Phase 4: Age Group Squad

What is the Age Group Squad

Aims and Objectives

The aims of this squad are to achieve progression in real terms, year on year. All members of this squad should be committed to becoming the very best swimmer that they are capable of being. The work done in the squad should build the foundations to enable that to happen.

In other words, to provide:

• Swimmers at County level and above with the opportunity to develop their skills towards National level competition
• A structured framework to guide swimmers towards achieving the standard required to be admitted into Phase 5 within 3 years
• A complete solution for swimmers within the Training to Train stage of LTAD. With particular focus on building the Aerobic Engine.

Due to the nature of the Dartes programme, all squad members are expected to strive towards reaching their full potential and so full compliance to LTAD recommendations is expected.

Squad Structure and Progression

In Brief

Places within the Dartes programme are limited due to pool space. Currently the coaching staff feel that the upper limit for Phase 4 is just over 20 young athletes. Clearly we need to ensure that there is a steady flow of swimmers entering at 10/11 years and graduating into Phase 5 within 4 years (10/11 - 13/14). We also need to make sure that the right swimmers are getting the opportunity, which unfortunately means that others will have to miss out.

Any swimmer not making the grade required to enter Phase 5 within that 4 year cycle will return to training at their feeder club. It's not quite that straight forward, as we'll discuss below, but that's the essence.

Age Range

Due to differences in growth and maturation, girls are expected to enter Phase 4 one year earlier than boys at age 10 (11 for boys). That's an ideal scenario where the swimmer entered Phase 1 at age 7. Obviously children develop at different rates and some start swimming much later so there is some leeway. However, from the month they are accepted in Phase 4, they have a maximum of 4 years to earn a spot in Phase 5. They must however, continue to satisfy the Progression Criteria along the way to retain their place each year.

Progression

The maximum length for an athlete to remain in Phase 4 is 4 years. Their actual duration in the squad should normally be no more than 3 though! As a guide, recent graduates to Phase 5 have earned their promotion in less than 2 years.

As already stated, there needs to be a steady flow of young talent into the squad. To enable that to happen, it must be accompanied by a steady flow out of the squad too. The following table illustrates how that might happen based on the criteria described later. The demonstration below follows a typical year's intake of 12 athletes (1 per month) and shows where in the 4 year cycle they're likely to leave Phase 4.

Year	New	Carry Forward	Return to Club	Up to P5
1st	12		3	0
2nd		9	1	1
3rd		7	4	2
4th		1	1

Year 1
During the first year, a combination of required hours, qualifying requirements, and the new experience of morning training, is likely to prove too much for a few of the new intake. We would expect maybe 3 to drop out and return to their feeder clubs. It needs to be understood that the increased work load is an annual progression (addition of 1 early morning per year) and we do try to stagger any initial increase in work load throughout the first 12 months. From experience though, being lenient in year 1 is rarely helpful, it just makes a successful 2nd year much less likely.

Year 2
With the first 12 months out of the way, an extra early morning usually gets taken in a swimmer's stride. The main problem in year 2 is likely to be meeting the qualifying standards that are set. Qualifying for a single event (100m or above) at Yorkshires is often quite easy. Those only just making that grade for year 1 though, are likely to struggle to qualify for a second event. It's not expected that many swimmers will drop out during year 2, but failing to hit qualifying requirements will result in a swimmer returning to their club. Often during the 2nd year, a hard working, high achiever will earn a place in Phase 5.

Year 3
The third year should be seen as make or break year. By now firm goals should have been set and swimmers should be focused on achieving them. If realistically in the running for a spot in Phase 5, this year is where a swimmer must impress the coaching team enough to earn it, or at least be offered a few more months to prove themselves. If not in the running for Phase 5, sights should be firmly set on achieving goals at their final meet in the squad. Knowing that their Dartes experience will come to an end at a specific meet on a specific date should help a swimmer focus on getting the most out of their last few months of training. Do whatever it takes to go out with a BANG!

Year 4
No one should expect to have more than 3 years in Phase 4. Those offered a 4th year will be border line candidates for Phase 5 who probably just missed out in year 3 or those late developers who look to be heading in the right direction. They would usually have qualified for at least 3 events (100m or above) at Yorkshires and also have a solid NER qualifing time (again, 100m or above). The 4th year is solely intended for those committed to earning a spot in Phase 5.

Qualifying Criteria and Swimmer Goals

Phase 4 is all about achieving progression in real terms. Getting faster each year is expected at this age, but swimmers in this squad are expected to strive for higher placings at major meets and championships. Similarly, qualifying for a place in Phase 4 becomes tougher year on year. Squad members missing these qualifying standards are likely to return to feeder clubs to free up space for more athletes.

Swimmers may be accepted into the squad without the qualifying times, but are expected to achieve them before the Championship Entry deadline arrives. For 2010 only, those currently in the squad without these times must achieve them before the season ends in August!

Year	Qualifying Standard
1	1 Yorkshire Qualifying Time
2	2 Yorkshire Qualifying Times
3	3 Yorkshire Qualifying Times + 1 NER Qualifying Time

To avoid confusion, Qualifying Times are for Long Course Championships and events of 100m or greater (Winter Competitions do not count, nor do 50m sprints).

Training Volume Requirements

In addition to competition qualifying standards, members of Phase 4 must also comply with the minimum training volume requirements. As a training programme set up to allow swimmers to achieve their full potential as Senior athletes (17/18+), we closely follow the recommendations set out in LTAD. This provides recommended training progressions throughout a swimmer's career in terms of weekly hours and target volume.

The following table translates those guidelines into the number of sessions expected of swimmers in Phase 4. As the Dartes programme is firmly focused on swimmers achieving their full potential, these guidelines are expected to be followed consistently by all.

Age	Quantity	Example Week
10 Girls 11 Boys	8-10 hours (5-6 sessions)	4 evenings + Sat Morning 1 additional early morning
11 Girls 12 Boys	10-12 hours (6-7 sessions)	4 evenings + Sat Morning 2 additional early morning
12 Girls 13 Boys	12-14 hours (7-8 sessions)	4 evenings + Sat Morning 3 additional early morning
13 Girls 14 Boys	16 hours (9 sessions)	4 evenings + Sat Morning 4 additional early morning
Older	Individual Consideration

Swimmers in Phase 4 are expected to train full time within the Dartes programme. The training hours set out above must therefore be completed during Dartes sessions, feeder club training will not count towards this. At this level, consistency in coaching/training is of paramount importance and flitting between Dartes and feeder club tends to be detrimental to progress. It is strongly discouraged. It is highly likely that anyone not hitting these targets will lose their place in Phase 4.

In addition to pool work, everyone in Phase 4 is expected to attend 2 out of the 3 land sessions per week.