Swimmers will be training full time with the Head Coach of the scheme, Russ Barber.

Criteria

• Total commitment to training
• Swimmers will normally be 16 years and older and be a minimum of National final/British Championship standard
• They will be selected by the Head Coach based on attitude, discipline, long-term potential, and gala performance

Aims

• International and top level domestic success
• To develop the disciplined practical and psychological skills necessary to train and perform at this level
• To play a mentorship role for the younger swimmers coming through the club

Competitions

• British Championships
• National Championships
• County and District Championships
• High Standard Open Meets

Criteria

• Swimmers would normally be between 12 and 17 years of age
• Have advanced stroke technique and effective turns in all four strokes
• Swimmers will normally be of National Standard
• Be able to perform a 400 individual medley under ASA laws and swim 1500m continuously using competition turns
• Minimum attendance of six or seven sessions (11 & 12 year olds), seven or eight sessions (13 & 14 year olds), eight or nine sessions (14+ year olds) per week

Aims

• To enforce the swimmers’ competition and training skills, ready for the intense training required in Senior National Squad
• To introduce swimmers to energy systems and cyclical training
• To build stability and basic strength through harder land training
• To educate swimmers on time management, healthy lifestyles and gala protocols
• To build the swimmers’ discipline and commitment level
• Swimmers will target National Championships, North East Region Championships, Yorkshire Championships, Speedo Leagues and various Open Meets. There are also trips around the country and abroad for selected swimmers

This is a comprehensive period of training that covers all aspects of a developing swimmer’s needs. Over their time in these squads, they will be taught:

• Advanced stroke technique
• Starting, turning and finishing techniques
• How to train effectively (warming up and swimming down, endurance, clock reading, lane discipline)
• Basic land training and flexibility routines
• Gala procedures and rules
• Basic nutritional advice
• General mentorship and advice for competitive swimming

Entry criteria

• Swimmers will normally be between 7 and 9 years of age
• Must be competent at three strokes and have a basic knowledge of all four strokes, diving and turning
• Be able to swim 400m continuously
• Must initially commit to a minimum of two sessions per week, rising to six / seven sessions before being considered for a move up to Junior National Squad.

Competitions

At the younger ages (7-8yrs) swimmers will compete in local, friendly mini-galas and development galas. As the swimmers reach 9yrs, they will be eligible to compete in the Sheffield and District, Yorkshire Championships and other local open meets. The programme is broken into 3 squads:-

This is the start of the programme, where the children will learn the basics of becoming a competitive swimmer. They will build upon the principles of advanced stroke technique taught in the pre-competition squads, including race starts, turns and finishes, lane discipline and being part of a training squad. Swimmers in this squad are normally 7-9 yrs of age and will compete in Development galas and friendly local meets.

The swimmers will maintain the skill work they have been learning in JO3, but there is now a larger endurance component to the training. The swimmers will be expected to commit to more sessions, in order to be ready for the Sheffield and District and Yorkshire Championships etc, and the harder training in JO1.

Swimmers are now also introduced to dry land training, which will take place on a Tuesday and Thursday evening before the water session. This is basic athletic training, involving body weight exercises, balance work, core stability and movement skills. Swimmers will need their own shorts, t-shirts and trainers to be allowed to take part. Swimmers will normally be 8-10yrs old and selected due to skill levels and training ability.

Training is stepped up again, with longer and harder sessions, more advanced land training and an introduction to morning training. Swimmers will normally be Yorkshire Qualifiers and be aiming for North Eastern Region/National Qualifying times and higher standard Open Meets. They will need to become accustomed to training everyday, in preparation for a move to Junior National Squad.

Swimmers will be selected for this squad based on skill levels, training commitment, and competition ability. Female Swimmers will normally be 10-13yrs of age and male swimmers 10-14 yrs.

Minimum weekly attendance levels for this squad are: four or five sessions for 10 year olds, five or six sessions for 11 year olds and those swimmers aged 12 years plus are expected to do six or seven sessions.

Land training is an integral part of a swimmer’s development. All swimmers are expected to attend these sessions, in addition to the water work.

This squad is for swimmers, normally 12 – 17 years old, who may be late developers or do not yet fulfil the criteria to be a member of Junior Olympic 1 or a National Squad, but still want to train and be a competitive swimmer. Training is well structured and a high level of discipline is expected within this squad. Swimmers in this squad will normally compete in the Yorkshire Championships, local B+C Grade competitions, Sheffield and District galas and in various open meets. The minimum attendance criteria is 4 sessions per week.

Extra Training
Any members of this squad that show good commitment will also be entitled to train on Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings with the National squads, by arrangement with Dave Naughton and Mark Lappin. There is also very limited availability for training between 6.00pm and 7.00pm on Tuesdays and 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Wednesdays.

* This session often disrupted due to galas. Please check the notice board for availability.