Athletes Career Path
Written by John Maxwell
Age*	Level	Session Goals	Sessions per week	Competition Activities	Career Goals
	Learn to Swim			Join swimming club to	Improve strokes and
Dependant on	Stingray	Learn basic	1 to 2 sessions of	swim 25-50m events	learn race rules.
starting age.	Whales	stroke skills.	30 minutes.	some/all strokes weekly.	Make friends and have fun.
	Sharks
				Swimming 50m+ events at	Develop strokes
7 to 10	Bronze Squad	Strokes development.	3 to 4 sessions of	weekly club meets. Attend	and aerobic capacity.
		Aerobic development.	45 minutes.	external meets to	Introduce race techniques.
				broaden competition.	Make friends and have fun.
					Develop confidence.
					Develop competitive strokes
				Swimming distances up to 200m at	and aerobic capacity.
		Develop competitive strokes.	3 to 5 sessions of	weekly club meets. Attend external	Develop race techniques.
9 to 12	Silver Squad	Aerobic development.	60 minutes	meets to qualify for	District and Metropolitan
				District and Metropolitan	championship qualifying.
				championships.	Make friends and have fun.
					Develop confidence and commitment.
					Develop competitive strokes and speed,
		Competitive strokes	5 to 8 sessions of	Swimming all distances at weekly	aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
11 to 14	Junior Gold Squad	and speed development.	90 to 120 minutes	club meets. Attend external	Develop race techniques and strategies.
		Aerobic/Anaerobic	including land	meets to qualify for	Metropolitan, State, and National
		development.	training.	Metropolitan, State, and National	championship qualifying.
				championships.	Make friends and have fun.
					Develop confidence and commitment.
					Develop competitive strokes speed and
		Competitive strokes speed	8+ sessions of	Swimming all distances at weekly	power, aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
		and power development.	120 to 180 minutes	club meets. Attend external	Develop race techniques and strategies.
13 and over	Gold Squad	Aerobic/Anaerobic/power	Including land and	meets to qualify for	Metropolitan, State Open, and National
		development.	gym training.	Metropolitan, State, and National	Open championship qualifying.
				championships.	Make friends and have fun.
					Develop confidence and commitment
					and courage.
*Age is a guide only. Children will start swimming at different ages and develop at different rates.