Swimming
Group / Squad Structure
Teaching groups are 1 to 7 (group 1 being non swimmers), after group 7 swimmers go into either Gala or Racing Squads. The club structure is aimed at providing development opportunities for all swimmers. Gala squads are for those who enjoy swimming, wish to keep fit and on occasion enter team galas. Racing squads are for those who wish to commit to swimming and compete individually as well as for the club teams. The pathway swimmers take is a joint decision between coaches, swimmer and parents/guardians. Swimmers can change pathways at a later date if agreed with the head coach.
Squad Requirements
For both Gala and Racing Squads;
All Swimmers must
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Be members of Hastings Seagull Swimming Club.
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Be registered with the ASA.
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Wear the club attire at events.
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Wear suitable attire at training sessions.
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Pay monthly fees within specified limits.
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Read and abide by the Code of Conduct.
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Be on poolside prior to the start of each session.
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Show a good attitude and have regular attandance.
Additional for Racing Squads;
Racing 1
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Attend all training sessions for the full duration that are in the Racing One Timetable below.
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Attend land training.
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Swim Club Championships.
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Be available for club gala’s.
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Enter at least 5 Open meets per year (including County, Regional, and National championships if eligible).
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Give 100% in training, or get out (this will count as a missed session).
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Notify a relevant member of coaching staff of any injuries/problems before the session starts (unless the problem occurs during the session).
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Arrive at training and be on poolside 15 minutes before the session start time to warm up before the session starts.
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In the event of injury, see a physiotherapist/or other relevant medical professional as soon as is possible, and follow any advice that they give you.
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Have a real desire to improve and compete.
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Look after themselves outside of the pool and do hidden training correctly. I.E. sleep right, eat right, drink right, and record resting heart rates each morning.
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Complete a log book.
| Monday | Land Training 18:00 - 19:00 |
Poolside warm-up 19:15 - 19:30 |
Swimming 19:30 - 21:30 |
Stretching 21:30 - 21:45 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Poolside warm-up 18:15 - 18:30 |
Swimming 18:30 - 20:30 |
Stretching 20:30 - 20:45 |
|
| Thursday | Poolside warm-up 19:15 - 19:30 |
Swimming 19:30 - 21:00 |
Stretching 21:00 - 21:15 |
|
| Friday | Poolside warm-up 17:45 - 18:00 |
Swimming 18:00 - 19:00 |
Stretching 19:00 - 19:15 |
- (in changing rooms) |
| Saturday | Poolside warm-up 07:15 - 07:30 |
Swimming 07:30 - 09:30 |
Stretching 09:30 - 09:45 |
Racing 2
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Attend all training sessions for the full duration as outlined in the Racing Two Timetable below.
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Swim Club Championships.
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Be available for club galas.
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Enter at least 4 Open meets per year (including County and Regional championships if eligible).
-
Give 100% in training.
-
In the event of injury, see a physiotherapist/or other relevant medical professional as soon as is possible, and follow any advice that they give you.
-
Have a real desire to improve and compete.
-
Look after their selves outside of the pool and do ‘hidden training’ correctly. I.E. sleep right, eat right, drink right and record resting heart rates each morning.
-
Complete a log book.
| Monday | Land Training 18:00 - 19:00 |
Poolside warm-up 19:15 - 19:30 |
Swimming 19:30 - 21:00 |
Stretching 21:00 - 21:15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Poolside warm-up 18:15 - 18:30 |
Swimming 18:30 - 20:30 |
Stretching 20:30 - 20:45 |
|
| Thursday | Poolside warm-up 18:45 - 19:00 |
Swimming 19:00 - 20:00 |
Stretching 20:00 - 20:15 |
|
| Friday | Poolside warm-up 17:45 - 18:00 |
Swimming 18:00 - 19:00 |
Stretching 19:00 - 19:15 |
- (in changing rooms) |
| Saturday | Poolside warm-up 07:15 - 07:30 |
Swimming 07:30 - 09:00 |
Stretching 09:00 - 09:15 |
Racing 3
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Swim Club Championships.
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Be available for club gala’s.
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Give 100% in training.
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Have a real desire to improve and compete.
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Look after themselves outside of the pool and do hidden training correctly. I.E. sleep right, eat right, drink right, and record resting heart rates each morning.
-
Enter at least 2 Open meets per year (including county championships if eligible).
| Monday | Poolside warm-up 18:15 - 18:30 |
Swimming 18:30 - 19:30 |
Stretching 19:30 - 19:45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Poolside warm-up 19:15 - 19:30 |
Swimming 19:30 - 20:30 |
Stretching 20:30 - 20:45 |
| Friday | Poolside warm-up 17:45 - 18:00 |
Swimming 18:00 - 19:00 |
Stretching 19:00 - 19:15 (in changing rooms) |
Racing Transition
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Swim Club Championships.
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Be available for club gala’s.
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Give 100% in training.
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Have a real desire to improve and compete.
-
Look after themselves outside of the pool and do hidden training correctly. I.E. sleep right, eat right, drink right, and record resting heart rates each morning.
-
Enter at least 2 Open meets per year (including county championships if eligible).
| Monday | Poolside warm-up 18:15 - 18:30 |
Swimming 18:30 - 19:30 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Poolside warm-up 18:15 - 18:30 |
Swimming 18:30 - 19:30 |
| Thursday | Poolside warm-up 18:45 - 19:00 |
Swimming 19:00 - 20:00 |
| Friday | Poolside warm-up 17:45 - 18:00 |
Swimming 18:00 - 19:00 |
| Saturday | Poolside warm-up 07:15 - 07:30 |
Swimming 07:30 - 09:00 |
Gala
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Give 100% in training.
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Have a real desire to improve.
-
Look after themselves outside of the pool and do hidden training correctly. I.E. sleep right, eat right and drink right.
| Monday | Poolside warm-up 18:15 - 18:30 |
Swimming 18:30 - 19:30 |
Stretching 19:30 - 19:45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Poolside warm-up 08:45 - 09:00 |
Swimming 09:00 - 10:00 |
Stretching 10:00 - 10:15 |
Note: At the discretion of the Head Coach, swimmers can be asked to move out of Racing or Gala Squads.
Training
Teaching groups 1 to 7 are taught using the ASA National Teaching Plan while the Racing Squads have an 18 month cyclical training programme based around major competitions.
The NPTS takes swimmers from Stage 1 (non-swimmers) up to Stage 7 where they will be capable swimmers able to swim all four strokes and confident in the water. At that stage they can decide whether to stay with Competitive Swimming or change to Diving, Synchronised Swimming or Water Polo. For a detailed description of these stages click here.
Land based training is held weekly for a number of racing squad swimmers.
Racing squads have weekly poolside access to a physiotherapist.
Click here for the swimming timetable.
The club has a static underwater camera (Shark-Eye) and is used by Racing Squad coaches as a technical aid. The Camera is not used all the time as it would interfere with the Squads busy training schedule. Any swimmer being recorded via the Shark Eye equipment must have a consent form signed by a parent.
Progression
The club uses the NPTS for groups 1 to 7. Each group has an assessment criteria to be achieved before a swimmer can move into the next group. Assessments are held formally every 6-8 weeks with letters being issued to those swimmers who have successfully met the required standard to move up.
Assessments of squad swimmers is undertaken by the senior coaches and criteria includes swimmers attitude to training, commitment, swimming times, endurance etc.
| GROUP 7 |
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| RACING TRANSITION | RACING SQUAD 3 | GALA |
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| RACING SQUAD 2 | |||||
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| RACING SQUAD 1 | |||||
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| MASTERS & CLUB SQUAD |
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Assessment
Assessments will be carried out approximately every ten weeks. This is carried out by the current group teacher in all seven teaching groups. Assessment guides are different for each group and the teachers have this to hand on the assessment day. This information is always available in the current register folder for reference, enabling the teachers to help swimmers work towards these criteria. If a swimmer exceeds the assessment criteria for their current group before the planned assessment date then an individual assessment may be carried out if there is a space in the planned 'move to' group. This will not happen very often, but if the teacher feels it is necessary then it will.
After every ten week assessment, all groups will be checked for spaces. Priority will be given to internal swimmers in order of ability shown against the given criteria. Then the remaining spaces will be filled by new swimmers who have been seperately assessed and put on the waiting list.
Masters
Masters swimming is swimming for adults. It encompasses the whole range of ability from casual fitness swimming to highly organised competitive swimming. It can help you if you are trying to get fit, improve your health, improve your swimming skills or compete in Masters competitions. Swimming is an ideal activity for all ages. Being non-impact, there is little strain on the joints. As an aerobic exercise, it is good for breathing and circulation.
To qualify as a 'Masters' swimmer one needs only to be over 25 years of age, but there are also a number of competitions for younger adults from the age of 18 years.
Hastings Seagull Masters swimmers are aged from 18 to 71 and consist of fitness swimmers, former club members who participate in occasional Masters Age Group Competitions and younger competitive swimmers who train in the racing groups.
Training sessions are held in Hastings at the Summerfields pool on the following days;
Mondays - 9pm to 10 pm
Thursdays - 8pm to 9pm
To find out more about Masters swimming click here.