Training Update
As I assume most members are aware, we are extremely short of pool space at the evening training sessions. The decision to move to Stretford in the mornings was to allow increased lane space for diversity in set construction to enable specificity & more freedom for individuals to be challenged at faster training speeds. This has worked extremely well in a short period of time, and enabled many swimmers to have accelerated improvement. However, the evenings have become a very serious problem for a number of reasons;
- More swimmers needing access more sessions in line with LTAD guidelines and my recommendation for fast tracking.
- Limited space for specificity within groups of athletes
- Athletes with different turn round capabilities swimming in the same lanes.
Swimmers need the space to work and develop both continuously & with intervals of progressively increasing intensity. Freedom for swimmers whose development accelerates at differing rates to other team mates must be catered for on a regular basis.
This is leading to concerns about athletes’ responsibility to training discipline & more importantly health & safety considerations and our obligation to their well being.
We are continuously trying to improve our service to our members & deliver the best training environment that we can possibly develop. This because of many issues is not possible overnight and therefore the lane space issue for the moment remains. In the interim, I have had no other choice than to implement some changes to the swimmers charter to ensure safety within training.
Change to the swimmers charter
With immediate effect & in response to the above, several athlete training expectations (listed) will be implemented. They are as follows;
- Swimmers are expected to swim at the speed that other athletes are training in their lane. Turn rounds have been set that are both appropriate for the swimmer and the lane. If they are not capable they must take themselves out of the pool and excuse themselves from training. Continued removal will be looked at and a judgement made as to whether the swimmer is firstly in the right group, and secondly whether the swimmer is at the appropriate standard to be in the squad.
- Swimmers will be expected to adhere to lane rotation guidelines so that adjacent lanes are moving in the same direction to avoid collision.
- Swimmers must not stop for any reason during repeat distances. No excuse will be accepted. Fellow swimmers expect the lane to keep moving and acts accordingly at speed in many cases which is potentially very dangerous.
- Equipment must be available and in working order. Adjusting of any piece of equipment is not necessary if time and care has been taken to adjust prior to training. This includes goggles, caps, drag shorts and the obvious kit bag contents.
- Behaviour during any training session that may cause
misunderstanding of an exercise or confusion that may cause an
accident i.e.
- Talking over members of the coaching staff when delivering session expectations and sets
- Arriving late to sessions without good reason
- Stopping fellow swimmers within the lane or adjacent lanes for any reason other than instructed to by the coaching staff.
- Dropping under the water to allow overtaking during the swimming set
- Paying no attention to highly controlled activities such as speed work dived & pushed.
- Swimming full distances without standing or pushing of floors must be completed. Swimmers need to finish and push off with space and it is the responsibility of their team mates to allow this.
- Completion of skills through to transition for example turns dives & push starts at all speeds. This is extremely important to stop the swimmer following from colliding.
If these rules are not followed, the swimmer will be immediately ejected from the session and a brief communication to the family to give the reason for removal. Prolonged ignorance of these rules will result in suspension firstly and then departure from the squad back to the home squad.
I make no exceptions to the levels of athletes’ attainment in
these rules. The health and the safety of our swimmers has to be of
paramount importance. I thank you in anticipation of your
co-operation………..JP