Squad Criteria
Using the Criteria
The criteria below are for guidance only and provide an overview of typical entry standards for each squad. Decisions on entry into the club or moves to a new squad are made by the coaching team, with reference to the criteria and taking into account other factors as listed below (but not limited to these).
- Ability to cope with the training needs of the new squad
- Space available in the relevant squad.
- Swimmer’s development (chronological age, physical & mental development)
- Behaviour and effort during training.
- Club age profile and gender demographics (new entries only)
Squad moves will take place 3 to 4 times a year and, whilst not impossible, it would be unusual for a swimmer to move more than once within a 6-month period. As swimmers leave to go to university or work in September this is likely to create opportunities for more moves at that time. Moves from a Plus squad to another squad or from Senior to Masters may take place at any time.
General Requirements for All Squads
Flitwick Dolphins is a competitive swimming club, and therefore all swimmers are expected to compete in events suitable for their age and ability. This means if swimmers attain the required qualifying times, they should enter the County and Regional Championships and Open Meets suggested by the squad Lead Coach, also if selected to represent the Club in Relays, Team and League events.
All swimmers are expected to demonstrate a good attitude to training by arriving on poolside in plenty of time, entering the water promptly, warming up, swimming down properly and following the instructions of the coach.
The squad criteria include the number of sessions swimmers are expected to attend for both swimming and land training. Failure to meet the minimum criteria may slow a swimmer’s progress through the squads and in some cases may mean a swimmer has to leave the squad they are in. For the Age Group Plus & Senior Plus squads there are mandatory attendance requirements. Allowance will be made for injury, illness, family holidays, school trips and other reasonable exceptions.
New Joiners
For Flippers & Junior Squads: Swimmers will be offered a trial in which the coach will assess fundamental movement and sports skills against the Swim England Learn to Swim Stages.
Swimmers from outside the club wishing to join Development, Age Group or Senior squads would normally be expected to be already established as competitive swimmers. Similarly, swimmers wishing to join the Masters’ squads should be already competing in events or demonstrate that they wish to do so.
Entry criteria for Flippers Squad
Typical age range is 8 to 11 in year of entry and will have achieved Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 7 (or equivalent).
Flippers swimmers should average more than 1.5 swim sessions per week.
Entry criteria for Junior Squad.
Typical age range 10 to 13 on 31st December of year of entry.
Swimmers will have progressed through the Flippers Squad, an equivalent squad in another club or achieved Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 9 at a Swim School.
Swimmers should be able to show good technique in all four strokes and be able to perform competitive starts and turns in all four strokes, with a pull and kick underwater on breaststroke and good streamlining on the other strokes.
Junior Squad swimmers should attend at least two swim sessions and one land session per week.
Entry criteria for Development Squad.
Typical age range 11 to 14 on 31st December of year of entry. Swimmers should have progressed through the club’s Squad structure or an equivalent structure in another club.
Swimmers should be at current county championship level or with reasonable potential to qualify for the county championships.
Development Squad swimmers are expected to do three swimming sessions and 1 land training session per week.
Entry criteria for Age Group Plus & Age Group Squad.
Typical age range 13 to 16 on 31st December of year of entry.
Swimmers should have progressed through the club’s Squad structure or an equivalent structure in another club.
Age Group Squad swimmers should be at current county level or have clear potential to develop to that level.
Age Group Squad swimmers should do a minimum of 4 swimming sessions per week (maximum 5) and 1 land training session per week.
The Age Group Plus Squad is for swimmers who are at current regional level or have clear potential to develop to that level. There may be limitations on the size of this squad in which case only swimmers viewed by the coaching team with the most potential will be invited to join or retain their place in the squad.
Age Group Plus swimmers MUST do a minimum of 5 swimming sessions and 2 land training sessions per week.
Entry criteria for Senior Plus & Senior Squad.
Typical age range 14 to 18 on December 31st of year of entry. Swimmers should have progressed through the club’s squad structure or an equivalent structure in another club.
Senior Squad swimmers should be at county level, with at least two qualifying times for the Swim England Beds Championships.
Senior Squad is a competitive swimming squad and Senior Squad swimmers should be an example to the rest of the club as to how to behave and train.
Senior Squad swimmers should continue to perform at County level or above.
Senior Squad swimmers should do a minimum of 4 swimming sessions per week (maximum 6) and 1 land training session per week (maximum 2).
Senior Plus Squad is for swimmers who have achieved an East Region Summer or Winter Championship qualifying time or be within 5 % of a qualifying time with potential to progress to that level in the opinion of the coaching team or have made a County Championship final in the previous 12 months. There may be limitations on the size of this squad in which case only swimmers viewed by the coaching team with the most potential will be invited to join or retain their place in the squad.
The Senior Plus Squad is the top performance squad in the club, and swimmers are expected to be an example to the rest of the club in terms of attendance, performance, how to behave and train.
Senior Plus swimmers should continue to perform at Regional standard.
Senior Plus swimmers MUST do a minimum of 6 swimming sessions per week and 2 land training sessions per week (if competing at a high level in another sport 1 Land training session would be acceptable).
Entry criteria for Dolphins Club Squad
Typical aged range15 to 18 on December 31st of year of entry.
This Squad is for swimmers who have progressed through the club but do not meet the criteria for the other squads or wish to do a reduced amount of training while continuing to compete at low level meets and galas. This squad is only available to swimmers who are current members of the club and is not available to new joiners. They will be able to do a maximum of 3 sessions with a squad appropriate to their level of ability. It is not a fitness squad as swimmers are expected to continue to compete and to represent the club.
Entry criteria for Masters Competitive Squad
Should be 18 or over, compete regularly in Masters’ or Senior events, be available for selection for National League and other team galas and be able to train alongside Senior squad swimmers.
Masters Club Swimmers
Should be 18 or over and they will be able to do a maximum of 3 sessions with a squad appropriate to their level of ability. They may wish to compete or to use swim training as a means of keeping fit or to complement another sport, such as triathlon.
They should be able to do all four strokes and be able to train for 1-2 hours at a time. Entry to this squad for new joiners may be limited due to the space available; in this case swimmers who wish to compete for the club would get priority.
University Squad
This squad is open to swimmers who are away at university or boarding school for much of the year but want to continue to compete for the club and to train with the club during university/school holidays. Swimmers will train with an appropriate squad for their ability and fitness.
Members Squad
This squad is for swimmers who train elsewhere but have family or historic connections with the club and wish to compete for the club. There are no sessions for this squad but on request may be allowed to train with the club on a pay per swim basis.