Coach – Alister Wrigley
Squad members are dedicated to developing their skills and advancing to the regional squad through hard work and commitment. They will be selected by the Squad Coach and Head Coach based on attitude, discipline, long term potential and gala performance. Swimmers will normally be aged between 9 -16 years and be a minimum of District Championship standard.
Squad Expectations:
- Will have total commitment to training.
- Will have all required kit and training aids.
- Will be on time for all sessions – Be ready on poolside, with all equipment, 15 minutes before the start of session for dynamic warm up exercises.
- Will communicate with their squad coach via Spond at least 30 minutes prior to a session if unable to attend.
- Will be required to do all four strokes in competition.
- Will work towards technical proficiency in stroke mechanics, starts, turns, and finishes.
- Must be able to swim 400m continuously using competition turns.
- Will compete in a minimum of 8 swimming competitions per annum, including County competitions.
- All Billingham ASC home galas plus the end of season away gala are mandatory.
- Will understand the importance of, and work towards taking responsibility and ownership of their swimming journey.
- Will be able to distinguish short- and long-term gain; will not chase instant gratification at the risk of compromising long term development and success.
- Will be a great team-mate. Committed to fostering a culture of encouragement, they will remain positive and engaged while understanding the greater value of succeeding together. They must be prepared to support others in their journeys and contribute to a positive team dynamic.
- Must be coachable—open to feedback and eager to explore new ideas in the pursuit of excellence. They should demonstrate a growth mindset, embrace continuous improvement and actively seek opportunities to learn and develop.
- Should set a good example to the younger swimmers in the club and serve as a positive role model both in and out of the pool.
Squad Objectives:
- District level success.
- To teach swimmers how to train effectively; including warm up, cool down, endurance, clock reading and lane discipline.
- To provide general mentorship and advice for competitive swimming.
- To educate swimmers on time management, healthy lifestyles and gala protocols.
- To cultivate discipline and strengthen commitment in swimmers.
Competitions:
- County and District Championships
- Open Meets
Below are the required training times for this squad and will be by invitation of the Head Coach only.
| Monday | Billingham Forum | 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm |
| Tuesday | Billingham Forum | 6.30 am – 7.30 am |
| Thursday | Billingham Forum | 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm |
| Friday | Billingham Forum | 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm |
| Saturday | Billingham Forum | 6.30 am – 8.00 am |
If necessary, a review process will take place at 3, 6 and 12 months. Reviews will take place with the coach, swimmer and parent/guardian. Membership to this squad is dependent on compliance to the respective criteria sheet. If all criteria are not met or it is deemed that the required effort is not evident, then the swimmer will be asked to forfeit their place in the squad.