Squads

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Please find details of our Junior, Age Group and Senior Squads below.  The Club Booklet 2012 also contains information on squads with more detailed information on training times, venues and fees - this booklet can be found under "Join the Club" tab, then Progressions or "Members" tab, then Parents.

Junior Programme

Tadpoles
Squads train at: Takapuna Aquatic Centre

This is the first level of competitive swim training offered within North Shore Swimming.  The Tadpoles squad is geared towards young swimmers ages 7-9 who are new to competitive swimming.  The swimmers will begin to develop fundamental skills of all four competitive strokes in a fun and encouraging environment.  Swimmers will begin to compete at Club Night, Club Champs and at Level 3 inter-club competitions.  There are two streams for this group allowing a choice of training times.

Sharks
Squads train at: Takapuna Aquatic Centre or Glen Innes YMCA

This is the second level of competitive swimming offered within North Shore.  The Sharks squad is geared for swimmers ages 8-9 who are competing at Level 3 competitions.  Swimmers are taught the base technical foundations for all four strokes, starts and basic turns in a nurturing environment.  The swimmers will enter races at Club Night, Club Champs and Level 3 inter-club competitions where they will be able to further develop the skills of starts and turns and evaluate their progress.  The goal of this squad is to qualify swimmers for Level 2 and Auckland Junior Championships.

Dolphins
Squads train at: Takapuna Aquatic Centre, Stanmore Bay or Glen Innes YMCA

This is the third level of competitive swimming offered within North Shore.  The Dolphin squad is geared towards swimmers ages 9-10 who are at the Level 3 stage, and those accelerated 8 & Under swimmers who have achieved Auckland Junior qualifying standards.  Swimmers continue to master the technical foundations for all four strokes with new technical milestones introduced, as well as well as more advanced starts and turns.  Swimmers will compete at Club Nights, Club Champs and Level 3 competitions.  The goal of this squad is to qualify swimmers for Level 2, Auckland Juniors and NZ Juniors. 

Kingfish
Squads train at: Takapuna Aquatic Centre or Glen Innes YMCA

The Kingfish squad is also the third level of competitive swimming, and is geared towards swimmers aged 11-13 who are working at the Level 3 level.  The swimmers could be as old as 16.  Continuing on from Dolphins, Kingfish focuses on developing more advanced stroke techniques and start developing the different energy systems of the body.  The workload steps up as swimmers begin to train for longer distances races, as well as beginning to understand race strategies.  Swimmers will compete at Club Nights, Club Champs and Level 3 competitions.  The goal of the Kingfish squad is to qualify swimmers for Level 2. 

Orcas
Squads train at: Takapuna Aquatic Centre, Stanmore Bay or Glen Innes YMCA

This is the fourth level of competitive swimming offered by North Shore, and is for swimmers ages 9-10 who have either a Level 2 and/or NZ Junior qualifying time.  The Orcas squad is for swimmers who are becoming committed to swimming and are in the beginning of the performance stream.  Swimmers begin to learn the fundamentals of how to train, how to set goals, and are now competent at all four strokes.  Swimmers will compete at Club Night, Club Champs, Level 2 and represent North Shore at Auckland Junior Champs and NZ Junior Nationals.  The goal of this squad is to achieve Level 1 and/or NZ Junior time standards in the next age bracket.  They are expected to attend at least 75% of their schedule training sessions.

 

NSS Age Group Programme

The NSS Age Group programme is for all swimmers in the age 13-18 yrs age band. This corresponds with the Swimming NZ age group banding, and that of Swimming Australia.

The NSS programme will be a series of progressive squads determined by maturity and ability. The oldest group will be performance based with entry criteria. Progressions through the rest of the programme will be a combination of performance, commitment, coach recommendation and physical/biological maturation. This will enable the club to continue it’s philosophy of creating pathways for all swimmers in the Age Group programme.

There will also be a transition squad, for ages 11-12, where some swimmers will learn to adapt to age group training and expectation.

For 2012 the Age Group programme is as follows:

Hannah McLean Squad

1. Swimmers must achieve an Auckland swimming Level 2 qualifying time to be eligible to enter the Hannah Mclean squad, which is a transition between junior swimming and Age group swimming. This squad is designed for such swimmers between the ages of 11-12. The Head Junior Coach will select swimmers who they feel may be ready to join this squad.

2. Swimmers may move from Orca to the Hannah Mclean squad during the year, via a target squad. Selection for the target squad will be based on a combination of age, performance, commitment and coachability (maturity).

The Cameron Gibson Age Group Squad

1. Swimmers will enter into the Cameron Gibson squad from the age of 12, once they have competed at their last junior championship.

2. Swimmers younger than this age may be considered depending on Biological maturation.

3. Swimmers will have the opportunity to train either 6 or 7 sessions per week, depending on the group they in within the Cameron Gibson squad. Progression through the groups will require the swimmers to swim in target groups until they are fully ready to progress. They will be expected to be training at the maximum level of commitment in their current group before permanent movement can be considered.

The Dean Kent Age Group Squad

1. Swimmers aged 14 and older must achieve a time within 3% of NAGs qualification in at least 1 Olympic event (LC or SC), or within 1% for non-Olympic events for selection to the Dean Kent squad  for 2012/13.

2. Swimmers under the age of 14 must achieve a time within 1% of NAGs qualifying in an Olympic event to be eligible for selection into the Dean Kent squad.

3. Swimmers must have shown a consistent commitment to attendance to their current squad (80%) to be eligible for selection to the Dean Kent squad.

4. Swimmers must also attend a selection interview with the squad coach whose decision will be final.

5. Swimmers in the Dean Kent squad will be expected to commit to NAGs, National SC, NZ Opens and all Auckland Championships, qualification permitting.

6. Swimmers will be expected to maintain high attendance and an excellent commitment to training. Individual evaluations will be held by the coaching staff in the age group programme every 6 weeks. Swimmers in the Dean kent squad not making the minimum commitment without reason will risk losing their place in the squad. Swimmers are expected to attend a minimum 7 out of 8 sessions per week. Any swimmer under the age of 14 who has been fast tracked into the squad will be expected to attend a minimum of 6 out of 8 sessions weekly.

The current performance criteria will be used for initial selection of swimmers in March 2012. As the year progresses the criteria may be tightened to a percentage time closer to the NAGs qualifying standard. NSS will publish any changes.

Dean Kent Target Squad

Swimmers who achieve the performance criteria for the Dean Kent squad when they are part of the Cameron Gibson squad will be given the opportunity to train in a target squad, on a weekly basis. Their progress will be monitored by the squad coaches from both squads. Inclusion in the target squad is dependent on training commitment as well as performance. Swimmers must attend the target session as an extra training session, not a replacement to their normal squad training. Permanent promotion to the Dean Kent squad will only be agreed when the coaches feel the swimmer has consistently met the training requirements for a sustained period.

 

NSS Senior Programme

The NSS senior programme is continually evolving. The ultimate objective will be to include swimmers from 18 yrs and older, from the time they have swum their last eligible age group championship. The senior programme will include youth swimmers from the age of 18-20, that transition period between youth and senior (20+).

The senior programme will be performance based, and ultimately will require qualification to national championships for entry into the programme. Over the next three years the youngest age for entry into the senior programme will continue to rise up to 18 years by approximately 2014/2015.

For 2012 the Senior programme is as follows:

 The Moss Burmester Senior Squad

1. Swimmers must be 15 years or older on 1^st April 2012 to be considered for selection into The Moss Burmester Squad.

2. In 2012 there is no performance criteria for entry into the squad, but the squad will be run as two groups, performance and non-performance. Entry into the performance group will be dependent on commitment based on 90% attendance, and training performance. This will be established after an initial 4 week trial period open to all squad members. Reassessment of groups will be on a 6 weekly basis thereafter. Swimmers can move both ways, in and out of the performance group.

3. From 2013 the criteria for entry into the Moss Burmester squad will include NAGs qualification.

4. Swimmers in the performance group will be expected to commit to NAGs, National SC, NZ Opens and all Auckland Championships, qualification permitting.

At this stage NSS plan to raise the age for entry into the senior programme to 17years as of 1st April 2013 as part of our policy for developing a full Youth / senior programme. Swimmers already in the programme will remain there, dependent on fulfilling performance criteria.

The Gary Hurring Senior Squad

1. Swimmers must achieve 700 Fina points (current recommended Fina points table) at most recent designated qualifying meet.

2. Swimmers currently in Gary Hurring squad must maintain 700 points standard.

3. Swimmers must complete and sign an application form agreeing to the training and performance expectations of Senior A squad.

4. Swimmers whose applications are provisionally accepted must also attend a selection interview with the Head Coach, whose decision will be final.

5. Swimmers in the Gary Hurring squad will be expected to commit to NAGs, National SC, NZ Opens and all Auckland Championships, qualification permitting.

6. Swimmers under the age of 15 will only be considered for selection into the Gary Hurring squad on achieving 800 fina points.