Junior Squad Criteria

Skill Development   

1. Perform 3 different styled jumps into the water from the side safely.  
2. With eyes open pick up an object from the pool floor without hesitation and using both hands
3. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.  
4. Move from a flat floating position on the back/front and return to standing without support.  
5. Hold a tucked floating position for 3-6 seconds. 
6. Tread water of standing depth for 20s seconds. 
7. Push and glide on their front and back with arms extended and eyes looking to the floor. 
8. Log rolls from front to back and back to front. 
9. Forward rolls with chin tucked to chest.   

Stroke Development 

1. Kick 10-15 using an undulating dolphin type action, on front but experienced on back. 
2. Kick 10-15 metres on front with arms by their side, kicking from their hips using the whole leg.   
3. Swim 10-15m front crawl with arms coming out of the water and a regular breathing pattern.   
4. Swim 10-15m backstroke with arms coming out of the water with a high body position. 
5. Swim 5-10m breaststroke showing basic arm action and legs. Arms and legs to be separate with basic understanding of the stroke (No screw kicks). 

The Aquanauts Two criteria is in line with the Swim England Club Award One.

1. Use a pace clock to set off at a set interval agreed by the coach (e.g. every 5 or 10 seconds apart).
2. Perform a front float using the X, Y, and I (streamlined) positions. Hold each position for 5 seconds.
3. Perform a back float using the X, Y, and I (streamlined) positions. Hold each position for 5 seconds.
4. Demonstrate a streamlined position standing on dry land. Describe the position using the ‘top to toe’ checklist.
5. Push from a wall into a front streamlined position underwater.
6. Push from a wall into a back streamlined position underwater.
7. Give four examples of items of swimming equipment and describe their use in 
training.
8. Demonstrate how to use each of the items of equipment above.
9. Kick 25 metres front crawl with arms at side.
10. Kick 25 metres backstroke with arms at side.
11. Kick 25 metres butterfly with arms at side.
12. Kick 25 metres breaststroke with hands on a small board or arms at side.
13. Perform a sitting dive from the side of the pool.
14. Perform a back dive from a standing position in the water.
15. Swim 25 metres continuously in either front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke. 
16. Experienced Butterfly with a maximum distance covered of 12.5 metres.  

1. Complete a short set (e.g. 8 x 25 metres) on a set turnaround time (e.g. every 60 seconds). 
2. You must set off at a prescribed interval (e.g. every 5 or 10 seconds). 
3. Push off from the wall into a front streamlined position underwater (Eyes to floor) and dolphin kick for a minimum of 5 metres. 
4. Push off from the wall into a front streamlined position underwater and perform a breaststroke underwater pull out. Swimmers to be taught with a fly kick and with a fly kick in streamline and then pull and then kick or pull with fly kick then Br kick arms forward and then break surface. 
5. Push off from the wall into a back streamlined position underwater and dolphin kick for a minimum of 5 metres. 
6. Demonstrate appropriate hydration strategies over a minimum of four training sessions. 
7. Demonstrate an understanding of when and what to eat in relation to a training session. 
8. Perform the front crawl single arm drill with one arm by the side for 25 metres. 
9. Perform the backstroke single arm drill with one arm by the side for 25 metres.
10. Perform the butterfly drill, three scull then one swim for 25 metres with the swimmer understanding the feel of the water and maintaining high elbow on pull. 
11. Perform the breaststroke drill, two kicks then one pull for 25 metres. Emphasis on timing. 
12. Perform an effective approach, rotation and touch for a front crawl tumble turn. 
13. Perform an effective approach, rotation and touch for a backstroke tumble turn. 
14. Perform an effective approach, touch, rotation for a breaststroke touch turn. 
15. Perform an effective approach, touch, rotation for a butterfly touch turn. 
16. Perform a kneeling/standing dive from the poolside. – Both feet on the side no track start dives!
17. Perform a backstroke start from the wall, ideally with feet in a trough.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the four phases of the Raise, Mobilise, Activate, Prime (RMAP) warm up. Perform one exercise from each section.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of effective stretching protocols. Perform two key stretches.
3. Complete a short set (e.g. 8 x 25 metres) on a set turnaround time (e.g. every 60 seconds), using the pace clock to estimate the swim time on each repeat. Set off at a prescribed interval (e.g. every 5 or 10 seconds).
4. Push off from the wall into a front streamlined position underwater and dolphin kick for a minimum of 5 metres. Transition through the surface of the water using an alternate kick into front crawl swimming for a minimum of five strokes.
5. Push off from the wall into a front streamlined position underwater and dolphin kick for a minimum of 5 metres. Transition through the surface of the water into butterfly swimming for a minimum of five strokes.
6. Push off from the wall into a front streamlined position underwater and perform a breaststroke underwater pull out. Transition through the surface of the water into breaststroke swimming for a minimum of five strokes.
7. Push off from the wall into a back streamlined position underwater and dolphin kick for a minimum of 5 metres. Transition through the surface of the water using an alternate kick into backstroke swimming for a minimum of five strokes.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of process goals.
9. Swim 25 metres full stroke front crawl demonstrating the connectivity of rotation into limb actions, starting with the correct push off from the wall, underwater phase and transition to stroke.
10. Swim 25 metres full stroke backstroke demonstrating the connectivity of rotation into limb actions, starting with the correct push off from the wall, underwater phase and transition to stroke.
11. Swim 25 metres full stroke butterfly demonstrating the ability to resist short axis rotation to produce symmetrical limb actions, starting with the correct push off from the wall, underwater phase and transition to stroke.
12. Swim 25 metres full stroke breaststroke demonstrating the ability to resist short axis rotation to produce symmetrical limb actions, starting with the correct push off from the wall, underwater phase and transition to stroke.
13. Perform an effective push off and transition to stroke for each stroke turn.
14. Perform a standing dive (Grab/Track) from the poolside and block into a streamlined position underwater.
15. Perform a backstroke start from the wall, (ideally with feet in a trough/toes under water), into a streamlined position underwater.
16. Perform a simulated single step relay takeover action with combined arm swing on poolside.

1. Warm up using a minimum of two Raise, Mobilise or Activate exercises and one Prime exercise.
2. Perform a post swim stretching routine using a minimum of four key stretches.
3. Complete a short set (e.g. 8 x 25 metres) on a set turnaround time (e.g. every 60 
seconds), aiming to complete each repeat at a set pace (e.g. 40 seconds) to get a consistent rest (e.g. 20 seconds). Set off at a prescribed interval (e.g. every 5 or 10 seconds).
4. Set one process goal relating to improving stroke technique.
5. Swim 50 metres of each stroke (25 metres butterfly but experienced a 50m Fly swim.) demonstrating effective 
breathing and timing, starting with the correct push off from the wall, underwater 
phase and transition to stroke. 3
6. Swim 100 metres individual medley, starting with the correct push off from the wall, 
underwater phase and transition to stroke with legal touch turns. Swimmers to experience cross over turns but to pass this they can touch on the back to breast turn. 
7. Perform a legal and efficient turn on each of the four strokes from 10 metres in to 10 
metres out from the wall.
8. Perform a legal and effective sequence of movements for each of the three individual 
medley transition turns.
9. Perform a track start using a starting block.
10. Perform a backstroke start using a starting block.
11. Perform a relay takeover arm swing and step from the side of the pool into the water.
12. Perform a single step relay takeover from the side of the pool into 25 metres front 
crawl swim.

1. Warm up using a minimum of three Raise, Mobilise or Activate exercises and one Prime exercise.
2. Complete a post swim stretching routine using a minimum of six key stretches.
3. Complete a short set (e.g. 8 x 50 metres) on a set turnaround time (e.g. 90 seconds), 
aiming to swim each repeat at a set pace (e.g. 60 seconds) to get consistent rest (e.g. 30 seconds). Take a kick and stroke count on each repeat. Set off at a prescribed interval (e.g. every 5 or 10 seconds).
4. Set one process goal relating to improving a swimming skill e.g. a start, turn or finish.
5. For each stroke, swim 4 x 50 metres full stroke (4 x 25 metres butterfly), counting 
and maintaining an even underwater kick and stroke count.
6. Swim 100 metres individual medley from a track start on the starting block, 
incorporating legal and effective transition turns, starting with the correct push off 
from the wall, underwater phase and transition to stroke. Cross Over Turn is required to pass this element. 
7. Perform a legal and efficient turn on each of the four strokes at race speed from 10 
metres in to 10 metres out.
8. Perform a legal and effective push off from the wall and transition to stroke for each 
individual medley turn.
9. Following the starting procedure used in competitions, demonstrate the correct timing 
of ascent onto the starting block. Then perform a track start using a starting block demonstrating an effective set position, take off, flight, entry, underwater phase and transition to full stroke.
10. Following the starting procedure used in competitions, demonstrate the correct timing of entry into the water. Then perform a backstroke start using a starting block demonstrating an effective set position, take off, flight, entry, underwater phase and transition to full stroke.
11. Perform a legal and effective finish on each of the four strokes.
12. Perform a single step relay takeover from the starting block into 25 metres front crawl swim.
13. Perform a single step relay takeover from the starting block into 25 metres front crawl swim, taking over from an incoming swimmer.

1. Warm up using a minimum of four Raise, Mobilise, Activate exercises and one Prime exercise.
2. Perform a post swim stretching routine using a minimum of eight key stretches.
3. Complete a short set (e.g. 8 x 100 metres) on a set turnaround time (e.g. 120 seconds), 
aiming to swim each repeat at a set pace (e.g. 60 seconds) to get consistent rest (e.g. 30 seconds). Take a kick and stroke count on each repeat and determine the Stroke Efficiency Index. Set off at a prescribed interval (e.g. every 5 or 10 seconds).
4. Set one process goal relating to improving technique on individual medley turns and relay takeovers.
5. For each stroke, swim 8 x 50 metres full stroke (4 x 50 metres butterfly), maintaining underwater kick count and an even stroke count. Time each swim and determine the Stroke Efficiency Index for each. Start each with the correct push off from the wall, underwater phase and transition to stroke.
6. Swim 100 metres individual medley from a track start on the starting block incorporating legal and efficient medley transition turns at race speed.
7. Perform a legal and efficient turn from 10 metres in to 10 metres out at race speed for each of the individual medley transition turns.
8. Following the starting procedure used in competitions, perform a track start using a starting block. Demonstrate an effective set position, take off, flight, entry, underwater phase, pull out and transition to stroke into 50 metres full stroke swim (either front crawl or breaststroke) or 25 metres full stroke swim using butterfly. Perform at race speed, timed to 15 metres.
9. Following the starting procedure used in competitions, perform a backstroke start using a starting block. Demonstrate an effective set position, take off, flight, entry, underwater phase, pull out, transition to stroke into 50 metres full stroke backstroke at race speed, timed to 15 metres.
10. Perform a legal and effective finish on each of the four strokes at race speed, timed 10 to 15 metres in.
11. Perform a single step relay takeover from the starting block into 50 metres front crawl swim at simulated race speed. – Understand what race speed is..
12. Perform a single step relay takeover from the starting block into 50 metres front crawl swim taking over from an incoming swimmer at race speed.

Athlete Development Support Pathway Stage: Active for Life — focus on maintaining fitness, enjoyment, and skill through structured training.

Description

• For swimmers who no longer wish to compete but enjoy structured, purposeful training.
• Provides an inclusive, positive environment for swimmers of all levels.
• Junior and Senior swimmers separated by lane for age-appropriate training and progression.
• Suitable for: former squad swimmers transitioning away from competition; swimmers entering from other clubs or backgrounds; individuals swimming for health, enjoyment, and overall fitness
• Squad placement is determined by the Head Coach, with ongoing input and regular feedback from squad coaches.

Expectations  (Mapped to the Optimal Athlete Development Framework (OADF))

• Person: Promote positive relationships, respect, and encouragement within the squad; demonstrate behaviours in line with the Code of Conduct.
• Athlete: Maintain regular attendance, engage in purposeful training, and take ownership of personal fitness.
• Performer: Apply learned skills to improve personal swimming ability and training efficiency, even without competition goals.

Requirements

• Ability to swim multiple lengths of each stroke with legal technique.
• Comfortable participating in varied sets (aerobic, skills-based, and drills).
• No competition requirement — optional participation in fun or club events.