Training Programme

Tadpoles 1

Coach - Michelle Mitchell
Total Training = 1/2 hour per week

Squad aims:

Basic teaching of body, leg and arm action, together with breathing coordination.

Age guide: 4 - 5 years

Development 1

Coach - Susie Goold

Total Training = 1 hour per week

Squad aims:

Covering 4 strokes, Front Crawl, Backstroke, Butterfly and Breastroke, developing the swimmer with more of a technical approach to these strokes together with breathing co-ordination.

Age guide: 5 - 7+ years

Progression to Development 2

Development 2

Coach - Kym Tamplin

Total Training = 2 hours per week

Squad aims:

Concentrating on stroke work and drills, building up stamina. Learning sprint work, relays and individual medleys. Teaching chain swimming and lane etiquette in preparation for swimming in dedicated lanes.

Age guide: 6 - 8 years

Progression to Blue Squad

Blue Squad

Coach - Susie Goold

Total Training = 2 hours per week

Squad aims:

Concentrating on stroke work and drills, building up stamina. Learning sprint work, relays and individual medleys. Teaching chain swimming and lane etiquette in preparation for swimming in dedicated lanes.

Age guide: 7 - 9 (entry possible for age 6, dependent on coach recommendation and ability)

Progression to Bronze Squad.

Bronze Squad

Coach - Di Manley

Total Training = 3 hours per week

Squad aims:

Continuing stroke development together with motor skills. Working on correct starts, turns and finishing procedures.

Age guide: 7 - 9

Progression to Silver Squad

Silver Squad

Coach - Cilla Daniels

Total Training = 4.5 hours per week

Squad aims:

Swimmers will be building stamina, improving fitness and preparing for competition.

Age guide: 9 - 11

Progression to Gold Squad

White Squad 1

Coach - Sarah Clark

Total Training = 1 hour per week

Squad aims:

Preparing older swimmers with stroke technique, working on starts, finishes and building up stamina. Introducing an older swimmer to the world of competitive swimming and advising on ASA procedures.

Age guide: 7 - 12

Progression to White Squad 2

White Squad 2

Coach - Sarah Clark

Total Training = 1 hour per week

Squad aims:

Working on stroke technique, starts, finishes, using a swimming clock, being aware of timing, learning to swim given sets and understanding lane etiquette. Taking part in sprint work, relays and time swims.

Age guide: 9 - 14

White Squad was set up to provide a place in a squad for swimmers who would otherwise be turned away as they have not reached the standard required for entry to the more mainstream squads in Beckenham Swimming Club. It is suitable for swimmers who have finished lessons and wish to continue their swimming in a squad, once a week and who might wish to gain experience in novice galas. There are two White Squads, with transition from 1 to 2 dependent on progress, attitude and attendance.

Some of the older swimmers at trial (9 years onwards) are unlikely to be offered places in the mainstream / elite squads unless they have some experience in squad swimming, either at school or in another club. This is because there is a vast difference between training for 30 minutes a week and swimming the four or five hours a week required in the club’s squads for similar age groups. The ideal age for swimmers to join Beckenham is 5-7 years, with progress through the squads as they improve.

White Squad trains for 1 hour a week at the Trinity School pool on a Sunday afternoon with coach, Michael Griffin. The squad aims to improve strokes and build stamina. Over the year, if the coach believes a swimmer is competent enough and will not be out of his or her depth, swimmers may enter elementary galas which we try to run 2 or 4 times a year. The annual club championships take place in the autumn term. If swimmers are not confident enough or do not wish to enter these galas, they are not compulsory.

Some swimmers who progress very well may be offered places in other squads, but this is not automatic. Swimmers have to fulfil the entry criteria for the squad and space needs to be available. As well as swimming ability, attendance, attitude and maturity are all taken into account before swimmers are moved into other squads within the whole club.

Gold Squad

Coach - Di Manley

Total Training = 7.25 hours per week

Squad aims:

Swimmers will be placed into ability lanes working on drills to improve stamina and fitness whilst continuing to refine technique.

Training towards County standard times.

Training includes aerobic and sprint work, covering an average of 3,000 - 4,000 per session, learning to read and use a pace clock.

Progression to Top Squad dependent on coaches recommendation, swimmers ability, attendance, age and attitude.

Top Squad

Coach - Tony Beckley

Total Training = 17 hours per week

Squad aims:

Train the energy systems. Increasing the sessions and meterage. Working on improving technique, advanced skills and drills. Working on race pace work and introducing anaerobic through to advanced sets. Preparing for District, National and International Levels.

Minimum training = 10 hours per week.

Club Squad

Coach - Susie Goold

Total Training = 3.5 hours per week

Squad aims:

Working and improving on technique and stamina, sprint training.

Progression is possible to Gold/Top squad dependent on swimmers ability and commitment.

Platinum Squad

Coach - Kym Tamplin

Total Training = 3.75 hours per week

Squad aims:

Maintaining technique and continuing development.

Age Group: 14+ although variable, dependent on circumstances.

Swimmers may progress into top squad on the basis of achieving qualifying times set by the Top squad coach.