Our Squads
From September 2024, a new squad with five squads is in place. Each squad has clear purposes, entry requirements, and expectations. Scroll down for further information. Each club has a lead squad coach.
Elite Squad
Criteria
- Aiming to perform in Peanuts/Majors, Counties, Regionals and Nationals
- Understanding of their upcoming race day & events
- Swim a minimum of 800m without stopping in under 17mins
- Swim 100m any stroke under 1.20 mins
- Comprehensive understanding of all strokes, techniques and turns
- Dives from the side at a minimum depth of 1.35m
- Minimum attendance 85%
- Attend morning training (when appropriate)
- Arrives 10 mins for pre-pool, ready to train and positive
- Show respect towards coaches, teammates and parents
- Brings training equipment and drink to every session
- Swimmer packs their bag
- Swimmer has knowledge of their PBs in 50m and 100m
- Strong parental and Swimmer commitment.
Performance Squad
Criteria
- Minimum of participating in the Club champs and Open meets
- Participate in Hertfordshire Counties & team galas
- Swim 800m under 20mins
- Swim 200m IM with competent Tumble turns & streamlining
- Swim 100m FC in under 1.30min
- Develop all four strokes, holding techniques & turns actively
- Dives confidently from the block into the deep end & Shallow (minimum depth of 1.35m)
- Train 3-4.5hrs per week and develop independence with attendance at 80% of all sessions per month
- Punctuality & ready for the training Arrive on poolside 10min implement pre-pool routine
- Commit to half-term and end-of-term camps (reduced training due to exams/injury/personal circumstances)
- Engage with the coach in goal setting
- Training & Competitions – plan
- Packs own training equipment & drinks to every session
- Positive attitude
- Shows respect for coaches, teammates
- Keen to improving techniques & skills
- Parental & Swimmer commitment swimmer wants to succeed in competitive swimming
Training Schedule
Junior Performance Squad
Criteria
- Qualify for Hertfordshire Peanuts & Counties
- Enter Club Champs, external Open & Team meets (when selected)
- Swim 800m in under 22min
- Swim 100m Under 90sec any stroke
- Swim underwater FLY kick for at least 15 meters on the front and back
- Confident in swimming drills in all strokes
- Dives confidently deep end & from a starting block
- Tumble turn straight/open turn, streamline off every wall, Dolphin kick/breakout, surfacing after flags from the start & Fly arms starting to clear over water
- 360 log roll arms in a completely streamlined position throughout
- Attendance 80% of sessions per month
- Open to improving techniques & skills
- Attend morning training (when possible)
- Arrives 10mins for pre-pool, ready to train & positive
- Show initiative in training
- Brings training equipment & drink bottle for training
- Shows respect for coaches, teammates
- Punctuality & ready for the training ahead
- Developing to engage with the coach in goal-setting
- Participate in half-term & end of term training camps (when appropriate)
- Strong Parental & Swimmer commitment
Junior Squad
Criteria
- To qualify for Hertfordshire Peanuts
- To quality for Counties
- To learn how to perform in competitions
- Achieves at least four times in the Speed awards
- Swim a minimum of 400m continuously at any stroke/s in a steady pace
- Minimum of 3 of 4 sound strokes 100m in under 2mins stroke of choice
- Able to Jump & Dive in the deep end (minimum depth of 35m)
- Tread water for 3 minutes
- Forward Roll in the middle of the pool & tumble turn at the wall
- Attendance 80% of sessions per month
- Arrives 10 mins for pre-pool learning routine
- Punctuality, ready to train & positive
- Must show respect for coaches & teammates
- Brings training equipment & drink to every session
- Loves to swim / keen to move into next squad
Training Schedule
Aquatics Squad
Criteria
- Enter Club Champs/club galas (if selected)
- Helping in supporting in learning to teach swimming and/or participate in lifeguarding activities
- Swims confidently 400m
- Has two sound strokes
- Developing Water Polo, lifesaving and rookie skills.
- Show respect towards Coaches, Teammates & Parents
- Bring drinks to every session
- Swimmer pack their bag
