Foundation Squad Overview
The Foundation Squad is designed to help swimmers develop their skills across all competitive strokes and build a solid foundation for progression within the club. This squad is the stepping stone for swimmers aiming to refine their technique, improve fitness, and start competing at a higher level.
Monthly Fee: £40.00 (paid via Direct Debit)
Foundation Squad Criteria
- Minimum Attendance: Swimmers must attend at least 2 pool sessions per week to ensure steady progress and development.
- Required Equipment:
- Kickboard, Fins and Pull Buoy are essential for all sessions, as they are used to develop strength and technique in specific areas.
- Swimmers should bring either two 500ml water bottles or one 1L bottle to each session to maintain proper hydration during training. Staying hydrated is critical for performance and recovery.
Foundation Squad Aspirations
As part of the Foundation Squad, swimmers will work towards the following goals:
- Achieving Middlesex County Qualifying Times: Where age-appropriate, swimmers will aim to meet County Qualifying Times as a measure of their progress and competitive readiness.
- Building Swimming Fitness: Swimmers will improve their endurance, stamina, and overall physical fitness to prepare them for more intense training and competitions.
- Perfecting Starts and Turns: Emphasis will be placed on developing strong starts and efficient turns, including mastery of the underwater phase for all strokes. This skill is crucial in competitive racing.
- Refining Stroke Technique: Continued development of proper stroke mechanics for all four competitive strokes—Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly—with a focus on increasing efficiency and speed.
Competition Requirements
Swimmers in the Foundation Squad are expected to participate in competitions to gain race experience and track their progress:
- Minimum of 3 competitions per season: Swimmers must compete in at least three events each season to develop competitive skills.
- Borough of Harrow Club Championships: Participation in the club’s annual championships is mandatory, as it provides a supportive environment for swimmers to test their abilities.
Foundation Squad Objectives
The primary objectives of the Foundation Squad are to:
- Enhance Technique: Improve and refine the swimmer’s technique in all four competitive strokes, focusing on correct form, efficiency, and body position in the water.
- Develop Streamlining and Underwater Skills: Swimmers will work on mastering the streamline position and underwater kicks for each stroke, a critical aspect of competitive swimming that can significantly reduce race times.
- Master Racing Starts and Turns: Learning and perfecting racing starts and turns, including fast take-offs and smooth, quick turns, will be a major focus. These skills are essential for competitive success and will be reinforced in both training and race simulations.
- Build Mental Resilience: Through regular training and competitions, swimmers will develop the mental discipline and focus needed to perform under pressure in competitive environments.
Progression Path
Once a swimmer has demonstrated mastery of the necessary skills and met the squad’s performance benchmarks, they will be eligible to move up to the Stroke Development Squad. Progression is based on the swimmer’s technical proficiency, fitness, and readiness to handle more advanced training.
The move to Stroke Development signals that a swimmer is ready for more challenging sessions and is on track to higher-level competitive swimming.
Training Schedule
The full Squad Timetable can be viewed on the club website. Please refer to the following link for the most up-to-date schedule: Squad Timetable.
