COMPETITIVE SWIMMER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY 

1. EXPLORE AND LEARN – 8 YEARS AND UNDER 

Forming the basis of our Minnows Programme, swimmers learn to explore various movements and skills in the water as well as the following key concepts: 

  1. Kicking, Gliding and Buoyancy (on and under water) 

  2. Diving, rolling, sculling and streamlining 

  3. All 4 competitive strokes, starts and turns 

  4. Encourage physical literacy (PE, other clubs/sports)

2. PREPARE – 7-10 YEARS 

Housed within our Seals Programme, swimmers learn the basics of lane swimming; apply endurance to skills learnt within the previous stage and focus on the next key stages of competitive development: 

  1. Reading and using a pace clock 

  2. Changing gears and swimming at different speeds 

  3. Lane discipline and swim specific spatial awareness 

  4. Dry land preparation and readiness for exercise – continue encourage multi-sport 

3. DREAM – 9-12 YEARS 

Our Dolphin and Piranha Squads are where swimmers begin to dream big about how far they would like to take the sport – be it to the Olympics or as a lifelong choice for a healthy lifestyle. These goals are encouraged and supported utilizing: 

  1. Nutritional and Lifestyle clinics 

  2. Video demonstrations and races showcasing the best in the world 

  3. A thorough technical programme teaching the most efficient way to swim 

  4. Nurtured and progressive guidance into galas and competitions 

  5. Athletic/gymnastic development/body awareness/balance 

4. ACHIEVE and ASPIRE – 12-16+ YEARS 

On the completion of Junior Development swimmers progress in to our Barracudas (13-15 years) and Marlin (13-18 years) Squads and can access sessions befitting their performance ability as well as the meeting of individual needs. Throughout this pathway swimmers will enjoy a wider range of competitive opportunities and begin to develop holistically as a student athlete including: 

  1. Incremental Strength and Conditioning sessions 

  2. Process goal setting and Individual Performance Profiles 

  3. 5 stroke progressive technical, tactical and physical preparation 

  4. Introduction and development of specific race pace training 

  5. Lifelong fitness, passion and teacher/coach development opportunities

In addition to the more competitive pathway, swimmers can embark upon a journey through our Stingray and Swordfish squads; where competitive access is always encouraged, but never pushed, and swimmers can develop fitness and skill for life.

Swimmers through either pathway can access our Legends Programme and strive to become the next generation of teachers and coaches at Bristol Henleaze and beyond…

5. SUCCEED and PERSEVERE – 16 YEARS + 

Upon progression from the Achieve Pathway swimmers can enter our Sailfish Squad as determined by exceptional ability or individual stage of development. Here swimmers will prepare for and embark upon a senior swimming programme, specific to individual needs and event requirements. Further into adulthood, our Killerwhales Programme houses Master’s swimmers (19 years plus) with a desire to be the best they can be as a senior swimmer.

  1. Specific race pace training 

  2. Complimented other sports/activities 

  3. Bespoke Strength and Conditioning Programme 

  4. Nutritional/Lifestyle/Psychological development and guidance 

  5. Lifelong fitness and passion - coaching and teaching opportunities

In addition to Killerwhales programme for Adults, we offer masters sessions for those wanting to maintain their lifelong love and participation in the sport, through our Whales Programme.