Learn to Swim Squads
Upon joining Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club, joiners are normally allocated to our Learn to Learn Squads of Aquabears 1 and 2.
Swimmers can join the Club from 5 years upwards once they have reached Swim England level 5, after an initial assessment by one of our trained coaches. To join the club, swimmers should typically be capable of swimming a 25m length, and show some understanding of proper breathing technique. They should also be able to demonstrate an attempt at swimming breaststroke and butterfly.
Jack Donoghue, our Head Coach, currently teaches this squad. He is supported by a number of volunteer helpers, the majority of whom are parents of club swimmers or older swimmers. In addition to working poolside during training sessions, coaches also support swimmers at competitions.
As of April 2020 helpers are: Lorraine Burrows, Kieran Brevern, Charlotte Hingston
AQUABEARS 1
Expected standards to progress from Aquabears 1
Swim:
- Develop correct kick technique
- Kick 25m each stroke – with arms down by side or kickboard for breaststroke and frontcrawl
- 50m backstroke and breaststroke – to Swim England’s expected standards
- 100m frontcrawl showing an understanding of bilateral breathing – to Swim England’s expected standards
- Push from wall underwater in streamline – Front and Back
- Transition into frontcrawl and backstroke from a push and glide on top of the water
- Demonstrate streamline position – standing
- Sitting/Kneeling dive
Skills:
- To be able to do a forward roll
- To be able to do a log roll from a push and glide
- To be able to float in X, Y, I position
- To be able to do head first sculling
Other:
- Understand lane discipline and directional control
- Learn to maintain space between swimmers during chain swimming
- Understand how to overtake
- Develop a drinking habit throughout training
- Use of training aids
Total training time
1 hour water time
All swimmers should warm up for 10 minutes before each session, and stretch for 10 minutes after each session.
Equipment required:
Aquabears 1 – kickboard
Total training time
1 hour water time
All swimmers should warm up for 10 minutes before each session, and stretch for 10 minutes after each session.
Equipment required:
Aquabears 2 – kickboard and pullbuoy
AQUABEARS 2
Expected standards to progress from Aquabears 2
Reinforce all of Aquabears 1 criteria plus –
Swim:
- Kick 50m each stroke in streamline
- Complete 100m backstroke and breaststroke – To Swim England’s expected standards
- 150m frontcrawl to Swim England’s expected standards – with bilateral breathing throughout
- 25m fly – To Swim England’s expected standards
- Standing dive from poolside
- To be able to do a legal in water take over
- Push and Glide in streamline underwater into dolphin kick – On both front and back
- Sink, push and glide and rotate underwater + 5m dolphin kick – On both front and back
- Use kick sets to help develop the skill, habit and fitness
- To understand touch turns on all strokes
- – Use of the ‘Roly Poly’ drill to teach body awareness when learning tumble turns
Skills:
- To be able to do a backward roll
- To be able to log roll from floating
- To be able to feet first scull
Other:
- Understand basic rulings for each stroke, eg 2 handed touch on breaststroke
- To enter the Club’s own galas (Birthday Open & Spring Development) as well as Club Champs