The Regional Squad

This is the performance squad at Pioneer 79, designed to provide an holistic approach to training and to assist the athlete find that extra edge needed to compete against other dedicated swimmers on the big stage. It was formed in June 2010 and not only has it allowed current Pioneer 79 swimmers to reach the next level of performance, but also offers the chance for other swimmers from the area to enhance their training and to progress with the group full time.

Set up by John McGinty, who quickly brought in the expertise of former Preston Swimming Club Head Coach Dave Fairhurst to guide the swimmers into the unfamiliar swim squad environment. The Regional Squad also undertakes fundamental land training sessions designed to enhance and compliment the work done in the pool. Working with Head Coach Michael Wilson, the squad carry out sessions to aid in the development of key 'athletic' characteristics such as agility, balance, co-ordination in addition to stability and injury prevention work.

Coached by
Michael Wilson

Membership Criteria 
Membership of the squad will be by athlete assessment and invitation only from our head coach.

Squad Structure 
The framework for the new squad will be based on bringing together young athletes to train and develop as a squad to prepare and compete at the following years Regional and National Championships. The squad structure is as follows:

Squad Selection
The most important criteria for the new squad selection will be "commitment" to training. This will be measured by the number of hours spent each week training in the pool and on land. Attendance at the sessions will not be enough. A record of the number of hours spent each week training in the pool will be kept by the squad coach and this will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Pioneer 79 Coaching Team. Each athlete will be required to fill in a monthly monitoring sheet. This will assess overall performance, attitude, commitment to land conditioning and improving flexibility, streamlining, turns, technique at maximum speed, stroke counting, heart rate checking, height and weight.

Squad Entry Times 
Squad entry and progress times will be produced by the Pioneer 79 Coaching Team. They will be based around the National Qualifying standards for a 25m pool. The times will primarily give the swimmers a target to achieve each year. They will be an estimation of the level of performance that would be required to cope with the training and fit into the goals of the new squad. They will be used, however, as a guide only for squad selection. Far more important will be the swimmers level of commitment to training.  

A swimmer who may not have achieved the times, but is prepared to commit themselves to the programme will be looked at favourably for squad selection. It is reasonable to assume that for a swimmer to "catch-up", they require extra training to reach the required standard set down in these guidelines. If a swimmer is prepared to make this commitment, they will be given a chance.  The squad entry times for the 11 and 12 years will based around 200m events and longer. Younger swimmers will be encouraged to perform such events. Furthermore, this gives a better indication of training ability for our younger swimmers.

A number of other criteria will also be taken into consideration including:

TRAINING
 • Quality of effort in the pool.
 • Quality of effort in the land work
 • Quality of log book recording  

ATTITUDE
• Levels of concentration 
• Levels of motivation 
• Willingness to take instruction and learn
• Levels of self discipline and self motivation 
• Commitment and support of team goals and values

TALENT
• Have the physical and technical ability to perform at the right level.

RACING 
• Competitiveness and confidence when racing
• Preparation and mental focus before a race 
• Ability to control anxiety during competition  

DESIRE 
• Overall have the real desire to "want" to achieve at the highest level 
• Willingness to compete regularly at the right level Two other situations will be at the discretion of the Pioneer 79 Coaching Team:  

FAST TRACK 
If a swimmer shows exceptional ability and is prepared to make the commitment to the training required, a swimmer may be promoted to the squad early. Following consultation with the Pioneer 79 Coaching Team, this invitation will be at the Head Coaches discretion and his word will be final.  

DELAYED ENTRY 
If it considered in the best interest of the swimmer, entry into the squad may be delayed in order for them to either demonstrate an increased commitment or for personal best times to improve to the level required. Following consultation with the Pioneer 79 Coaching Team, this invitation will be at the Head Coaches discretion and his word will be final.

Training Schedule

Session 1:
Session 2:
Session 3:
Session 4:
Session 5:
Session 6:
Session 7:
Session 8:
Session 9:

Monday AM
Monday PM
Tuesday PM
WednesdayAM
Wednesday PM
Thursday PM
Friday AM
Friday PM
Saturday AM

05:00 – 07:00 QEGS
18:00 – 19:30 QEGS
17:00 – 19:00 QEGS
05:00 – 07:00 QEGS
18:00 – 19:30 QEGS
18:00 – 19:30 HYNDBURN
05:00 – 07:00 QEGS
17:00 – 19:00 MERCER HALL
06:00 – 08:00 QEGS

Swim Training
Land Training
Swim Training
Swim Training
Swim Training
Land Training
Swim Training
Swim Training
Swim Training

Fees £55 per month – includes club membership fee and ASA registration fee.

Coaching Staff
The squad will be under the direction of our head coach Michael Wilson. We have also engaged the services of Preston’s former head coach, Dave Fairhurst to complete the ‘Regional Team’.

Personal Message from the Head Coach
There has been a fantastic amount of work going on in the background by myself and your committee to get this squad up and running. I now believe we have in place a program of teaching and coaching excellence to make Pioneer 79 the FIRST-CHOICE swimming club in the area for swimmers and coaches.  

When I arrived at Pioneer 79 in 2010 they already had an excellent teaching and coaching program, with highly motivated and highly skilled teachers and coaches in place. Through hard work and hard negotiation we now have the coaching resources and the extra pool time required to take Pioneer 79 to the next level. I would like to ask all parents to get behind and support the committee and the coaching staff who are working extremely hard for the benefit of your children, by helping the squad to evolve and so making Pioneer 79 a centre of excellence for talented athletes from all backgrounds.

Now let’s look forward to training hard and racing tough!
Regional Squad Sub-Committee

	Race Programme 2012
	Swim Programme All training times and places.
	Flow Chart Pioneer 79 ASC powerpoint group flow chart
	Log Book
	Poolside Rota