Competitive 2

With Coach Timothy Hastie

The Competitive Programme

(Five Sessions / 8:00 Hours / £52.50 Per Month)

The second tier of the club’s squads, this is where the young swimmers learn to develop the
training habits required to succeed as a competitive swimmer. Emphasis is primarily placed
on stroke technique, while new training aims are introduced and previously learned skills
enhanced. These include the further development of basic swimming endurance through
long continuous swims or linked swims with short rests, and the development of basic
swimming speed over short distances. Additionally swimmers will learn about
sportsmanship and behaviour as a team member.

Competitive 2 –. The work undertaken consolidates the previously learned skills,
continuing the development of technique and swimming skills to a high level. There is an
increased amount of swimming endurance work, including swims at threshold level. This is
designed to enable each swimmer to gain experience of a wide range of swimming events.
Swimmers in the Competitive programme will in general be between 8 and 11/12 years of
age to fit with the long term athlete development guidelines. Swimmers are expected to
compete in all strokes, distances and Individual Medley events. Progression both within and
from the Competitive programme will be based on skill set, technique, enthusiasm,
behaviour and attendance. All squad moves will be at the discretion of the Coaching Team.

The work undertaken consolidates the previously learned skills, continuing the development of technique and swimming skills to a high level. There is an increased amount of swimming endurance work, including swims at threshold level. This is designed to enable each swimmer to gain experience of a wide range of swimming events. 

Swimmers in Competitive 2 will: 

• Practice and consolidate technique on all four competitive strokes 
• Show increased mastery of the skill of dolphin kicking off walls in training and in competition 
• Develop basic swimming endurance over increasing distances with intensity swims at threshold, while holding distance per stroke and stroke rate 
• Further develop Individual Medley swimming and the associated turning techniques 
• Be able to show mastery of all starting techniques, specifically the grab start and the track start, in addition to backstroke starts and relay “wind up” take-overs 
• Show continued use of sculling to refine “feel” for the water, and encourage correct movement patterns 
• Further develop and improve basic swimming speed over short distances
• Be introduced to an annual plan of training and competition 
• Be introduced to specific preparation for competitions e.g. race warm up and swim down 
• Be introduced to work designed to develop anaerobic capacity 
• Further develop the nutritional requirements for swimming – both for training and
  competition 
• Learn and develop the mental skills required to prepare themselves for competition and training – self awareness, goal setting, self talk and relaxation 
• Prepare for competition at SE Wales Regional level and selected open meets. The aim of these competitions is to expose the swimmers to realistic challenges and enable them to improve their swimming performance.

Competitive 2 training competencies:

• Show good lane swimming discipline; order; direction; overtaking. 
• Be able to use the pace clock for starting, resting, timing single swims and timing during sets. 
• Show correct use of equipment such as goggles, flags, snorkels, pullbuoys , kick boards and fins. 
• Maintain technique throughout a session, showing a smooth and controlled stroke 
• Show an awareness of perceived effort – steady pace; acceleration; fast finish 
• Be capable of 10 land exercises with own body weight, and undertaking a basic pre-pool dry land routine.

Promotion both within the Competitive Programme as well as from the Competitive programme will be based on a number of factors, including attendance, ability to hold skills and focus during training and competition, dedication and enthusiasm, and competition performance. Movement will be based on an individual basis, subject to the discretion of the Coaching Team.

Event Hours(5)

• Monday

  19.00 – 21.00

  Oswestry School Pool

• Tuesday

  18.00 – 19.00

  Oswestry School Pool

• Wednesday

  18.00 – 19.00

  Oswestry School Pool

• Thursday

  18.30 – 20.30

  Moreton Hall School pool

• Friday

  18.00 – 20.00

  Oswestry Leisure Centre