development pathway
Find out more information about our foundation swimming squads
Our Penguin Squads are our foundation squads and are aimed at swimmers taking their first steps out of swimming lessons and transition into a training squad setting. It is vital that our swimmers are taught to swim all four competitive strokes to a very high standard and given the opportunity to practice swimming these strokes over all the competitive distances.
There are four squads in our Penguins Pathway, and it is our mission to teach all our swimmers the key fundamental skills necessary to develop them into competitive swimmers as they progress before graduating. Building great technique at a young age will help our young swimmers as they mature and develop through our pathways.
Our Penguin squads provide opportunities for swimmers to develop all aspects of stroke technique, fitness and race skills required to prepare for competition. These squads primarily are aimed at children aged 8-12 years.
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Penguins 4 and 3
Our first two and entry levels squads where swimmers will focus on building stroke technique and skill while beginning to perform basic training sets and complete competitive racing distances. The focus in these squads is on the enhancement of the four strokes as well as kicking endurance and competitive starts and turns. This first step of the Winchester City Swimming Club pathway introduces all elements of competitive swimming to young athletes. Athletes will learn how to use training aids such as kick boards, pull buoys & small fins. Swimmers will also be taught how to read session plans and use pace clocks.
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Penguins 1 and 2
Where swimmers are beginning to become more experienced trainers. These squads continue to master skills and technique while challenging athletes with longer sessions and introduce basic sprint training. Efficient swimming is basic aerobic and sprint sets will be the focus of this group. Weekly training begins to get more challenging and will include a variety of aerobic work across the four strokes and in kick sets. Swimmers in these squads will also be introduced to long course training on a Saturday morning.
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Competitions
Swimmers will be encouraged to compete at appropriate competitions and given both support and guidance by our team of professional coaches as they begin their competitive swimming journey.
There are many different types of competitions that swimmers will be given the opportunity to enter when deemed ready by the coaching team.
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Squad objectives
- Swimmers will be encouraged to compete at appropriate competitions and given both support and guidance by our team of professional coaches as they begin their competitive swimming journey.
- There are many different types of competitions that swimmers will be given the opportunity to enter when deemed ready by the coaching team.
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Coaches
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Age range
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Squad criteria
- Attendance at all training sessions provided is essential to maximise progress.
- Demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills.
- Show a strong desire to improve in all areas of swimming.
- Be on time for all training sessions, be respectful, polite, and supportive to all other members.
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Squad exit criteria
- Unable to show good attendance over a sustained period or consistently late to training sessions.
- Lack of improvement against squad criteria.
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Pathway
- Meeting the criteria – transition up the Penguins Pathway at the coach’s discretion (as and when there is space).
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Kit list
- Winchester training hat and T-shirt
- Googles (+ spare)
- 2 litre water bottle
- Kit bag
- Kick board
- Pull buoy
- Fins (small)