Development Squads

Development squads are aimed at teaching our swimmers all four strokes efficiently. As our swimmers progress through the system they are introduced to new strokes and skills.

The basic philosophy behind our teaching is that:
1. All swimmers are to enjoy their lesson through meeting the challenges they are given (self-esteem and confidence building).

2. Technique and acceptance of the water are of paramount importance, above strength and conditioning. Through swimming faster in a more comfortable way it will inspire swimmers to keep coming back for more.

Tadpoles
Reinforcing and improving freestyle and backstroke. Tadpole squad covers the first elements of breaststroke kick and arms. The swimmers only do half laps with a teacher in the water to guarantee quality practice, along with a maximum class size of six. Lessons are 30 minutes in duration. Primarily focused on improving freestyle and backstroke and introducing breaststroke kick.

Appropriate for children who can:
1. Swim 12m of bi-lateral freestyle
2. Swim 12m of backstroke
3. Have good water confidence.

Frogs
Reinforcing freestyle and backstroke. Learning breaststroke and being introduced to basic butterfly elements. Swimmers still have a teacher in the water to show them what to do. Half laps are swum; with a maximum of six children per class. Lessons are 30 minutes in duration. Focused on developing the fundamentals of breaststroke and learning butterfly kick.

Appropriate for children who can:
1. Swim 25m of bi-lateral freestyle
2. Swim 25m of backstroke.

Sharks
Strengthening freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and learning butterfly. Sharks do their lessons in the medley order; swimmers start on a different stroke each week and focus on the first stroke the most. The drills change every month to give each swimmer the best opportunity to learn. Lessons are lengthened to 45 minutes to cater for all four strokes.

Lesson focus:
1. Strengthening freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke
2. Mastering the fundamentals of butterfly.

Marlins
Further improving and strengthening all four strokes. Maintaining quality strokes. The drills are slightly more challenging and change every month to work on different stroke aspects. Swimmers are taught the basics of dives and finishes. Work in the medley order. Lessons are 45 minutes. There is a morning training option to learn with the Bronze squad.

Lesson focus:
1. Strengthening all four strokes
2. Introduction to more advance level drills
3. Improving body position and balance in the water.

Bronze
Further improving and strengthening all four strokes. Freestyle can be 25s, 50s, 100s, even 200s, so aerobic fitness can be built up. Swimmers are also introduced to the individual medley. Swimmers are built up to move into Silver and Gold squads where they will be exposed to training sets and more challenging drills. Focused on ensuring swimmers can hold their stroke under the pressure of harder workloads. Works in the medley order; drills change each month and swimmers have a 1-hour lesson. This is a transition squad from Development to Performance squads.

Lesson focus:
1. Improving strength and endurance in all four strokes
2. Learning higher levels skills and drills
3. Progression from Development to Performance squads.