Our comprehensive squad program aims to help swimmers reach their potential. It is designed by our Director of Swimming, Will Scott, in conjunction with the ASC coaching team.
The program has seven squads, creating a seamless pathway from entry level to elite. There are three squads in the junior program (12/under), Foundation, Junior and Development. There are three squads in the age program (12-18/over) Development, Age Performance and Open Performance. There are two squads in the open program Open Performance and Elite. The cross over between each of the three programs allows athletes seamless transitions between squads. The Fitness squad is designed to help athletes stay involved in swimming or alternatively compete in other sports.
Foundation Squad
The Foundation Squad focuses on refining backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle technique, while learning butterfly and race skills. Coaching staff provide clear learning outcomes to help athletes progress, with regular in session feedback. Athletes can train 1-2 times per week, and can compete at club, inter-club and state junior meets, when appropriate.
Junior Squad
The Junior Squad continues to refine all four strokes and skills whilst also learning to hold strokes over longer distances and at speed. Coaching staff provide clear learning outcomes to help athletes progress with regular in session feedback. Athletes can train 1-3 times per week and can compete at club, inter-club and state junior meets, when appropriate.
Development Squad
The Development Squad focuses on holistic athlete development. Athletes continue to refine all 4 strokes and all skills, at speed and aerobically. The coaching staff structure the program to provide athletes with, opportunities to learn strategies for different training sets and distances, information sessions focused on improving performance, increased challenges to help athletic development and additional support at competitions to further reflection and learning. Athletes can train from 4 to 6 sessions per week and compete in club, inter-club and state (junior and age) competitions.
Age Performance Squad
The Age Performance Squad builds the foundations for sustained performance. Athletes learn training techniques to help them develop their anaerobic and aerobic capacities. The coaching staff structure the program to provide athletes with goal setting meetings (twice yearly), coaching tailored to the athletes’ individual events, information sessions focused on improving performance, land work pre-training and physiological and technical testing. Athletes can swim 6 to 8 times per week and their competition focus is Long Course States (December) and Age/Open Nationals (April). It also caters to swimmers wanting to compete at Open Water Nationals (January).
Open Performance Squad
The Open Performance Squad focuses on best performance at Nationals, Trials and on Australian Junior Teams and squads. The coaching staff structure the program to include regular one on ones between coaches and athletes, individual performance plans, information sessions focused on swimming performance, land work pre-training and physiological, technical and skill testing.
Athletes are generally 16 years or older and have a significant focus on swimming. They must either have a qualifying time for long course trials, or be within 1% of achieving it in an Olympic/Paralympic event. It is run in conjunction with the Elite Squad, however the expectations of the squad may be modified for individual athletes given competing demands from school/university/work. Athletes need to be selected into the Open Performance squad.
Elite Squad
The Elite Squad focuses on gaining selection to and performing on Australian teams. The coaching staff structure the program to include regular one on ones between coaches and athletes, individual performance plans, information sessions focused on swimming performance, land work pre-training and physiological, technical and skill testing.
Athletes have usually finished high school (17/18 and over) and are able to commit to increased training demand. They must have a qualifying time for long course trials in an Olympic/Paralympic event. This squad is run in conjunction with the Open Performance Squad, with some variations to training times and expectations. Athletes need to be selected into the Elite Squad.
Fitness Squad
The Fitness Squad focuses aerobic and speed. Athletes in the fitness squad may be focusing on open water, fitness for other sports or general health. Athletes can train 1-2 times per week.