Join the Squad program
Squad is a training program that prepares swimmers for competition at local, regional, state or national levels, or for strong swimmers wanting to maintain and improve fitness.
A team of professional coaches facilitate the program and assist swimmers to navigate through the program pathway.
Swimmers hoping to join the Squad program must pass an assessment.
Timetables
Squad assessments
Assessments are by appointment on Saturday mornings.
Athletes must be capable of:
- 200m continuous freestyle with good technique and without signs of fatigue
- 100m backstroke with good technique
- Knowledge of freestyle and backstroke turns
- Use of fly/dolphin kick
- Propulsive breaststroke kick and pull
- Clean racing dive.
To make a booking, or for any questions, please email aquatics@maitland.nsw.gov.au
Fees
Payment for Squad is by weekly direct debit.
Squad categories
Development Program
The Development program is a bridge between the completion of Learn to Swim and Bronze Squad. Athletes are required to satisfy the challenges of the squad assessment.
Schedule
Sessions are one (1) hour in duration and in groups of approximately ten (10) athletes directed by a single coach. Typically athletes complete 1500m in a session.
Session Times:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
Morning session: 7am - 8am - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
Evening session: 6pm - 7pm - Wednesday
Morning session: 6.45am - 8am (combined dryland activities)
Ability Level
It is expected that athletes attend three (3) sessions per week. Ideal ages would be 6-8, but no age restriction exists.
Competitions
Athletes should be involved in a swimming club and may be capable of representing their club at regional level competition if they can achieve the necessary qualifying times.
Fitness Program
This squad is designed to cater for experienced athletes. The focus is to help members move towards their individual swimming goals and to help them understand the training process more. All strokes and their components will feature during the training program.
Schedule
Sessions are one (1) hour in duration and in groups of approximately 10 athletes directed by a single coach. Typically athletes complete 2000-3000m in a session.
Session Times:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
Morning sessions: 5am - 6am
Ability Level
Athletes can attend any and all sessions each week. Ideal ages are 13 and over.
Competitions
Competitions are optional. Club membership is required for those wishing to compete.
Bronze Program
Athletes may advance to Bronze Squad following a coach evaluation either at entry assessment or by progression from Development Squad.
All butterfly and breaststroke techniques should be of high quality with progressive improvement. All turns, including medley switches, are pushing towards perfection.
Schedule
Sessions are one (1) to one (1) hour and 15 minutes in duration. Typically athletes complete 2500m in a session.
Session Times:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
Morning session: 5am - 6am - Monday to Saturday
Morning Session: 6.45am - 8am (Wednesday includes combined dryland activities) - Monday to Thursday
Evening session: 5.45pm - 7pm
Ability Level
It is expected that athletes attend four (4) sessions per week. Ideal ages would be 8-11, but progression is dependent on skill. It is not uncommon for teens to participate and be challenged.
Athletes will develop all strokes and skills, without preference for one or another to become well-rounded with skills for future development.
Competitions
Athletes in this group are encouraged to join a swimming club and compete. Squad coaches can support athletes by linking them to higher levels of competition.
Silver Program
The Silver Squad is much more challenging than Bronze Squad.
Athletes will be seeking to become exemplary performers of all strokes and skills and look to eliminate weaknesses.
Schedule
Sessions are one (1) hour and 45 minutes in duration.
Session Times:
- Monday to Saturday
Morning session: 5am - 6.45am - Monday to Friday
Afternoon session: 4pm - 5.45pm
Ability Level
It is expected that swimmers attend five (5) to six (6) sessions per week. Ideal ages would be from 10-15 but progression is dependent on skill.
Athletes will learn the importance of physiological conditioning to meet the demands of improvement and begin to discuss goal setting to guide development.
Competitions
Athletes in this group will be capable of swimming multiple events at representative level, including some Country and State qualifications.
Gold Program
Gold is the highest standard of training offered. This squad develops the most successful athletes in our region.
The expectation is that skills are performed perfectly, and athletes are independent and serious in their approach.
Schedule
The training sessions are two (2) hours in duration. Session volumes will range widely depending on stage of season, preparation and specific event focus.
Session Times:
- Monday to Saturday
Morning session: 5am - 7am - Monday to Friday
Afternoon session: 4pm - 6pm
Ability Level
It is expected athletes attend six (6) to ten (10) sessions per week. Ideal ages would be from 14-20 but progression is dependent on skill.
Athletes may begin to specialise in certain events but are nonetheless trained as medley athletes.
Competitions
Athletes in this group are capable of competing at a state, national and at an international level including world championships and open water racing.