PNSC Performance Pathway

Senior Performance

Squad Objectives:
  • Full time youth and senior swimmers for whom swimming is their highest priority outside of educational commitments. 
  • Swimmers whose aim is to compete at the highest level with excellent commitment to an individually agreed training programme with the Lead Coach. Swimmers will be targeting Southeast Regional Championships and the Home Nations Summer Championships.
Coach: Lee Baldwin
Land Training Coach: Tom Company
Pool Hours Available:  16 hours
Land Training Hours Available: 3 hours
Target Ages  (Based at the 31st December each year)  Male 14 years+   
Female 13 years+ 
Squad Entry Criteria Attendance:
  • Consistently attending 90-100% of training sessions in previous squad 
  • Consistently attending 90-100% of target competitions in previous squad 
  • 100% commitment to team events (National Arena League, County/Regional/National relays) 
 Performance:
  • Athletes must have achieved qualification to a minimum of one Olympic event at a Regional Championships
  • All athletes must have times recorded on British rankings (or International equivalent) for all events 
  • Proven ability and commitment to following a competitive training program (swimmers, with parental support) 
 Attitude:
  • Has demonstrated a good level of dedication to the sport and attendance in previous squads 
  • A desire to listen, learn & act upon coach feedback  
  • A high level of self-motivation to improve 
  • A positive mind set with growing ability to take personal responsibility for performances, attitude and attendance 
  • A team player – polite, supportive, caring and empathetic 
Squad Training & Competition Criteria  Attendance:
  • Athletes must attend a minimum of 7 pool sessions, to include 2 early mornings and a minimum of 1 land training session per week 
  • 100% attendance to individual key sets as identified by the Lead Coach
Performance:
  • Has a full understanding of training cycles and sessions; able to take full personal responsibility for their efforts in training sessions in line with the expectations of the Lead Coach
  • Consistently hold required times on pace work, for a range of strokes and distances
  • To improve stroke specific skills 
  • To target finals and achieve medals at Regional and/or English National Championships (long course and short course)
Attitude:
  • Takes responsibility for self-development, following the individual programme set by the Lead Coach
  • Takes personal responsibility to communicate directly with the Lead Coach or supporting coaches 
  • Expected to take holidays at appropriate times in the year so not to disrupt training into key meets
  • Swimmer-led goal setting with action plans for achievement (regular record keeping of performance against goals with regular 1:1 review with Lead coach) 
  • Follows the squad’s strength and conditioning programme 
  • Educated on and follows good nutrition & hydration
  • Continuous desire to perfect technical skills
  • Takes responsibility for injury prevention (pre-hab & stretching)
  • Adherence to the PNSC Code of Conduct at all times
Holidays/Trips:
  • Swimmers/parents are advised to plan family holidays or any residential school trips, excursions or camps during the annual shutdown period in August immediately following the National Championships. Please avoid planning holidays at Christmas unless you have access to a swimming pool and are able to train fully during this period as the county championships will be taking place in January and February. The county championships are important for gaining National Short Course qualifying times; time off over Christmas will affect swimmers’ ability to perform at the county championships. Please avoid planning holidays or school trips from March to July, as it is crucial for swimmers to be fit enough to gain qualification for British and home nation nationals during the competition window and prepare fully for national and international meets in the Summer. Swimmers who take holidays or attend school trips in July (4 days/over) will not be considered for national relay selection because this will affect their ability to prepare fully for the summer national championships and is unfair on the remaining team members. Failure to comply with the above may affect their future position in the squad
Squad Exit Criteria:
  • Unable to attain the relevant attendance, performance and attitude standards as set in the squad criteria
  • Consistently late to sessions without prior agreement
  • Training at other clubs or seeking additional coaching/technical sessions outside of the Lead Coaches planning or without their consent
Pathway:
  • Not meeting criteria – a move into either Senior Competitive, or Masters Performance if age appropriate
  • Exceeds performance levels – possibility for a move into National Squad