Junior Development
Boys aged 9 – 12 Years
Girls aged 8 – 12 Years
Coach Paul Bourne
Pre-Competitive
Swimmers entering Junior Development should be competing a few times a year, and in this group will step up to 10 or 12 times per year (but not more than that). All should be able to swim four strokes competently without them being unduly laboured. The strokes should flow naturally and have adequate distance per stroke. All strokes, starts, turns (including Medley turns), underwater sections and relay takeovers should be legal and competitive.
When the time is right the coaching team will decide which Long Term Pathway is best suited for the next stage of the swimmers development
Swimmers will need to be efficient in the basic stroke mechanics of all 4 strokes to progress to Junior Development. Areas that will be taken into account will be:
This squad will be aimed around a high level of skill and technical teaching. Commitment to the program is very important at this level. This squad will be for swimmers that have been fast tracked from the skill and technique training squads.
Promotion to Junior Development
To be considered for promotion to Junior Development swimmers must be attending a minimum of 3 sessions per week, attendance of 4 sessions a week being most desirable.
Swimmers will need to be efficient in the basic stroke mechanics of all 4 strokes to progress to Junior Development . Areas that will be taken into account will be:
- Distance per stroke
- Stroke Count per Length
- Body Position
- Timing
- Feel of the Water
Racing abilities are so important to a competitive athlete. Swimmers will need to enter the Mini Meet series and the club championships to be introduced to racing skills. Swimmers that want to be considered for squad movement will need to show the skills above and an aptitude for competitive environment.
Every Swimmer wanting to be promoted must show the following behavioural traits:
- Respect for coaching staff
- Willingness to learn
- Good Lane Discipline
- Willingness to support team mates in training sessions and competitions
Training times
When swimmers are ready to move from Junior Development there are 2 Long Term Development pathways for them to follow.
Pathway 1 – Performance
Pathway 2 – Competitive Development
Both pathways focus on the long term development of the athlete, but have different training and competition goals.
The coaching team will decide when they are ready to move from Junior Development to which pathway they are more suited.
