Junior Competitive Squad Criteria
- Squad coach, Jean
- Supporting coaches: Dave, Jake and Louise
Overview
Junior Competitive Squad will be made up of swimmers looking to have the ability and desire to achieve BSBASA County qualifying times in an event of 100m or above.
The following guidelines will be applied to swimmers selected to the Junior Competitive Squad:
- Swimmers should be developing all four strokes and be working towards the 200 Individual Medley and 200 Freestyle events at local competitions.
- Swimmers will learn the skills for successful competitive swimming.
- Swimmers will increase their aerobic development.
- Introduction of low-level land work.
- Swimmers will be no older than 13 years old.
The aim of this squad is to enhance skill and aerobic development.
Training attendance
Training consists of 2 elements:
- Swim training;
- Land training.
Swimmers have more flexibility within this squad but should try to commit themselves to a minimum of 3 sessions a week for squad progression.
Land training is provided on Sunday nights at 5pm and this should be attended by all swimmers to improve core strength.
Swimmers who turn up to swim training on Sunday night having not attended land training should not expect to be allowed to swim.
Competition attendance
Swimmers must attend club events when selected for the team, such as Arena League and Thames Valley Junior League.
It is advised that at least four external competitions must be entered each year as per squad open meet programme. This should include Level 3 Long course Meets if featured on the clubs schedule. However, this is only a guide and not mandatory.
It is important to stick to the meet schedule, over-competing is likely to prevent further development. Swimmers should not attend meets other than with the club.
Squad places will be jeopardised if this is compromised.
Motivation of swimmers
Swimmers are expected to maintain a positive attitude and must try their hardest in all sessions. This can be demonstrated by meeting the times set by the coach for session sets and progress towards their annual goals.
This will be constantly monitored and swimmers not committing to the squad programme will be moved to a squad more relevant to their commitment and ability levels.
Required performance levels
‘Junior Competitive’ Squad swimmers should be aiming for Berks and South Bucks County level for their current age group as per County rulings; all times must be obtained at a licensed meet (L4 and above). These will ideally be in 100m or above events.
Volunteering
The club is run by volunteers, and we expect as swimmers progress through the squads that parents will start to volunteer in some form to ensure the continued operation of the club. This includes roles such as joining the committee, training as an official to help at meets and run internal galas and offering to fill jobs at our internal meets.
Review of squad members
Continuation in ‘Junior Competitive’ Squad is at the discretion of the Squad and Head Coach based on performance, attendance and attitude towards the training programme.
Any swimmer who has a long-term injury is highly likely to be moved to another squad. Swimming in a less pressurised environment has been proven to help with a faster, better recovery.
Movement from this squad will be at the discretion of the Head Coach after consultation with the squad coach, based on stroke technique and skill levels along with performance, attendance and attitude towards training.
Swimmers entering school Year 9 and above, will be offered a place in the Senior Competitive Squad in order to continue their fitness levels amongst swimmers of a similar age. From Senior Competitive squad, swimmers have the opportunity to progress to Performance and Advanced Performance or remain within the squad until 18, when they can move to Masters squad.
Performance levels alone will NOT guarantee a place in the ‘Competitive’ Squad.
The above is at the discretion of the Head Coach at all times and special circumstances may apply.
Kit Required
