  Age Senior Performance Inter Performance Junior Performance
The Person Age  15+ during season  13+ during season  11+ during season
Personal Attributes
  • Swimmers are highly motivated, demonstrating independence and responsibility.
  • Swimmers are a role model to others around them.
  • Strong communication skills and honesty with coaches, team mates and family.
  • Resilient, enjoys the journey and technically strong.
  • Committed, with the required time to focus on swimming as predominant sport. 
The Athlete Attitude & Effort

Minimum 10mins pre and post pool every session.

Competition timelines discussed and followed.

Goals discussed with coach and monitored throughout the season.

Minimum 10mins pre and post pool every session.

Competition timelines discussed and followed.

Goals discussed with coach and monitored throughout the season.

Minimum 10mins pre and post pool every session.

 

Goals discussed with coach and monitored throughout the season.

Attendance

7+ sessions including 2 mornings.

All land training sessions.

All Qualifying events, selected team competitions and advised open meets.

6-7+ sessions including atleast 1 morning 

All land training sessions.

All Qualifying events, selected team competitions and advised open meets

5-6+ sessions including Thursday morning.

All land training sessions.

All Qualifying events, selected team competitions and advised open meets
The Performer Competition Focus

Target = County Champs & Regional Qualification.

Must have qualified for a County Champs event.

Target = County Champs & Regional Qualification.

Must have qualified for a County Champs event. Swimmers within 3% of Regional QT will be considered by coaches.

Target = County Champ.

Swimmers within 5% of County qualifying times will be considered by coaches.

  Equipment

Pull Buoy and Hand Paddles

Short Fins and Snorkel

Gym Mat, Roller and Bands. Drinks Bottle

Pull Buoy and Hand/Finger Paddles

Short Fins and Snorkel

Gym Mat, Roller and Bands. Drinks Bottle

Pull Buoy

Short Fins and Snorkel

Gym Mat and Drinks Bottle

Competitive Squads

  Age Senior Competitive Inter Competitive Junior Competitive
The Person Age  15+ during season  13+ during season  11+ during season
Personal Attributes
  • Swimmers are motivated to develop fitness and skills for continued progression (and towards competition if wished).
  • Swimmers engage in training, are respectful, honest and a positive team mate.
The Athlete / Performer Training Focus & Attendance

To be discussed with coach. Focus on progression for racing or fitness development..

3-4+ sessions a week.

Attitude & effort

Continued focus on technical progression and goals as discussed with coach.

Engage in pre and post pool and goal setting.

  Equipment

Pull Buoy & Short fins

Drinks bottle.

Technical Squads & Junior Development

    Technical Excelence Technical Development Junior Development
The Person Age  10+ during season  9+ during season  10-11+ during season
Personal Attributes

Developing responsibility (pack and carry own bag. Set morning alarm clock etc).

Motivated and focused to achieving their best.

Encourages and supports team mates. 

Arrives on time for sessions, ready to swim (full kit, listens to coaches etc).

Takes on board feedback and motivated to try hard at all skills.

Enjoyment, respect and fun. 
 
The Athlete / Performer Goals

Technical progression over all four strokes, underwater efficiency and race skills (dives and turns).

Competing in events over 50m, 100m and 200m distances. 

Development of technique in all four strokes, streamlines and race skills (dives and turns).

Competing in 50cm and 100m events. 

Development of technique in all four strokes.

Improving fitness whilst maintaining skills in longer/faster sets. 

Attendance

4+ sessions including land training.

3+ sessions.

2-3 sessions.

  Equipment

Short Fins and Drinks Bottle.

ASC T-shirt when competing.

Academy Squads

    Academy 1 Academy 2 Academy 3 Academy 4
The Person Age 8+ 7+
Personal Attributes

Developing responsibility (pack and carry own bag. Set morning alarm clock etc).

Motivated and focused to achieving their best.

Encourages and supports team mates. 

The Athlete / Performer Goals

-Technical progression over all four strokes and streamlines.

-Learning to use the pace clock, setting off 5s or 10s apart.

-Progressing dive and turn skills for racing.

-Competing in events including 3x 50m and the 100m Freestyle events. 

-Technical progression over all four strokes and streamline position.  

-Learning to dive and tumble turn correctly.

-Competing in events over 25m & 50m events. 

Attendance

3-4 sessions a week.

3 sessions a week.

2-3 sessions a week.

2 sessions a week.

  Equipment

Short Fins and Drinks Bottle.

ASC swim hat.

Fitness Squads

  Youth Fitness + Youth Fitness Junior Fitness
Age  13+ (from competitive squads)  13+  10+
Personal Attributes
  • Motivated and Respectful.
  • Positive attitude and receptive to feedback.
  • Punctual and Responsible.
Goals

Maintaining and developing swim fitness towards personal goals (multi sport athlete, physical fitness etc).  

Attendance

3 sessions.

1-2 sessions

1-2 sessions

Equipment

Short fins & Drinks bottle.

Masters Squads

  Masters
Age 18+ (16+ within season, if transfering from competitve squads)
Personal Attributes
  • Motivated and Respectful.
  • Positive attitude and receptive to feedback.
  • Punctual and Responsible. 
Ability

Able to swim front crawl and backstroke efficiently (additional strokes beneficial).

Hold pace and continuously swim with short rest intervals for at least one hour.

Attendance

Squad specific. 1-5 sessions available depending on ability and coach advise.

Equipment

Drinks Bottle, Short Fins & Pull Buoy beneficial.