Squad Criteria: Updated Squad Criteria September 2023

Squads: Rising Stars, Aquatics Club, Junior Development, Junior Competitive, Senior Competitive, Aquatics Potential, Aquatics Performance, Aquatics High Performance

Rising Stars – Rhys Thomas-Burgess

Aged 11/Under

‘FUNdamentals’

Squad Description: Entry squad to competitive swimming

Squad Objective:
To understand swimming as a competitive sport and to build aquatic fitness. To increase skill level and continue on the pathway of learning to swim, alongside and incorporating the competitive rules according to World Aquatics, learning the technical elements such as race starts, turns and finishes.

Entry requirements:

  • Must have a strong Front Crawl and Backstroke kick in streamline
  • Able to do Breaststroke to a good level
  • Able to do Butterfly to a good level
  • Can swim 100m continuously
  • Most of these should fall in line with a strong wave 6 swimmer.

Squad Expectations:

  • Racing whenever the opportunities present
  • On time for all sessions (10 minutes early)
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Willing to listen and learn

Move considerations/Squad goals:

  • Showing signs of increasing fitness
  • Able to do ALL correct turns, legally (according to World Aquatics rules)
  • Diving from starting blocks
  • Good attendance to the program and keen to progress upwards in the Club; showing aspiration
  • Strong Front Crawl and Backstroke kick

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

Aquatics Club

Aged 12/Over

‘FUNdamentals’

Squad Description: A squad to support the longevity of swimming and support the development of those late out of LTS programmes that enjoy swimming and wish to progress further.

Squad Objective: Understand the demands of swimming as a sporting activity and build fitness. To enjoy swimming and learn to use it as a fitness skill.

Entry requirements:

  • Must have a strong Front Crawl and Backstroke kick in streamline
  • Able to do Breaststroke to a good level
  • Able to do Butterfly to a good level
  • Can swim 100m continuously
  • Most of these should fall in line with a strong wave 6 swimmer.

Squad Expectations:

  • On time for all sessions (10 minutes early)
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Willing to listen and learn

Squad goals:

  • Showing signs of increasing fitness
  • Diving from starting blocks
  • Good attendance to the program and keen to progress upwards in the club
  • Strong Front Crawl and Backstroke kick
  • Feel confident and comfortable in the water

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision.

Junior Development – Sian Williams

Aged 13/Under

‘Learning to Train’

Squad Description:
First step up the ladder of the Club. To progress swimmers in racing, and to build fitness towards their ability to train and understand the demands of the sport

Squad Objective:
To learn the key training components; using the clock for intervals, understanding drills and skill points, understanding how to interpret and complete a set, understanding lane etiquette and building speed for race-specific targets. Ensuring that all strokes and skill points are correct according the World Aquatics standards.

Entry requirements:

  • A suitable level of fitness and ability to sustain skills to the level of the coaches’ description (2-3 underwater kicks off every wall)
  • Can swim multiple 100m reps back-to-back
  • Confident in a racing environment and competent on all turns
  • Diving from blocks confidently

Squad Expectations:

  • Racing whenever the opportunities present
  • On time for all sessions (10 minutes early)
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Willing to listen and learn

Move considerations/Squad goals:

  • Good fitness development – showing strong endurance potential
  • Committed to improving and aspiring to advance
  • Racing and being competitive, doing 200 IMs
  • Good attendance and showing commitment to the training program to be adequately prepared when moving up
  • Respectful

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

Junior Competitive – Joel Knight

Aged 15/Under

‘Training to train’

Squad Description: The middle stage of the pathway. Swimmers should be competent with their competitive skills and enjoying the journey and process.

Squad Objectives:

  • To increase competency in competing and confidence in the racing arena
  • Teach values of work ethic and importance of commitment to the program in relation to goals and expectations
  • Increase understanding of training methods and energy systems. Using this knowledge to be able to train effectively, with variations of speed depending of the demands of the session to maximise the prescription of the session
  • Become self-sufficient using the clock and interpreting sets
  • Display growth mindset and keen to engage and develop with the coaching team; being coachable
  • Regularly competing and able to reflect on performance

Squad Expectations:

  • Racing regularly
  • On time for all sessions to be able to effectively execute the pre-pool routine in order to be well prepared for the training session ahead
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Willing to listen and learn; keen to develop and progress
  • competitive mindset
  • Invests in pre and post pool with vigour and key understanding of the benefits
  • Athletically sound; good mover on land, excellent co-ordination skills, mobile with a good range of movement
  • Racing all four strokes (200IM + other events)
  • Good attendance and showing commitment to the training program
  • Respectful

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

Senior Competitive – Olly Tennant

Aged 15/Over

‘Training to train’ and ‘training to race’

Squad Description:
The last stage of the Competitive Club Pathway. Swimmers should be competent with their competitive skills and enjoying the journey and process.

Squad Objective:
To create a senior environment that incorporates the required balance to achieve and pursue goals outside of the pool, whilst still providing an excellent level of training to pursue goals inside the pool, too. The focus being on enjoying the journey and engaging in an atmosphere much more heavily led by the young person, leading the conversation around their goals and understanding the transparency of what is required of themselves to engage in positive performance around other ambitions. These maturing, young adults are to take responsibility and ownership over their swimming.

Squad Expectations:

  • Racing regularly
  • Effective and honest communication with coaching team, regularly updating on any changes/movements in timetables and commitments that may be coming up and foreseeing issues
  • On time for all sessions to be able to effectively execute the pre-pool routine in order to be well prepared for the training session ahead
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Willing to listen and learn; keen to develop and progress – competitive mindset
  • Invests in pre and post pool with vigour and key understanding of the benefits
  • Athletically sound; good mover on land, excellent co-ordination skills, mobile with a good range of movement
  • Respectful of team-mates and coaches. Understanding that there is ambition within the group and to celebrate performances in training and racing working towards achieving individual goals.

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

Aquatics Potential – Rhys Thomas-Burgess

Aged 14/Under Boys, 13/Under Girls

‘Training to train’

Squad Description:
The first step on the Performance Pathway. A squad that is aimed to provide the foundations to begin to understand that requirements involved in chasing big ultimate ambitions within the sport.

Squad Objective:

  • To learn and increase the understanding of performance environments
  • Discover physical limitations
  • Be surrounded by performance minded young people, willing to invest in this journey in swimming
  • Enable and encourage high standards

Squad Expectations:

  • Racing regularly and present at National championship meets, or within 1.5% per 100m of the event
  • On time for all sessions to be able to effectively execute the pre-pool routine in order to be well prepared for the training session ahead
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Able to distinguish short- and long-term gain; not chasing instant gratification at the risk of compromising long term development and success
  • Willing to listen and learn; keen to develop and progress – competitive and growth mindset
  • Invests in pre and post pool with enthusiasm
  • Athletically sound; good mover on land, excellent co-ordination skills, mobile with a good range of movement
  • Willing to invest and commit to the training programme – 80% minimum attendance to all training
  • Understands the process and requirements of meeting goals and ambitions within the sport and prepared to give what is essential in meeting those
  • Prepared to invest and support others in their journeys and to remain positive surrounding their development

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

Aquatics Performance – Joel Knight

Aged 14/Over Boys, 13/Over Girls

‘Training to compete’

Squad Description:
The second stage on the Performance Pathway. An environment created to support the most ambitious of young people to begin to fulfil their potential.

Squad Objective:
To begin understanding the performance environment. Swimmers exhibiting performance behaviours, principally dedication and commitment to the training program with a keen focus towards progression and excellence.

Squad Expectations:

  • Racing regularly and present at all National Championship meets and ambitions of British Summer Championship qualification
  • On time for all sessions to be able to effectively execute the pre-pool routine in order to be well prepared for the training session ahead
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Keen to explore new ideas for growth in the pursuit of excellence and an approach driven by improvement. Coachable
  • Great support network of Family and Friends
  • Able to distinguish short- and long-term gain; not chasing instant gratification at the risk of compromising long term development and success
  • Clear direction and working towards clear goals and objectives
  • Invests in pre and post pool with enthusiasm A
  • Athletically sound; good mover on land, excellent co-ordination skills, mobile with a good range of movement
  • Excellent commitment to the training programme – 80% minimum attendance to all training
  • Understands the process and requirements of meeting goals and ambitions within the sport and prepared to give what is essential in meeting those
  • Prepared to invest and support others in their journeys and to remain positive surrounding their development
  • Great team-mate. Supportive and understanding of the importance of team support and the greater value of succeeding together

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

Aquatics High Performance – Hayley Baker

Aged 16/Over

 ‘Training to win’

Squad Description:
A high performance environment, largely based on Senior environment. Driven by the desire for success and achieving goals.

Squad Objective:
To prepare older age group athletes to transition into senior environments and be confident enough to thrive. To gain independence and be able to watch and learn from swimmers at the higher levels within the sport and access to increased support through Swansea University and Swim Wales

Squad Expectations:

  • Racing regularly and present at all National Championship meets and ranked in the top 10 in Wales
  • Welsh Squad member
  • Willing to invest in a high level of personal ambition
  • Able to adapt and thrive in a senior swimming environment
  • Independent with a strong understanding of self and the sport
  • Student of the sport, taking the time to understand and analyse upward within the sport
  • Adaptable and takes ownership and responsibility of their journey. Driven towards ultimate individual goals; short, medium and long term
  • On time for all sessions to be able to effectively execute the pre-pool routine in order to be well prepared for the training session ahead
  • Swimmer has all the kit and training aids
  • Keen to explore new ideas for growth in the pursuit of excellence and an approach driven by improvement. Coachable
  • Great support network of Family and Friends
  • Able to distinguish short- and long-term gain; not chasing instant gratification at the risk of compromising long term development and success
  • Invests in pre and post pool with enthusiasm
  • Athletically sound; good mover on land, excellent co-ordination skills, mobile with a good range of movement
  • Excellent commitment to the training programme – 80% minimum attendance to all training
  • Prepared to invest and support others in their journeys and to remain positive surrounding their development
  • Great team-mate. Supportive and understanding of the importance of team support and the greater value of succeeding together

All moves in and out of the squad are at the discretion of the Squad Coach and Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision