PRE TEAM SQUAD CRITERIA

 

 

1. SWIMMING COMPETENCE

A swimmer must be able to:

 swim 25m in 3 different strokes

 complete a 1 hour swimming session

 have some history of swimming tuition

 

2. AGE

        7+

ABOUT THIS SQUAD

 

This squad is suitable for children who have not yet reached Stage 7 of the ASA National Plan,

but who are able to comfortably swim 25m in 3 different strokes. Children should also have a

basic understanding of all 4 competitive strokes. This squad train once a week for 1 hour.

Sessions will aim to improve the technique of all strokes while increasing the swimmers stamina

in the water by covering an approximate distance of 700m - 1000m. Sessions are run in a

relaxed and friendly environment so as to ease the transition of swimmers from lesson based

swimming to coaching based. During these sessions swimmers will be comfortably introduced

to the following:

 

 Swimming lane discipline

 Learning to interpret the whiteboards that are used by the coaches

 Sets based on distance i.e. 4x100m instead of number of lengths

 Use of the pace clock

 

The learning of all these skills will provide a seamless transition for swimmers to Junior Academy Squad.

 

 

Swimmers: Boys & Girls – 7+

 

Training: Pool sessions – 1 hour (1 session) per week.

 

Competitions: Club Championships, Club Mini-Sprints

 

JUNIOR ACADEMY SQUAD CRITERIA

 

1. SWIMMING COMPETENCE

 Swimmers are expected to have at least reached Stage 7 standard in the ASA’s National Swimming Teaching Plan before joining this squad.

 Swimmers must have developed a quality stroke technique up to 100 meters in Freestyle, Backstroke and

Breaststroke

 Swimmers must be able to swim at least 25 meters Butterfly.

 Swimmers must be able to tumble turn and dive from the starting block.

 

2. AGE

7 – 11

 

3. COMMITMENT

           The minimum weekly commitment is 2 x pool sessions and 1 x stretching session per week.

 

 *Any exceptions to the criteria need to be discussed and agreed with the coaches and will be at their discretion.

 

ABOUT THIS SQUAD

 

The Junior Academy is a structured teaching and coaching programme designed for swimmers

who are ready to take the next step from a swimming teaching environment towards

competitive swimming. The aim of this squad is to develop the basic swimming skills needed to

be a competitive swimmer and is based around the ASA’s Long Term Development Plan.

The focus of this squad is to work on developing an efficient technique and good, correct starts

and turns in all strokes, including individual medley, in a fun and friendly environment.

 

 

Swimmers: Boys & Girls – 7 to 11 years

 

Training: Pool sessions – 5.5 hours (4 sessions) per week plus 1 x 30 min stretching session.

 

Competitions: Club Champsionships, entry level inter-club swim competitions and level 4 licensed open meets.

 

ACADEMY SQUAD CRITERIA

 

1. SWIMMING COMPETENCE

 Swimmers can complete up to 2 hours swimming session

 Swimmers are accustomed to racing 200m in at least 3 different strokes

 Swimmers must have an efficient and technically competent 200IM

 

2. AGE

       9 – 13

 

3. COMMITMENT

The minimum weekly commitment is 3 x pool sessions and 1 x stretching session per week.

*Any exceptions to the criteria need to be discussed and agreed with the coaches and will be at their discretion.

 

ABOUT THIS SQUAD

 

The coaching philosophy behind the training programme for the Academy Squad is based around Stage 2 of the ASA’s Long Term Athlete Development Plan. The LTADP is concerned with applying the appropriate training, competition and recovery levels throughout a young swimmer’s career, particularly during these very important years as young athletes grow and develop mentally and physically.

The focus of this squad is to work on developing an excellent technique in all four strokes as well as starts and turns.

Progression to the Performance Squad system will be determined by training commitment, work ethic and competitive performance. All promotion decisions are transparent and are made in consultation with parents and swimmer.

A different pathway is set for swimmers whose current ambition or schedule outside of swimming does not currently meet the criteria of performance squads. This pathway leads to the Competitive Development Squad.

 

Swimmers: Boys & Girls – 9 to 13 years

 

Training: Pool sessions – 7.5 hours (5 sessions) per week plus 1 x 30 min stretching session.

 

Competitions: Club, County Championships, Inter Club Swim Leagues, and selected Level 3 & 4 licensend Open Meets

COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT SQUAD CRITERIA

 

 

1. SWIMMING COMPETENCE

 Swimmers can complete up to 2 hours swimming session

 Swimmers are accustomed to racing 200m in at least 3 different strokes

 Swimmers must have an efficient and technically competent 200IM

 

2. AGE

         12 – 17

 

3. COMMITMENT

 While there is no strict number of required sessions, each swimmer will be advised by the coach

as to the level of commitment required to attain their specific goals.

 To compete at Club Championship. This squad is seen by the coaches as forming the spine of

BSC teams that compete in locally organised interclub galas and leagues, and as such are

encouraged to represent BSC at these events.

 

ABOUT THIS SQUAD

 

This squad is for those swimmers from the Academy, County and Regional squads, for whom, in

terms of commitment, swimming has become lower on their list of priorities. The reasons for

this may differ widely and could include those swimmers who are returning from injury, those

who require a reduced schedule to focus more fully on their forthcoming exams or those who

are involved in other extracurricular activities and wish to maintain their fitness and technique

through a structured coaching programme so as to enable them to join one of the Performance

squads once the circumstances allow them or join a University swim team when they are older.

They still enjoy swimming and competing and they will be encouraged to do so. With enough

commitment and ambition they will be able to join Performance Squads, if they meet the

criteria, at a later stage. The distance of sessions that this squad will be worked through shall be

to a County squad swimming level, with scope in each session to allow the coach to adapt the

session to all levels of swimmer within the squad; from a technically weaker or rehabilitating

swimmer, right through to those that seek to improve their level to that of a performance

swimmer.

 

Training: Pool sessions – 7.5 hours (5 sessions)

 

Competitions: Club & County Champsionships, Inter-Club swim competitions. Licensed Open

Meets as discussed with the coach.

COUNTY SQUAD CRITERIA

 

 

1. SWIMMING COMPETENCE

To join this squad swimmers must achieve or be within five percent of the current 200m Surrey County Qualifying Time for any stroke, including Individual Medley. Swimmers must be proficient in all strokes, particularly Individual Medley, and be able to cope with the training load and intensity of the training sessions. A transition to County Squad from the Academy squads will be done following discussion between parents and coaches.

 

2. AGE

      9 – 14

 

3. COMMITMENT

      The minimum weekly commitment is 4 x pool sessions and 1 x land training session per week.

 

*Any exceptions to the criteria need to be discussed and agreed with the coaches and will be at their discretion.

 

 

ABOUT THIS SQUAD

 

While achievement of a 200m County Qualifying time is the main criteria for joining this squad, swimmers are also expected to be technically competent in all four strokes. In training, there will be an emphasis on aerobic conditioning and refining skills and technique in all strokes. In competition, swimmers are expected to compete for BSC at various licensed open meets where they will aim to achieve Surrey County qualifying times and hopefully fight for medals or places in the finals of the county championships without specialising on one stroke or distance.

The County Squad swimmers will be encouraged to compete in a range of events and distances to score maximum points according to British Age Group Categories (BAGCAT) point scoring system at Surrey County Championships.

This system requires a mixture of events in medley, distance freestyle, form strokes and sprints. A truly versatile approach will be adopted in training to create good all round swimmers. County Squad swimmers should have the work ethic and aspirations to achieve London Region qualifying times and progress to the Regional Squad in the future. Progression through the Performance Squad System will be determined by training commitment, work ethic and competitive performance. All promotion decisions are transparent and are made in consultation with parents and swimmer.

 

 

Training: Pool sessions – 9 hours (5 sessions) per week plus 1 x 1 hour land training session.

 

Competitions: Club, County & Regional Championships, Arena National League, Licensed Open Meets & selected Inter Club Swim Leagues

REGIONAL SQUAD CRITERIA

 

1. SWIMMING COMPETENCE

To join this squad a swimmer must achieve or be within two percent of achieving the current

London  Region  Qualifying  Times  for  200  or  400  Individual  Medley  (main  objective).

Alternatively  a  swimmer  may  be  allowed  to  join  this  squad  upon  achieving  Regional

Qualifying Times in other events but those must include 2 different strokes and 2 different

distances. Swimmers must be proficient in all strokes and be able to cope with the training

load and intensity of the training sessions. A transition from County Squad is arranged on a

monthly  trial  basis  after  discussion  with  parents,  swimmers  and  coaches.  These  criteria

serves  as  a  guidance.  Coaches  expect  the  right  attitude  and  commitment  from  swimmers

already in this squad or swimmers wishing to join this squad.

 

2. COMMITMENT

        Minimum weekly commitment is 5 x pool sessions and 1 x land training session a week

 

3. AGE

       12 & OVER

*Any  exceptions  to  the  criteria  need  to  be  discussed  and  agreed  with  the  coaches  and  will  be  at  their

discretion.

 

ABOUT THIS SQUAD

 

Swimmers  are  expected  to  achieve  success  at  the  both  county  and  regional  levels  and  to have  the  aspiration  and ability to gain national qualifying times and compete at national events. The main objective for Regional Squad

Swimmers is to qualify in all events for Surrey County Championships and achieve a Top 10 place in BAGCAT in their

respective age groups.

The Regional Squad swimmers should qualify with at least two different strokes and two different distances for London Region Championships. As this is the top squad of the club, if

selected, swimmers are expected to compete and represent BSC at all team events which club takes part, such as National Arena League, relays at County, Regional and National Championships, as well as other licensed open meets. Being a squad with a range of ages and different stages of developmentan individual programme

is prepared for each swimmer. This individual approach allows the coach to work closely with the swimmers and

maximises swimmers’ opportunity to reach their potential in long term. The programme is based on Long Term Athlete Development Plan.

 

Swimmers: Boys & Girls – 12 & OVER

 

Training available: 14 hours (7 sessions) per week including 1x1hr dry land training session.

 

Competitions: National Age Group Championships, Regional & County Championships,

Level 1 & Level 2 Licensed Open Meets, Club Championships, National Arena Swimming League and other Inter Club Swim Leagues

PRE MASTER/PARENTS SQUAD CRITERIA

 

 

1. SWIMMING COMPETENCE

 Swimmers must be able to swim at least 25m

 Swimmers must have a ‘Can-Do’ approach

 

2. AGE

      18+

 

ABOUT THIS SQUAD

 

The Pre-Masters group is for those adults for whom swimming became either a lesser or

forgotten part of life or who have only just become acquainted with the sport. Within this

group can be found swimmers of every ability; from those looking to improve their technique

and enjoyment of the water environment, right through to those looking to get fit again and

perhaps take on the challenge of an indoor or outdoor swimming event. With this in mind,

sessions are such that they can be adapted to meet the needs of each swimmer.

For those who wish and feel able to, after consultation with the coach, a transition can be made

from this group to the Senior & Masters Squad. Both squads follow the same philosophy: ‘Make

swimming a “lifestyle” activity – have fun!’

 

 

Swimmers: Men & Women – 18+

 

Training: Pool sessions – 1 hour (1 session) per week.

 

Competitions: Swimmers, who are ready, are encouraged to take part in the Club Championships and other Masters competitions.