Our Squads

Harwich, Dovercourt & Parkeston Swimming Club provides a clear development pathway from Learn to Swim through to competitive county, regional and national swimming.

Groups
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Groups+
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Development
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Potential
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Junior Performance
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Performance

Groups (Learn to Swim)

For swimmers working through Stages 2–6 of the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme. Focus on confidence, water skills and early stroke development.

Fee: £19.76 per month.

Training Times

Total: 0h 30m per week

  • 17:45 - 18:15
    Thursday
  • Group 1: Working towards Stage 2/3 in the Swim England Learn to Swim scheme. Swimmers must be confident in the water and able to swim 5 metres confidently before joining the club.
  • Group 2: Working towards Stage 3/4 in the Swim England Learn to Swim scheme. Swimmers must be able to swim 10m unaided and be confident in deep water. Swimmers will also be introduced to streamlining.
  • Group 3: Working towards Stage 5 in the Swim England Learn to Swim scheme. Swimmers should be able to swim 25m unaided. In this group we will start working towards competitive swimming drills – including diving and tumble turns.
  • Group 4: Working towards Stage 6 in the Swim England Learn to Swim scheme. Swimmers should be able to swim 50m unaided. Swimmers should be competent on frontcrawl and backstroke, with good foundations for breaststroke and butterfly. We will continue to develop diving and tumble turns, introducing competitive diving off the blocks.
  • Group 5: Working towards Stage 7 in the Swim England Learn to Swim scheme – getting swimmers ready for the Development Squad. Swimmers should be able to competently swim 50m frontcrawl and backstroke with no stopping, along with 25m legal breaststroke and a good attempt at 25m butterfly. Swimmers should understand the basics of tumble turns and be attempting these when swimming frontcrawl for more than 25m. Swimmers will learn what the flags are for and will be introduced to backstroke tumble turns.

Groups+

For swimmers at Stage 7 of the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme. Enhances technique across all four strokes and prepares for Development Squad.

Fee: £21.84 per month.

Training Times

Total: 1h 0m per week

  • 17:45 - 18:45
    Thursday
  • A transitional group between Group 5 and the Development Squad. Swimmers should be confident in all four strokes and working towards full Stage 7 proficiency.
  • Swimmers should be able to swim 50m frontcrawl and backstroke with good technique, 25m legal breaststroke, and demonstrate a developing butterfly stroke.
  • Swimmers should understand the fundamentals of competitive skills including streamlining, legal turns and finishes, and basic dive progressions.
  • Swimmers should be beginning to attempt tumble turns for frontcrawl and be aware of the purpose of backstroke flags and backstroke turn preparation.
  • This group prepares swimmers for the increased expectations of the Development Squad, focusing on technique, confidence and readiness for squad training.

Development Squad

Suitable for swimmers at Stages 8–10+. Focus on refining technique, efficiency and foundational race skills. Optional Skills Session available.

Fee: £26.00 per month.

Training Times

Up to: 2h 15m per week

  • 17:30 – 18:30
    Sunday
  • 17:30 – 18:15
    Monday
  • 18:15 - 18:45
    Thursday
    Skills Session (Optional)
  • Swimmers should have completed Stage 7 in the Learn to swim scheme. Swimmers should be able to swim a warm up of 200-400m without stopping.
  • Swimmers should be able to dive off the block and be confident in performing tumble turns at the end of each length on frontcrawl and be attempting them on backstroke. (If coming from external lessons, these skills can be taught within this squad)
  • Swimmers should be able to complete a legal 50m breaststroke and 25m butterfly and also be able to do 200m frontcrawl and backstroke.
  • Swimmers will be taught the correct turns for breaststroke, including the underwater pulldown and kick.
  • Swimmers will start learning how to use the pace clock and will start working on swimming sets off times and with rest periods.
  • Swimmers will start doing race practice during training and are expected to take part in, in house competitions – time trials, house galas and club championships.
  • Swimmers aged 9 and over will be encouraged to start taking part in open meets and league galas when selected.
  • Regular assessments will be performed and all swimmers will be expected to take part. These assessments will allow for movement between lanes/squads.
  • From here, swimmers will either move into Potential Squad or Club Squad depending on their goals for the future.

Potential Squad

Introductory competitive squad with around 5 hours of training each week. Focus on technique, skills, aerobic development and club galas.

Fee: £32.24 per month.

Training Times

Up to: 5h 30m per week

  • 17:30 – 19:00
    Sunday
  • 17:30 - 19:00
    Monday
  • 18:15 - 18:45
    Thursday
    Skills Session (Optional)
  • 18:45 - 19:45
    Thursday
  • 07:00 – 08:00
    Saturday
  • Swimmers should have completed Stage 10 in the Swim England Learn to Swim Scheme if coming from external lessons, or progressed through Development squad.
  • Swimmers should be able to complete sets with distances up to 800m with no standing or stopping.
  • Swimmers should be able to work off the pace clock, working off times and with rest periods.
  • Swimmers should demonstrate correct turns on each stroke, developing their underwater streamlining phase off the wall.
  • Swimmers are expected to attend at least two sessions a week of training. If the skills session is one of them, they are expected to stay onto the main session afterwards.
  • Swimmers are expected to take part in in-house competitions – time trials, house galas and club championships. Swimmers aged 9 and over will be encouraged to start taking part in open meets.
  • Swimmers are expected to represent the club when selected to swim in league galas.
  • Swimmers should be confident in competing in distances of 200m freestyle/backstroke/breaststroke and starting to compete at distances higher than 50m in butterfly.
  • Regular assessments will be performed and all swimmers will be expected to take part. These assessments will allow for movement between lanes/squads.
  • From here, swimmers will either move into Junior Performance Squad or Club Squad depending on their goals for the future.

Junior Performance Squad

Competitive squad preparing swimmers for county and regional qualification. Focus on race pace, advanced turns, starts and endurance development.

Fee: £35.36 per month.

Training Times

Up to: 6h 30m per week

  • 19:30 – 21:00
    Sunday
  • 19:15 - 21:00
    Monday
  • 18:15 - 18:45
    Thursday
    Skills Session (Optional)
  • 19:45 - 21:30
    Thursday
  • 07:00 – 08:00
    Saturday
  • Swimmers in this squad should be aiming for County and Regional qualifying times.
  • Swimmers are expected to arrive to training having completed a land warm up.
  • Swimmers are expected to attend at least two sessions a week of training. If the skills session is one of them, they are expected to stay onto the main session afterwards.
  • Swimmers are expected to perform regularly in open meets and to represent the club when selected in league galas.
  • Swimmers should be able to complete a set of 10 x 100m frontcrawl off a time, maintaining their pace throughout the set.
  • Swimmers should be able to complete a set of 8 x 100m IM holding form throughout the set.
  • Swimmers should be confident in competing in all strokes/distances.
  • Swimmers at all times must set a good example to the other squads, by turning up on time, listening to coaches and working to the best of their ability during sets.
  • Regular assessments will be performed and all swimmers will be expected to take part. These assessments will allow for movement between lanes/squads.
  • From here, swimmers will either move into Performance Squad or Club Squad depending on their commitment to the club, performance and goals for the future.

Performance Squad

High-level competitive squad targeting county, regional and national performance. Includes advanced conditioning, technical refinement and race development.

Fee: £44.72 per month.

Training Times

Up to: 8h 15m per week

  • 19:00 – 21:00
    Sunday
  • 19:00 - 21:00
    Monday
  • 20:00 – 21:00
    Tuesday
  • 18:15 - 18:45
    Thursday
    Skills Session (Optional)
  • 19:45 – 21:30
    Thursday
  • 07:00 – 08:00
    Saturday
  • Swimmers in this squad should be aiming for County and Regional qualifying times.
  • Swimmers are expected to arrive to training having completed a land warm up.
  • Swimmers are expected to attend at least three sessions a week of training. If the skills session is one of them, they are expected to stay onto the main session afterwards.
  • Swimmers are expected to perform regularly in open meets and to represent the club when selected in league galas.
  • Swimmers should be able to complete a set of 15 x 100m frontcrawl off a time, maintaining their pace throughout the set.
  • Swimmers should be able to complete a set of 10 x 100m IM holding form throughout the set.
  • Swimmers should be confident in competing in all strokes/distances.
  • Swimmers at all times must set a good example to the other squads, by turning up on time, listening to coaches and working to the best of their ability during sets.
  • Regular assessments will be performed and all swimmers will be expected to take part. These assessments will allow for movement between lanes/squads.
  • This is the top performance squad. Swimmers are expected to meet all of the above expectations. If a swimmer does not meet the above expectations but wishes to continue with the club, then they may be asked to move into the Club Squad or Masters (depending on age) to make space for a swimmer who would like to join Performance Squad.

Club Squad

A fitness and technique squad for swimmers of all ages who want regular training without competitive pressure.

Fee: £28.60 per month.

Training Times

Total: 4h 0m per week

  • 18:30 - 19:30
    Sunday
  • 18:15 - 19:15
    Monday
  • 18:45 - 19:45
    Thursday
  • 07:00 – 08:00
    Saturday
  • This squad is for swimmers who may not wish to compete as often as those in the performance squads or cannot commit to the criteria/expectations of the performance squads.
  • Swimmers in this squad will be focussing more on fitness than competitive swimming.
  • Swimmers in the Club Squad are still able to compete in internal galas as well as open meets but this may not be their main focus.
  • Swimmers are able to move from Club Squad to either of the performance squads (depending on age/ability). However they will need to commit to the criteria/expectations involved in the squad and be up to the standard at an assessment.

Masters

For adult swimmers of all levels focused on fitness, technique and personal goals.

Fee: £16.64 per month.

Training Times

Total: 1h 0m per week

  • 21:00 - 22:00
    Monday

    Competitive Masters

    Masters swimmers training at competitive intensity and aiming for events.

    Fee: £28.60 per month.

    Training Times

    Total: 4h 0m per week

    • 18:30 - 19:30
      Sunday
    • 21:00 - 22:00
      Monday
    • 18:45 - 19:45
      Thursday
    • 07:00 – 08:00
      Saturday