Junior Development

  • Total Hours per week: 3hrs
  • Target Age Range: 6-10

Squad Description

Junior Development is the entry point into club swimming at Eastleigh Swim Club. It is intended to ease the transition from swimming lessons into lane training sessions for young swimmers that have completed stage 7 of Swim England's Learn To Swim programme, which they can accomplish within our own Swim School programme or similar providers of swimming lessons, including Places Leisure Eastleigh.


Swim England Long Term Athlete Development Plan

  • Stage 1 – FUNdamentals
  • Stage 2 - Swim Skills: Building Technique


Qualifying Criteria

  • Be able to swim 50m Front Crawl and Backstroke to an acceptable standard and be confident in deep water. Front Crawl breathing must be correct with good streamlined body position with an efficient leg kick on Front Crawl and Backstroke.
  • To have completed Swim England's Learn To Swim Stage 7 (or equivalent) to an effective level and have an interest in developing their swimming further to potentially a competitive level.
  • Complete a 100m Individual Medley (IM) using correct stroke technique and Swim England turns.
  • Complete a 200m Front Crawl in under 6 minutes.
  • Be able to demonstrate correct turns for all 4 strokes.
  • Complete 100m on another stroke other than Front Crawl.

The Junior Development Coach along with the Skills Coaches will make selection to the Junior Development Squad. For some, these criteria may be difficult to achieve, in which case the Skills Coach will select those that are more proficient at Front Crawl and Backstroke.


Objectives

  • To introduce group of swimmers from this squad into competitive swimming with invitations to the Hants Premier League and other Novice, Grand Prix, and Development type of competitions and to prepare them to participate in targeted Open Meets Level 3 as appropriate to that squad.
  • To develop all strokes to a legal standard over 50m, further improve Front Crawl and Backstroke over 100m.
  • To work to improve technique Individual Medley (IM) and build stamina on all strokes.
  • To ensure that all swimmers achieve the Competitive Start Award and diving off blocks.
  • Teach the swimmers how to understand basic use of the pace clock and leaving 5 to 10sec gaps and going on 60secs, 1:15 and 1:30.
  • To learn the basic Swim England Laws of Strokes, Starting, Turning and Finishing. Learn basic Lane Discipline and behaviour on poolside and to prepare the swimmers for movement to Junior 3.
  • Focusing on a simple underwater Pull and Break Out on Breaststroke and being able to swim 5m into the wall, do a 2 handed turn and 3 underwater kicks off the wall on Butterfly.
  • Introduction to Blood Flow and Pre Pool exercises and land training etiquette.
  • Introduction and understanding of the principles and purpose of Drills for strokes (Body position, Arms, Legs, Timing & Breathing).

Training Equipment

(All equipment should be labelled with swimmer's name and in working order)

  • Swimming Hat
  • Goggles, plus a spare pair of goggles
  • Kickboard
  • Pullbuoy
  • Drinks Bottle (700ml)

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