Squad System

Our squad system is designed to be inclusive to all members and to support in achieving their goals. It allows flexibility in the number of sessions and will help swimmers increase their fitness and improve their skills. There is no expectation or pressure for swimmers to compete, but plenty of opportunities and support will be provided for swimmers that are interested in doing so.

Skills Squad

This squad is the next step from learn to swim lessons and helps set children up to become strong swimmers. It also provides a gentle introduction to the world of competitive swimming. Training is heavily skill focused, working on all 4 strokes as well as starts, turns and finishes to ensure swimmers are well equipped for both competing and staying active in the water. Swimmers are able to compete once they’ve turned 9 years old.  In this squad swimmers can select either one or 2 sessions per week, but Sunday spaces are limited. Swimmers aged 7-12yrs

Sessions Available: Thursday 6.00-7.00pm           Sunday 8.00-9.30am 

Development Squad

Swimmers will continue to develop skills across all 4 strokes, whilst starting to develop speed and aerobic fitness. This will ensure that swimmers have a solid fitness base to help them stay active throughout life. Swimmers can choose 1, 2 or 3 sessions per week depending on their goals and reasons for training, however we recommend at least 2 sessions per week for those wishing to compete. Swimmers aged 9-14yrs

Sessions Available: Tuesday 7.30-9.00pm             Thursday 7.00-8.00pm                  Sunday 8.00-9.30am 

Fitness Squad

For those swimmers who want to keep fit, support another sport, or just continue to practice their swimming skills. There is no expectation for swimmers to compete, but the option is there if they would like to.  (Option to add additional sessions for stronger swimmers). Swimmers aged 13+

Sessions Available: Thursday 8.15-9.15pm           Tuesday 7.30-9.00pm – Check suitability with Head Coach Sunday 8.00-9.30am

Check suitability with Head Coach 

County Performance Squad

Swimmers who want to compete and perform to a county and possibly regional level, but don’t want, or don’t reach the required level, to train with NOVA (the county performance pathway). We will train both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems with an emphasis on racing fast with great skill. Swimmers are expected to attend at least 2 sessions per week and participate in some competitions. Swimmers aged 12+

 Sessions Available: Tuesday 7.30-9.00pm             Thursday 8.00-9.15pm                   Sunday 8.00-9.30am

Friday 7.00-9.00pm (One NK, North Hykeham. Head Coach invite only) 

Masters Squad

This squad caters for a wide variety of swimmers including former competitive swimmers, triathletes and swimmers who’ve picked up the sport later in life.

Sessions will cover all 4 strokes, but adaptations can be made to suit some individual requirements, especially on the Thursday session. However, we ask that swimmers can swim Frontcrawl, Backcrawl and Breaststroke as a minimum.

On Thursdays our strongest Masters lane can repeat 100 Frontcrawls off 2.00 or less and cover 2500m+ per session. For the 2nd Masters lane swimmers should be able to hold repeats 100 Frontcrawls off around 2.30 and cover around 2000m.

The Tuesday and Sunday Sessions are more advanced and as such require a higher level of stroke technique and competitive skills. Swimmers aged 18+

 Sessions Available: Thursday 7.00-8.00pm (2 lanes available)

Tuesday 7.30-9.00pm & Sunday 8.00-9.30am (1 lane available) – Check suitability with Head Coach 

Factors influencing Squad Movements

 A combination of the list below is used when moving swimmers from squad to squad and all moves are considered on an individual basis.

Technique – all 4 strokes, starts, turns and finishes.

Attendance – how many sessions per week does a swimmer train and how often they attend the sessions they are on the list for

Speed – the speed at which a swimmer can train and race.

Effort levels – how committed a swimmer is to both the technical elements of training and to the more physically demanding sessions.

Chronological Age – are they training in a group where most swimmers are of a similar age?

Biological Age – are the mentally and physically mature enough to cope with the next level of training?

Ambitions/goals – does a swimmer want to compete and progress their swimming to a higher level or are they swimming to support another sport or for fitness?

 If you have any questions regarding the squad system or squad moves please contact Adam McIntyre (Head Coach) [email protected]