Competitive 1
With Coach Timothy Hastie
The Competitive Programme
(Five Sessions / 6:30 Hours / £50 Per Month)
The second tier of the club’s squads, this is where the young swimmers learn to develop the
training habits required to succeed as a competitive swimmer. Emphasis is primarily placed
on stroke technique, while new training aims are introduced and previously learned skills
enhanced. These include the further development of basic swimming endurance through
long continuous swims or linked swims with short rests, and the development of basic
swimming speed over short distances. Additionally swimmers will learn about
sportsmanship and behaviour as a team member.
Competitive 1 – Having completed the Academy programme, there is an emphasis on
maintaining high skill levels while putting the swimming skills under increasing pressure.
The focus of this squad is on training rather than competition, although swimmers in this
level will be expected to follow the competition programme to ensure they gain the most
from the skills they have learnt.
Having completed the Academy programme, there is an emphasis on maintaining high skill levels while putting the swimming skills under increasing pressure. The focus of this squad is on training rather than competition, although swimmers in this level will be expected to follow the competition programme to ensure they gain the most from the skills they have learnt. Competitive Blue is the first level of the Competitive Programme of the club. Swimmers within the Competitive squads are at the stage of training to train, i.e. learning the techniques to develop great training habits and behaviours.
Swimmers in Competitive 1 will:
- Continue the development of technique on the all four strokes and the introduction of the concept of distance per stroke (DPS)
- Use steady relaxed swims over increasing distances as technique allows, and the introduction of interval training to initiate the development of an aerobic base
- Continue the development of individual medley swimming
- Continue to work on starting technique in all four strokes with the appropriate competitive
underwater phase at race pace
- Continue to develop turning and finishing techniques on all strokes
- Continue the use of sculling techniques to develop ‘feel’ for the water and to aid skill
acquisition
- Continue to develop relay take-overs at race pace
- Continue to develop breathing techniques including bilateral breathing and breath holding on Freestyle, and the development of regular breathing patterns on Backstroke and Butterfly
- Further develop their knowledge of competition rules
- Be introduced to the basic mental skills of self awareness and goal setting
- Be introduced to basic nutrition for swimming
- Be expected to follow the planned competition programme, qualifying for and competing at meets set out by the coaching team
- Work towards passing Club Awards 5 & 6
Competitive Blue training competencies:
- Show good lane swimming discipline; order; direction; overtaking
- Be able to use the pace clock for starting, resting, and timing single swims
- Show correct use of equipment such as goggles, flags, snorkels, pullbuoys, kick boards and fins
- Maintain technique throughout a session, showing a smooth and controlled stroke
- Show an awareness of perceived effort – steady pace; acceleration; fast finish
- Be capable of 8 land exercises with own body weight, and undertaking a basic pre-pool dry land routine.
Criteria to move into Competitive 2:
- Swimmers must commit to attend regular training sessions
- Swimmers must be able to maintain the skills set for Academy 1+2 (see skills list)
- Preform good sculling technique
- Be able to consistently perform legal competitive turns with the appropriate underwater of feet pass flags.
- Pass Club Awards 5 & 6
Event Hours(6)
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