1. Ballymena Amateur Swimming Club
Squad Information
2015/2016

2. Meeting 24th August 2015 Staff Structure within club
Coaching Structure within club
Aquasprints
PTL
Open Galas

3. CLUB COMMITTEE BASC Open Galas PTL Aquasprints Senior Squad Club Core
Born
Club
Born
Aquasprints
Core
Born
Development
Open Galas

4. Committee Chairperson – Philip Law
Secretaries – Caitriona Lennox
Emma Wells
Membership Secretary – Anne-Marie McKillop
Treasurer – Richard O’Neill
Childrens Officer – Jenny Carroll
Kit Liason – Sharon Kennedy
There are other committee members but these are the few that you may come into contact with. Any info to go through the secretaries.

5. Coaching Staff Head Coach – Derek Beattie drkbeattie@hotmail.com
PTL Coach – Mark Skillen
AquaSprint Coach – Alice Nesbitt
Coaches – Louise McBride (Level 2)
Sharon Anderson (Level 1)
Norman Law (Level 1)
Teachers – John McCaul
Bill Lawerence
David O’Neill
Helpers – Sarah Rock
Rachel McBride
Robbie Anderson
Head Teacher – Evan McClintock

6. AQUASPRINTS
Coach - Alice Nesbitt Any swimmers born will fall into the AquaSprint category

7. AquaSprints
AquaSprints Galas are the first opportunity for the younger swimmers to swim competitively.
A total of 40 events are swum, including individual and team relays. All races are 25m only.
The AquaSprint League is divided into 4 divisions.
We have just been promoted into Division C and this season will swim against – Ballymoney, Lecale, Lurgan, Newry & Mourne and Portadown.
AquaSprint galas are held on Saturday evenings and last for about an hour and a half. There are 5 Galas a year (3 Home and 2 Away)

8. AquaSprint swimmers are divided into 2 Squads – Core and Development.
This is to enable stroke development and individual growth of swimmers as well as providing a solid team for competitions.
The AquaSprint Finals are scheduled for Friday 3rd June 2016.

9. Core Squad
The Core Squad will encourage swimmers to focus on advanced drills and skills for all strokes. In addition, the Squad programme introduces and incorporates a number of new opportunities and skills such as the introduction and understanding of training and racing terminology, goal setting, the ability to maintain a training log book and the opportunity to compete in Open Galas.
Each swimmer's attendance and attitude should reflect a commitment to excelling throughout the season and a dedication to all aspects of competitive swimming. Respect for the club, coaches and team mates alongside consistent and intense training are critical to the success of each individual in the Core Squad. Attendance and availability will be monitored closely.

10. A&B – must achieve 2 out of 4 times with solid technique, and have a good
technique across all 4 strokes
C – must achieve 3 out of 4 times with solid technique, and have good
technique across all 4 strokes with solid skills (diving and tumble turns)
There will be allocated time trials at the beginning of the season, swimmers times will be monitored and if they do not remain within the thresholds set out then they will be transferred into Development training.
GIRLS Group
Year of Birth
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Front Crawl C
2005
23.50 26 24
20.50 B
2006 25
29.50 23 A
2007 30 33
BOYS
Group
Year of Birth
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Front Crawl C
2005 25 26 24 21 B
2006
30.50 28 23 A
2007 30 35

11. Development Squad
The A Group Development Squad is based around the knowledge that “Practice makes Permanent”. The swimmers will develop their aerobic base (swimming longer distances) and learn swimming terminology. New skills that are introduced are the Individual Medley, perfect streamlines off all walls, Starts, Dives and gala participation (including Time Trials and mainly home Aquasprint Galas) It is important to ensure that efficient and correct technique is being instilled throughout our Development Squad in order to maximum their growth and progression throughout the season.
B & C Group Development Squad swimmers will focus on advanced drills and skill acquisition for all strokes, as well as continuing to develop their aerobic endurance and swimming terminology. They will learn to perform streamlines consistently, Breaststroke Pull-outs and must be able to complete a 100m Individual Medley. Other skills acquired include reading the pace clock, turns and core body strength building.

12. A – must achieve 2 out of 4 times with good technique, and have a good
understanding across all 4 strokes
There will be allocated time trials at the beginning of the season, after that coaches may time children based on development and merit of improvement throughout the year
Group
Year of Birth
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Front Crawl
A GIRLS
2007 40 50
A BOYS 44 55 45

13. Thank you for listening …. Any Questions??

14. PTL
Coach – Mark Skillen Secretary – Louise McBride Any swimmers born will fall into the PTL category

15. PTL
The Provincial Towns League is the next level of competition up from the AquaSprints Junior League.
Individual events are 50m on all strokes and 100m IM, girls and boys.  Relay events are 4 x 25m for A group and 4x50m for B,C and D.
We are currently in Division 2
Age groups for :-
A born 2005 or later (10 years and younger)
B born 2003 or 2004(11/12 years)
C born 2001 or 2002 (13/14 years)
D born 2000 or earlier (15 years and over)
The PTL Finals are scheduled for Saturday DATE 2016.

16. Club Squad
The Club Squad has been introduced for those swimmers who do not meet the full criteria (qualifying IM times) required for the Senior Squad, but are proficient to a competitive level across all four strokes and racing dives. It allows for further development of their skills and training capacity.
The training emphasis of Club Squad will be on continued fitness development and advanced swimming technique. In addition to group instruction, the coaches endeavour to give specific, individual feedback using stroke analysis and other methods to help swimmers improve. Club Squad swimmers will be expected to attend time trials (Sept, Jan & March) and are encouraged to participate in Open Galas to further their competitive experience. They may also be asked to swim in the PTL League.

17. Entry into Club Squad
Club Squad swimmers are expected to attend training regularly.
They are offered 3 training sessions per week and are required to
meet these entry times in order to remain within the competitive
environment of the club.
There is NO consideration time for entry into the club squad.
B Group
C Group
D Group
2000+
GIRLS
Tbc
BOYS

18. Senior Squad
This Squad is offered the highest level of training and represents a pursuit of excellence both in and out of the water. The Senior Squad will be offered stroke analysis and improvement - both in groups and individually, to increase their overall training capacity (Time, Distance, Effort), dry land training as well as extended pool training and development. Respect for the club, coaches and team mates along with consistent and intense training are critical to the success of each individual and ultimately the team. Swimmers are expected to maintain a high level of attendance in order to maximise their development.

19. Entry into Senior Squad
The time is based on an average IM time as stipulated by the Coach – there is a 2 second consideration time which swimmers may request to join the Senior Squad – this will be based on their training ability. However they must be within the consideration IM time in order to advance onto the Senior Squad.
Age MUST attend 2 out of 4 available sessions
Age 14+ MUST attend 3 out of 4 available sessions
Land training can only run with suitable numbers. It is important for senior squad swimmers to make an effort to attend regularly.
IM ENTRY TIME
B Group
C Group
D Group
2000+
GIRLS
108.87
95.19
85.18
BOYS
103.72
94.39
77.68

20. Senior Squad are expected to give priority to these dates
PTL GALA DATES
26th September 2015
24th October 2015
21st November 2015
23rd January 2016
20th February 2016
19th March 2016 – PTL Heats - Letterkenny
16th April 2016 – PTL Finals - Ballymena
Senior Squad are expected to give
priority to these dates

22. Thank you for listening …. Any Questions??

23. OPEN GALAS Aquasprints – Core ‘A’ , ALL B&C PTL – Club & Senior Squad
Open Gala Secretary – Louise McBride
Aquasprints – Core ‘A’ , ALL B&C
PTL – Club & Senior Squad
are able to enter where they
meet the criteria

24. Open Galas OG Secretary - Louise McBride
‘A’ Core AquaSprints, ALL B & C AquaSprints,
Club & Senior Squad
Open Galas are open to any swimmers who fall into the groups above to enter, subject to them meeting the qualifying conditions, which vary from competition to competition.
Individual swimmers are provided with the opportunity to experience competition at regional, national and even international level.
Participation promotes a sense of individual achievement and enhances the overall club profile. Participation in Open Galas requires a significant commitment to training and dedication from both swimmer and parent. 

25. Development Galas 4 each season One day gala
Usually run on a sat or sun
No QT needed
4 entries only per meet
9yrs +
£5 per entry- payable by swimmer
Swimmers with more than 3 QTs can’t enter
Medals for fastest 3 swimmers in each age group
EVENTS – 100M +
Open to all swimmers registered with a swimming club regardless of ability

26. Qualifying Galas 3 each season Run over 3 days Minimum age 9yrs
3 QTs minimum needed to enter
QTs must have been achieved in past 12 months
No max on entries but 3 bonus swims allowed if only 3 QTs achieved
Medals for fastest 3 swimmers in each age group
Full Olympic program plus 50m BC,BS,BF,100M IM,MENS 800M FS & WOMENS 1500M FS
£5 per event payable by swimmer

27. Ulster Age Groups & Youth Championships
LC 50M pool
Run over 3 days
9-16yrs GIRLS yrs BOYS
100M+ events plus relays
Can enter any event with a QT
Swimmers with more than 3 QTs can enter add 2 swims
£5 per entry payable by swimmer
Medals for fastest 3 Ulster swimmers in each age group

28. Irish Age Groups Division 1&2
LC 50M pool
Div 1 held in Dublin in July (5 days)
Div 2 held in Limerick in June(3 days)
QTS needed
Swimmers with 1 QT can enter 2 add swims
Swimmers with 2 QTs can enter 1 add swim (restricted events and only if meet consideration times)
8 euro entry fee payable by swimmer
Swimmers with Div 1 times can’t swim in Div 2 gala
Swimmers who make Div 1 times in the Div 2 gala can’t enter Div 1 gala until following season
Entry times must be obtained with electronic timing
QTs must have been achieved in last 15 months

29. Swim Ulster Festival One day event 50m events + 9yrs +
3 entries only but can also swim in relays
Usually held in June
Medals for 3 fastest swimmers in each age group
No QTs required
Swimmers with Div 2 times excluded
£5 per entry payable by swimmer

30. Club Fundraising Galas
Run throughout the year
Held by clubs to raise funds
Bangor has 3 throughout the year LC & SC
Antrim championships run by Larne & Lisburn 2 days held in spring
Ards Junior open meet- 25m events for 9yrs and under 50m for 10yrs & 11yrs also in spring
No QTs required
Entry fees paid by swimmers
Medals awarded for fastest 3 in each age group

31. Why Enter? It’s fun! Chance to get to know your teammates better
Swim for yourself
Improve your PBs
Try out different distances
Swim strokes that you don’t usually get to race in

32. Housekeeping Fees payable by swimmer
Parents must be willing to officiate if required
Entries must be in by closing date
Please provide contact info, d.o.b and fees with entry

33. Thank you for listening …. Any Questions??