Phase 1,2,3: The Junior Development Squads

What is the Junior Development Squad

Introduction

This squad is intended for swimmers who wish to:

• Improve all aspects of their swimming technique for every stroke
• Improve their competitive skills i.e. starts and turns
• Develop aspects of basic speed and endurance
• Improve their overall competitive swimming performance
• Compete in the Yorkshire Championships and other high level competitions when they are old enough to do so

Targeted competitions

• The main targetted meets for the swimmers in this squad are the Yorkshire Championships in February and March, and the Yorkshire Winter Competition in October.
• All swimmers in this squad should have aspirations to compete in these championships.
• All swimmers are expected to compete and represent Dartes in these championships where they have achieved the qualifying times and are old enough to participate

Junior Development Squad Structure

There are three distinct phases for the Junior Development Squad:

• Phase 1 - Swimmers attend one squad session per week
  • Sunday 1:45pm - 3:30pm at Adwick
  • Cost £10.00/month (by standing order, otherwise £15)
    Equivalent to £1.66/hour
  • Upper age limit: 10 years.

• Phase 2 - Swimmers progress to two squad sessions per week
  • Sunday 1:45pm - 3:30pm at Adwick
  • Friday 5:45pm - 7:15pm at St James
  • Cost £20.00/month (by standing order, otherwise £25)
    Equivalent to £1.66/hour
  • Upper age limit: 11 years

• Phase 3 - Swimmers progress to three squad sessions per week
  • Sunday 1:45pm - 3:30pm at Adwick
  • Tuesday 7:15pm - 8:45pm at St James
  • Friday 5:45pm - 7:15pm at St James
  • Cost £30.00/month (by standing order, otherwise £35)
    Equivalent to £1.66/hour
  • Upper age limit: 12 years (new starters must be 11 years or under)

Training Session Attendance

As swimmers advance through the phases of the JDS they are gradually increasing their training hours with DARTES in order to progress them and prepare them for entry into Phase 4. Therefore:

• Phase 2 swimmers are expected to attend both the phase 2 sessions available
• Phase 3 swimmers are expected to attend all three of the phase 3 sessions available

Where there are clashes between feeder club sessions and JDS sessions, swimmers are expected to attend the JDS session. Space is limited and competition for places is high within the phase 2 and 3 groups. Therefore places can only be offered to swimmers who are able to commit to attend all the sessions available to them. Movement up to Phase 4 is based on similar requirements.

How Do Swimmers Join JDS

Any swimmers wanting to join this squad must:

• Be a registered member of one of the DARTES feeder clubs
• Provide a signed recommendation form from their feeder club coach
• Provide a completed membership application form
• Attend a Sunday afternoon session for an initial assessment
• All trials / assessments are to be arranged in advance with the JDS coach
• All swimmers attending a trial must bring a signed recommendation form and completed membership application form with them

For further details or to arrange an assessment please email the Squad Coach Kevin Nicholas.

Squad Age Limits

The following age limits will apply to this squad:

• The JDS is to cater for swimmers who are 7-12 years old
• All new swimmers wishing to join this squad must be 7-11 years old
• Separate upper age limits will be applied to each phase of the JDS as follows:
  • Phase One - 10 Years
  • Phase Two - 11 Years
  • Phase Three - 12 Years
• Therefore:
  • Phase 1 swimmers are expected to progress into phase 2 by the age of 11
  • Phase 2 swimmers are expected to progress into phase 3 by the age of 12
  • Phase 3 swimmers are expected to progress into phase 4 by the age of 13
  • These also apply to any new swimmers wishing to join the squad. So any 11 year olds wishing to join the squad must be of a standard to start directly in either phase 2 or 3.
• Swimmers who reach the age of 13 that are not of a standard to progress into phase 4 will be asked to leave the squad to make way for younger swimmers coming through

This gives any 11 year old joining the squad at least 12 months to prove themselves and progress into phase 4 before they reach the cut off age of 13 years

Additional information

Swimmers participating in any of the phases of the Dartes Junior Development squad are also expected to attend their regular feeder club training sessions. JDS sessions are not an alternative to feeder club sessions, swimmers are expected to attend all those available to them.

For further details please email the squad coach Kevin Nicholas on kevin@dartes.co.uk.