Okehampton Otters Squad Criteria

This is a guide for swimmers and parents. Swimmers will be placed in the appropriate squad dependent on their age and ability; they will be assessed on the criterion below which determines which squad a swimmer is assigned. On occasion the squad coach may make a decision to move certain swimmers on ability. Ages are for guide only, however will be matched against the current swimmers in any squad.

Attendance Standard: Swimmers are expected to attend 85% of scheduled sessions each calendar month, unless an alternative arrangement is agreed in advance with the coach; however, swimmers must not fall below 50% attendance in any calendar month. This standard applies during school holidays. If a squad is full and there are swimmers on a waiting list, swimmers who do not meet this standard may be asked to change squads or leave the club in line with the objects of the club.

Enforcement and Exceptions: Attendance will be monitored monthly and reported by the coaching team. Coaches will contact members after two consecutive months if they fall below the 85% threshold to discuss barriers and agree any necessary and reasonable adjustments.

Acceptable discretionary exceptions include short-term illness, injury, school examinations or events, and short-term pre-agreed family commitments. Members must notify their coach in advance where possible and may be asked to provide brief supporting information for prolonged absences, which will be considered by the coaches and committee given the attendance standard.

Appeals against squad change or removal are submitted in writing to the committee and will be considered within 14 days of receipt.

 

Squads:

• Skills Development Squad – Entry level following stage 8 of LTS
• Club Squad – Junior – as directed by Club Coach
• Club Squad – Senior – as directed by Club Coach
• Club Squad Intermediate - as directed by Club Coach
• Competitive Squad – as directed by Head Coach
• Performance Squad – as directed by Head Coach

 

Skills Development Squad - General entry level following stage 8 of Learn to Swim

‘Learning to train’

Squad Description: 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: To be considered for the squad an assessment is required using the following Swim England Expected Standards criteria: Swim 25m Backstroke; Swim 25m Front crawl; Swim 25m Breaststroke; Attempt 25m Butterfly; Sculling: head first, feet first; rotation; forward/backward somersault; Perform a sitting dive; Swim 50m continuously using one stroke; Swim 100 metres using a minimum of 3 different strokes;

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 with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision.

 

Club Squads (Junior & Senior)

Swimmers will be offered a place in the Club squad for one of the following reasons:

• As a development pathway from Skills Development to the Competitive Development squads.
• If the swimmer is not able to or does not wish to attend 80% or more of their sessions in the relevant squad.
• If the swimmer does not achieve the criteria set by the Development or Performance coach.
• If the swimmer swims at a club level but does not have a desire to swim competitively in galas and open meets, or only wishes to do so on an ad hoc/occasional basis.

The Club squads follow the same scheme of work and coaching plan as the Skills Development or Senior squads, allowing the coaches to engage with swimmers at a level appropriate to their age and ability. Swimmers are surrounded by peers of a similar age and ability, and have the freedom to miss sessions due to other sporting commitments. The Club squads are suitable for swimmers who want to train up to 3 times per week, compete at some competitions, maintain fitness, remain sociable with peers and use swimming as an extra-curricular activity.

If a swimmer in the Club squads decide they wish to move over to the relevant competitive squad, they will need to achieve an appropriate level of attendance and criteria before discussing with their coach, and trialling for the appropriate squad to ensure they are capable of achieving the relevant standard of performance. Please note this is down to the discretion of the Head Coach.

 

Club Squad – Junior age 11 & Under (1-2 hours)

‘Training to train’

Squad Description: A squad to support the longevity of swimming and support the development of those late out of the skills Development Squad 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.

Aim: To develop more advanced swimming techniques working towards Swim England Expected Standard turns in Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Front crawl and completing a 400m set on a specified turnaround time. To meet the Competitive Development Squad criteria, swimmers must be able to achieve in comfort, the following skills: Complete a set lasting 400m (e.g. 16 x 25m, 8 x 50m, 4 x 100m or 2 x 200m) on a specified turnaround time set by the coach: Swim 50 metres in all four strokes to Swim England Expected Standards; Kick 25 metres in all four strokes with/without using a board; Perform a turn in all four strokes from 10 metres in to 15 metres out to Swim England Expected Standards; Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke; Sculling: head first, feet first; rotation: forward/backward somersault.

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 400m 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 with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision.

 

Club Squad Senior, age approx. 12 & over (1-2 hours)

‘Training to train’

Squad Description: A squad to support the longevity of swimming and support the development of those late out of swimming programmes, returning to swimming or those progressing who 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.

Aim: To develop more advanced swimming techniques working towards Swim England Expected Standard turns in Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Front crawl and completing a 400m set on a specified turnaround time. To meet the Competitive Development Squad criteria, swimmers must be able to achieve in comfort, the following skills: Complete a set lasting 400m (e.g. 16 x 25m, 8 x 50m, 4 x 100m or 2 x 200m) on a specified turnaround time set by the coach: Swim 50 metres in all four strokes to Swim England Expected Standards; Kick 25 metres in all four strokes with/without using a board; Perform a turn in all four strokes from 10 metres in to 15 metres out to Swim England Expected Standards; Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke; Sculling: head first, feet first; rotation: forward/backward somersault.

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 400m 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 with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision.

 

Club Squad Intermediate (3-5 hours)

‘Training to train’ and ‘training to race’

Squad Description: The next 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 (4+ 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 (15 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

 

Competitive Squad (6-8 hours)

‘Training to train’ and ‘training to race’

Squad Description: At this stage of the competitive pathway swimmers should be competent with their competitive skills and enjoying the journey and process. Swimmers should ideally be able to meet the set criteria to be moved into this squad and should be of a suitable biological age to undertake the squads training.

Skills: Must be able to sustain the training in the squad; be able to perform all strokes to a good standard; execute all turns correctly; streamlining should be excellent; be able to scull proficiently in both the supine and pronate position; be able to work off the pace clock; be able to swim within the lane without encroaching on other swimmers, recognising the right order for different strokes; be able to complete a set of a minimum of 3000m in 1.5hrs; swim 800m continuous on front crawl; Be able to demonstrate three drills for each stroke and explain the reason for each drill.

Commitment: Turn up to all training sessions unless there is sickness or this has previously been agreed with the coach; compete when requested to do so and have the correct equipment at all sessions. Failure to attend regularly may result in swimmers being asked to change squad.

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
• 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 Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

 

Performance Squad (8-10-12 hours)

‘Training to race’

Swimmers in this squad will be competing to a minimum level of County standard and above (County, Regional and National levels).

Squad Description: This is the last stage of the Competitive Club pathway; swimmers should be competent with their competitive skills and enjoying the journey and process. Swimmers should ideally be able to meet set criteria to be moved into this squad and they should be of a suitable biological age to undertake the squads training.

Skills: Must be able to sustain the training in the squad; be able to perform all strokes to a very good standard; execute all turns correctly; streamlining should be excellent; show excellent sculling techniques both supine and pronate; be able to work off the pace clock and work out their times; be able to swim within the lane recognising the right order; be able to complete a set of a minimum of 3500m in 1.5hrs; swim continuous for 1600m on front crawl; be able to demonstrate four drills for each stroke and explain the reason for each drill.

Commitment: Turn up to all training sessions unless there is sickness or this has previously been agreed with the coach; compete when requested to do so; have the correct equipment at all sessions. Failure to attend regularly may result in swimmers being asked to change squad.

Squad Objective: To create an 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 swimmers are to take responsibility and ownership over their swimming.

This is a highly competitive squad and only aimed at swimmers for whom the sport of swimming becomes a “lifestyle choice“, with swimming taking absolute priority over other sporting commitments.

Swimmers must show high levels of independence and self - reliance, coachability and willingness to be held accountable for training and racing.

 

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
• 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 Head Coach with the consideration of the individual at the forefront of the decision

 

Masters’ squads

Masters’ squads are for our Masters swimmers (18+) who want to train 1-2 sessions per week, swim as a sociable activity with peers and to maintain/improve fitness, and to use swimming as an extra-curricular activity.