Tonbridge Swimming Club - Competitive Squads

Tonbridge SC club structure is based on the Swim England Optimal Athlete Development Framework in tandem with the Athlete Development Support Pathway (an upgraded version of Long-term Athlete Development).  The aim of the structure is to provide swimmers with the appropriate level of training for their age and ability.

The Head Coach reserves the right to assess new swimmers prior to joining the Club and, based on their age and ability, such swimmers will be assigned an appropriate squad.  Progression through the squads will be assessed by the squad coach and by performance, with the final decision being with the Head Coach.  Swimmers are expected to take part in the annual Club Championships and time trials as this helps with monitoring progression through the squads.

As a member of TSC, swimmers are expected to attend all the necessary training sessions.  Swimmers who do not attend training on a regular basis will result in slow progression, risk their place in the squad, and prevent a swimmer from reaching their full potential.  If attendance criteria are not met, swimmers may be moved to a different squad that reflects their attendance.

Gold Development Squad                (Minimum of 4 hours training per week)

This squad is for swimmers who enjoy training and love racing.  Swimmers are beginning to work towards achieving Kent County qualifying times. They further develop their racing skills and strive to perfect their technical swim skills across all 4 strokes.  They are required to attend a minimum of 4 hours swimming per week (from the 6 hours available to them).  They are required to enter at least 3 Licensed open meets per year.  They are also expected to swim in all team league galas/meets if they are selected as they form an essential part of the league teams

Age Development Squad                  (Minimum of 6 hours training per week)

Swimmers in this squad are working towards achieving multiple Kent QTs.  This is an aspirational competitive squad.  Swimmers should always be aiming to achieve the best from themselves.  Squad members are required to attend a minimum of 6 hours training per week (from the 11 hours available to them).  They are required to enter at least 4 Licensed open meets per year as well as swim in any team league galas/meets that they are selected for.  This squad trains alongside our Regional and National Squad (NAR).

National and Regional +Squad             (Minimum of 8 hours training per week - entry is at the Head Coach’s discretion)

This is our top squad and swimmers in this squad are training to achieve Kent QTs, Regional QTs and National QTs in an increased number of events.  They should possess the ambition to achieve county, regional or national ranking positions that will qualify them for the ultimate long course racing events in the summer months (British Summer Age Group Championships or Home Nation Summer Age Group Championships).  They will also strive to achieve QTs for one of the Home Nation Winter short course national championships which are held in December each year.  Squad members are required to attend a minimum of 8 hours training per week (from the 14 hours available to them).  They are required to enter 8 Licensed Open Meets a year.  They are also expected to swim in any team league galas/meets that they are selected for.

Swimmers in both the Regional and National Squads will be constantly assessed and will be expected to:

• display the appropriate work ethic
• meet the competitive criteria
• meet the required commitment to practice at the required intensity
• take personal responsibility to perform land activity each week in their own time (under adult supervision)
• meet the attendance criteria for meets per month
• demonstrate the professional attitude required to become a top swimmer.

Swimming at this level becomes a “lifestyle” choice. Invitation into and continued membership of NAR+ Squads should be seen as a privilege and not an automatic right.  As a result of the Club’s ongoing success and the ever-increasing demand for places and pool space within our NAR+ Squad, the criteria for selection and continued access to this squad continues to be refined.  Whilst Government and Swim England guidelines are in operation the club reserves the right to change training times and criteria for attendance and entry to squads arbitrarily without restraint or reservation.

Masters and Junior Masters

(Junior Masters Age 16-18 years, Masters Age 18 + years)

Everyone within the age groups shown above are welcome to join, whether to improve your fitness, compete or wanting to swim for leisure. It is not compulsory for Junior Masters and Masters to compete and there is no pressure on the number of sessions to attend per week.  Our Junior Masters and Masters range from fitness swimming, triathletes to those competing at county, regional and national masters championships.

 Attendance Criteria – All Squads

Minimum attendance criteria are what they say they are and, as such, expectations will have to be managed at a performance level.  Swimmers are encouraged to attend as many sessions close to full attendance as possible to gain optimal advantage from the training program.  Ultimately the decision of whether a swimmer maintains their place in their squad is down to their adherence to the squad criteria over a period of time and down to the discretion of their squad's Lead Coach.

Squads