The setting and introduction of any criteria for any squad, in any swimming club, will always have problems and cannot and indeed must not be set in stone; there has to be some flexibility for both the swimmers and the coaching staff.
A major advantage of having squad criteria is that everyone is aware of what is required to move and progress. Swimmers and parents should also read and adhere to the Clubs’ Code of Conduct.
Becoming a successful swimmer is a long-term process; there has never been a 10-year-old Olympic swimming champion! At Armagh City ASC the coaching team is dedicated to long-term athlete development (LTAD) and our squad progression is based on, and in-line with Swim Ireland’s recommendations; this is reflected in the swimmer pathway, squad criteria and coaching practice.
All age group swimmers will train to develop all 4 strokes and kick abilities, as these are the cornerstones to long-term athlete development and successful swimming. We aim to assess these twice a year to determine the efficiency of each swimmer. Event and stroke specialisation takes place in the Senior Squads during the transition through youth age group level swimming (12-14yrs) and into Senior level swimming (15yrs+).
Swimmers will always show preference towards certain strokes and distances but this is just a preference and is highly susceptible to change in line with technical development and physical maturation. Throughout our club we expect ALL swimmers to show respect and courtesy towards the coaches and other swimmers (a team player who is supportive of others).
Star Fish
ATHLETE CRITERIA
- Demonstrate a positive outlook, a keenness and willingness to learn,
- Develop skills and listen intently.
- Understand the basics of lane etiquette, for example: arrive on time,
- Always leave the wall at intervals set by the coach, follow the direction in which to swim, if a swimmer touches your toes, let them past etc.
SQUAD CRITERIA
- Swimmers should display a high drive to develop skills, most notably: streamlining underwater, body position, and kicking.
Dolphins
ATHLETE CRITERIA
- Demonstrate a positive outlook,
- A keenness and willingness to learn, develop skills and listen intently.
- Display good lane etiquette.
- Gain a greater understanding of the sport, lane etiquette and the terminology used by the coaches in the names of drills etc.
SQUAD CRITERIA
Swimmers should display a high drive to further develop skills:
- Streamline off all walls
- Develop regular underwater work
- Understand and apply the breakout routine for all 4 strokes and transition into the stroke, body position awareness, kicking, and legal stroke techniques.
- Attempt correct turns
- Show a desire to enter Aquasprint, club junior galas, PTL (depending on age)
Sharks
ATHLETE CRITERIA
Demonstrate a positive outlook, display good lane etiquette. Understand the terminology used by coaches in the names of drills. Should display a high drive to develop skills. Increased fitness surrounding the technical development, ensuring the swimmer has the basic foundations to meet the demands of the sport. Good attendance (aim for above 70%)
SQUAD CRITERIA
Swimmers should display a high drive to further develop skills: Streamline off all walls, Commence tumble and open turns, Develop regular underwater work, apply breakout routine in all 4 strokes, body position awareness, kicking, and legal stroke techniques.
Perform a full dive and transition into stroke across all 4 strokes Use correct turns Consistently use 3 fly kicks off every wall + 1 full stroke before breathing in front crawl and butterfly. Show a desire to enter Aquasprint, club junior galas and PTL (depending on age)
Academy
ATHLETE CRITERIA
Demonstrate a positive outlook, and display good lane etiquette. Understand the terminology used by coaches in the names of drills and take time to perform these. Have an understanding of different training speeds, easy in warmup, focus on sprint, awareness of stroke finishes. Should display a high drive to develop skills. Good attendance (aim for above 70%)
SQUAD CRITERIA
Enhanced quality technique in all 4 strokes, Develop tumble and open turns, Develop regular underwater work, breakout routine in all 4 strokes, body position awareness, kicking, legal stroke techniques. Perform a full dive and transition into stroke across all 4 strokes Use correct turns and finishes Consistently use 3 fly kicks off every wall + 1 full stroke before breathing in front crawl and butterfly. Show a desire to enter club junior galas, Aquasprint, PTL and expectation to enter events suggested by coach in Swim Ulster Future Challengers.
Development
ATHLETE CRITERIA
Demonstrate a positive outlook, and display good lane etiquette. Understand the terminology used by coaches in the names of drills and take time to perform these.
Have an understanding of different training speeds, easy in warmup, focus on sprint, awareness of stroke finishes. Should display a high drive to develop skills. Awareness of stroke efficiency, striving to improve efficiency across all four strokes. Good attendance (aim for above 75%)
SQUAD CRITERIA
High quality technique in all 4 strokes
Develop tumble and open turns
Develop regular underwater work, apply breakout routine in all 4 strokes, body position awareness, kicking, and legal stroke techniques.
Perform a full dive and transition into stroke across all 4 strokes
Use correct turns Consistently use 3 fly kicks off every wall + 1 full stroke before breathing in front crawl and butterfly. Show a desire to enter club junior galas, Aquasprint (depending on age), PTL and expectation to enter events suggested by the coach in Swim Ulster Future
Challengers or Aspiring Champions galas.
Performance
ATHLETE CRITERIA
Awareness and understanding of the set:
- aim to read through prior to the
commencement of the session. - Awareness of balance: school/other sport
commitments - take responsibility for personal time management
- A general understanding of different training
- zone intensities: easy, pace, critical speed
- Awareness and focus towards the target
qualification times for National competitions - Tactical awareness including race pacing, race
- strategies, ideal stroke rate/count
- Good attendance (aim for 80%)
- Attend additional training at the long course, swim
- ulster or cluster club sessions where possible.
SQUAD CRITERIA
High level competition. Efficient stroke, maintained technique and performance across all four strokes, starts, turns Target 100, 200, 400, 800m events Consistently use 3 fly kicks off every wall +1, strokes before breathing in front crawl and butterfly Attend inter-club, PTL and expectation to enter events suggested by coach in Swim Ulster Future Challengers or
Aspiring Champions galas. Achieve/aiming to meet Irish National qualification times (Youth & Age Group)
Senior Performance
ATHLETE CRITERIA
Ability to understand the set: read through prior to the commencement of the session.
Good personal time management skills: the ability to balance school/other sports commitments,
take responsibility for these Good understanding of different training zone intensities: pace, threshold, aerobic, anaerobic, critical speed Focused on achieving target qualification times
for National competitions, Tactical focus including race pacing, race strategies, ideal stroke rate / count Good attendance (aim for 80%) Attend additional training at the long course, swim ulster or cluster club sessions where possible.
SQUAD CRITERIA
High level competition Efficient stroke, maintained technique and performance across all four strokes, starts, turns, relay take over Consistently use 4 fly kicks off every wall +1, +2 strokes before breathing in front crawl and butterfly Attend inter-club, PTL and expectation to enter events suggested by coach in Swim Ulster Future Challengers or Aspiring Champions galas.
Achieve / aiming to meet Irish National qualification times (Youth & Senior Age Group)
Any squad moves are at the discretion of the coaches and the final decision of the Head Coach.