You may have noticed the swimming notice boards containing lots of information regarding the new swimming squad structure. After three years successful years with the swim squad structure and increasing numbers of swimmers coming into the program, it was time to look to see if we could improve things further.
The program has been divided into two sections; Stroke Development and Competitive Swimming.
Stroke Development –
The Stroke Development Program complements the swimming undertaken by all students within their curriculum PE swimming lessons, whilst at the same time providing the basic foundation skills needed to progress in to the competitive swim team. Widely used within the UK, the program will follow the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) badge scheme.
For more details on the ASA NPTS please follow this link: ASA National Plan for teaching Swimming – Further details
Details of the badge outcomes can be found by following the link above or downloading the file here: NPTS Badge Overview
Students may book onto one day per week, numbers are strictly limited per day to ensure a suitable coach to swimmer ratio.
Places are booked on a season by season basis via the CHQ booking system. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.
Swimmers will be grouped together into similar ability groups on each day and may therefore find themselves swimming with higher or lower year groups.
Competitive swimming –
The competitive swimming program consists of seven levels with two non competitive squad levels.
To avoid confusion, the squad structure now have the same names as the gymnastics squads – Development Squad – Level 6.
Swimmers enter the competitive program at Level 1 and progress through to Level 6, for those swimmers willing and able to make the training commitment, National Squad is open to swimmers who are 11 years or older during the academic year, entry into this squad is by invitation only. There is an expectation that all swimmers training within the competitive levels will represent SHB at all available swim meets. Swimmers unable to attend any scheduled swim meet will be expected to have excused themselves from the swim meet, in advance of squad selections having been made.
Swimmers within the competitive program may attend external swim meets, while those within the non competitive levels (Development Squad & Level 0) may attend time trial events and meets hosted at Shrewsbury International School
Swimmers may progress to the next squad at the end of season 2 or the end of season 4. All squad progressions are at the discretion of the Swim Coaches and Aquatics Director.
To view the skills and qualification time requirements please see the two links below:
The training commitment for Level 1 – 3 is a MINIMUM of 2 sessions per week, for Level 4 – 6 a MINIMUM of 3 sessions per week.
It is important to remember these are the minimum commitments and many swimmers will be training more frequently at school. The very best swimmers will be training as much as possible at school.
For swimmers who wish to train in the sessions beginning at 4pm, a homework room will be available close to the swimming pool to allow students to study and complete their homework prior to their training session.
Any swimmer who does not sign up via CHQ for the minimum training commitment will have their place released to allow other swimmers to make their full training commitment.
If you are unable to make the minimum training commitment but still wish to be part of the swimming program please come and speak with Mrs Gill explaining the reason you are unable to commit to the training requirements to prevent your place from being released.
Places are strictly limited per day, early sign up is advised. To ensure the safety of all swimmers in the event of an emergency, swimmers not on the register will not be permitted to join the training session.
Season 1 Swimming Training Timetable
2014 – 2015 Competition Schedule
To view the competition schedule for next year, please follow the link below:
This calendar is continually updated throughout the year and is visible from the main toolbar.
Swim Squads
To view the squad lists for the next year please follow the links below:
If you can not find your name in a squad list, it may be because you have not taken part in swimming during the last two terms. If you would be interested in joining the swimming excellence program again please contact Mrs Gill at victoria.g2@shrewsbury.ac.th to find out which squad you will be in.