SWIM NATIONAL SQUAD PROGRAMME Selection Policy: 2018/19 season SWIMMING & PARA SWIMMING

1. INTRODUCTION AND SELECTION PROCESS 1.1. This document outlines the selection policy for the Swim Wales National Squad Programme 2018/19. This includes selection to the Swim Wales National Senior Elite, National Elite Development, National Youth Development and National Skills Academy squads. 1.2. Selection to each tier of the Swim Wales National Squad programme will be based on eligibility to and achievement of the respective criteria for each squad as laid out in sections 3 to 6 of this document. 1.3. Final selection to the National Squad Programme will be made by the Swim Wales National Performance Director in line with this policy. The National Performance Director does however reserve the right not to select an athlete if there is significant evidence of: 1.3.1. A lack of adherence to their home training programme, including unsatisfactory attendance (unless due to injury or illness or other reasonable circumstances) or an unsatisfactory disciplinary record as evidenced by the home club head coach and club committee. 1.3.2. A lack of adherence to the Swim Wales National Squad programme during the 2017/18 season, including unsatisfactory attendance (unless due to injury or illness or other reasonable circumstances) or an unsatisfactory disciplinary record as evidenced by the Swim Wales disciplinary procedure.

2. DISCRETIONARY SELECTIONS The delivery of success at international level is both a difficult and highly complex process. Swim Wales has therefore taken the view that it is important that all swimmers who demonstrate the capability to achieve this receive the support they require. It is recognised that some circumstances will inevitably arise whereby it is necessary for the National Performance Director to place a swimmer within the appropriate level of the National Programme according to their developmental need, not necessarily their chronological age or current performance level. This may include swimmers being offered National Squad positions which are either above or below that of which they have achieved performance criteria. It may also include swimmers being selected for squads without achieving the performance criteria. This is designed to allow a

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measure of professional judgement towards assessing swimmer potential. When acting in these discretionary situations, the following will be reviewed:  Past, current and planned level of training, including the daily training environment and injury/illness  Performance profile  Current level of support verses the required level of support  Percentage away from performance criteria  Chronological, developmental and training age of the swimmer  Commitment, attitude and work ethic

3. SWIM WALES NATIONAL SENIOR ELITE SQUAD 3.1. Introduction The National Senior Elite squad aims to support athletes possessing genuine potential to:

 Graduate (or re-graduate) onto the WCP within a 2-3 year period  Represent GB at the Olympic/Paralympic Games, World or European Championships  Win a Commonwealth Games Medal in 2022

Athletes selected for this squad will be eligible (but not entitled) to receive coaching support, financial assistance for training and competition costs, access to international competition and training opportunities, and sports science and medicine support either at the Wales National Pool in Swansea or the Cardiff International Pool.

3.2. Selection Criteria  Swimmers must equal or better the published performance criteria (see table 1 for swimming and Appendix A for Para Swimming) in at least 1 Olympic / Paralympic event to be considered for selection. Please note, new individual Olympic events, including the male 800m Freestyle and Female 1500m freestyle, will not be considered in the selection process for the 2018/19 season.  Swimmers must exhibit a rising performance profile (or at the very least a stable performance profile at sufficient standard) to be eligible for selection.  Selections will be made from performances at all accredited long course meets from January 1st to August 10th 2018. Overseas Long Course Meets over the same period may be considered at the discretion of the National Performance Director.  Selections will be announced before the 10th September 2018.  Split times from relays will not be considered for selection.  Only swimmers eligible and committing to represent Wales will be considered for selection.

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Table 1: Swimming performance criteria: National Senior Elite Squad 2018/19

Event Male Female 00:22.50 00:25.40 50m Freestyle 00:49.60 00:55.30 100m Freestyle 01:49.50 1:59.90 200m Freestyle 03:52.80 04:14.10 400m Freestyle 08:40.90 800m Freestyle 15:25.30 1500m Freestyle 00:55.10 01:01.50 100m Backstroke 02:00.00 02:12.60 200m Backstroke 01:01.50 01:08.70 100m Breaststroke 02:13.80 02:28.30 200m Breaststroke 00:53.20 00:59.50 100m Butterfly 01:59.70 02:11.60 200m Butterfly 02:02.30 02:15.20 200m IM 04:21.50 04:45.70 400m IM

3.3 Selection conditions

 Non-British Swimming WCP swimmers will be required to attend all scheduled National Senior Elite Squad training camps and competitions. British Swimming WCP swimmers will be invited to all National Senior Elite training and competition camps, however attendance requirement will be determined through communication with British Swimming and the relevant home coach.  Selected swimmers must undergo an annual review with their home coach prior to acceptance onto the National Senior Elite squad; and submit agreed outcome goals, competition goals and process goals with a training and competition programme to support the achievement of these.  Swimmers will be expected to sign an athlete agreement that includes their adherence to a code of conduct and outlines the expectation of them as an athlete on a support programme.

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4. SWIM WALES ELITE DEVELOPMENT SQUADS 1 AND 2

4.1 Introduction

The National Elite Development squads aim to support athletes whose performances indicate that they have realistic capabilities of progressing to the National Senior Elite squad or British Swimming Podium Potential programme within 1-3 years.

Athletes selected for these squads will be eligible (but not entitled) to receive coaching support, financial assistance for training and competition costs, access to international competition and training opportunities, and sports science and medicine support either at the Wales National Pool in Swansea or the Cardiff International Pool.

4.2 Selection Criteria

 Males aged 15-20 years and Females aged 14-19 years (age as of 31st December 2018) will be eligible for selection.  Swimmers must equal or better the published performance criteria (see table 2 for swimming and Appendix A for Para Swimming) in at least 1 Olympic/Paralympic event to be considered for selection. Please note, new individual Olympic events, including the male 800m Freestyle and Female 1500m freestyle, will not be considered in the selection process for the 2018/19 season.  Swimmers must exhibit a rising performance profile (or at the very least a stable performance profile at sufficient standard) to be eligible for selection.  Selections will be made from performances at all accredited long course meets from January 1st to August 10th 2018. Overseas Long Course Meets over the same period may be considered at the discretion of the National Performance Director.  Selections will be announced before the 10th September 2017.  Split times from relays will not be considered for selection.  Only swimmers eligible and committing to represent Wales will be considered for selection.

4.3 Selection Conditions

 Selected swimmers will be required to attend all scheduled National Elite Development Squad training camps and competitions.  Selected swimmers must undergo an annual review with their coach prior to acceptance onto the National Elite Development squad; and submit agreed outcome goals, competition goals and process goals with a training and competition programme to support the achievement of these.  Swimmers will be expected to sign an athlete agreement that includes their adherence to a code of conduct and outlines the expectation of them as an athlete on a support programme.

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Table 2: Swimming performance criteria: National Elite Development Squads 2018/19

Elite Development 1 Elite Development 2 Male Female Male Female Male Female (15-18 (14-17 (19 years) (18 years) (20 years) (19 years) Event years) years) 00:23.15 00:26.08 00:22.93 00:25.83 00:22.71 00:25.58 50m Freestyle 00:51.01 00:56.90 00:50.53 00:56.36 00:50.04 00:55.83 100m Freestyle 01:52.69 02:03.46 01:51.63 02:02.29 01:50.56 02:01.13 200m Freestyle 03:59.56 04:21.46 03:57.30 04:18.99 03:55.04 04:16.53 400m Freestyle 08:56.02 08:50.96 08:45.91 800m Freestyle 15:43.26 15:34.27 1500m Freestyle 15:52.24 00:56.68 01:03.27 00:56.14 01:02.67 00:55.61 01:02.08 100m Backstroke 02:03.49 02:16.39 02:02.32 02:15.10 02:01.16 02:13.82 200m Backstroke 01:03.21 01:10.63 01:02.61 01:09.96 01:02.02 01:09.30 100m Breaststroke 200m 02:17.69 02:32.59 02:16.40 02:31.15 02:15.10 02:29.71 Breaststroke 00:54.74 01:01.16 00:54.22 01:00.59 00:53.71 01:00.01 100m Butterfly 02:03.10 02:15.34 02:01.94 02:14.06 02:00.78 02:12.79 200m Butterfly 02:05.84 02:19.11 02:04.66 02:17.80 02:03.47 02:16.49 200m IM 04:29.04 04:53.97 04:26.50 04:51.20 04:23.96 04:48.42 400m IM

5. SWIM WALES NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

5.1 Introduction

The National Youth Development squad aims to provide positive training and competition opportunities related to the long term development of Welsh youth swimmers towards senior international success. The National Youth Development squad supports the identification and development of swimmers who show potential to progress through the Swim Wales National squad pathway.

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5.2 Selection Criteria

 Males aged 15-18 years and females aged 14-17 years (age as of 31st December 2018) will be considered for selection.  Swimmers ranked in the top 12 in Great Britain per individual age group (males 15-18 years, females 14-17 years) will be considered for selection. Selections will be based on official 2018 British Swimming Long Course ranking lists as of the 10th August 2018.  Para-swimmers must equal or better the respective performance criteria shown in Appendix A.  Only Olympic/Paralympic events will be considered in the selection process. Please note, new individual Olympic events, including the male 800m Freestyle and Female 1500m freestyle, will not be considered in the selection process for the 2018/19 season.  Selections will be made from performances at all accredited long course meets from January 1st to August 10th 2018. Overseas Long Course Meets over the same period may be considered at the discretion of the National Performance manager.  Selections will be announced before the 10th September 2017.  Split times from relays will not be considered for selection.  Only swimmers eligible and committing to represent Wales will be considered for selection.

5.3 Selection Conditions

 Selected swimmers will be required to attend all scheduled National Youth Development Squad training camps and competitions.  Selected swimmers must undergo an annual review with their coach prior to acceptance onto the National Youth Development squad; and submit agreed outcome goals, competition goals and process goals with a training and competition programme to support the achievement of these.  Swimmers will be expected to sign an athlete agreement that includes their adherence to a code of conduct and outlines the expectation of them as an athlete on a support programme.

6. SWIM WALES NATIONAL SKILLS ACADEMY

6.1 Introduction

The National Skills Academy aims to provide a Swim Wales led development pathway for talented young Welsh swimmers and coaches in relation to key race skills and stroke technique. This is very much a coach and swimmer education programme designed to develop both swimmers and coaches in the technical areas of competitive swimming.

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6.2 Selection criteria

 Males aged 13-14 years and females aged 12-13 years (age as of 31st December 2018) will be considered for selection.  Swimmers ranked in the top 3 in Wales per individual age group (males 13 and 14 years, females 12 and 13 years) in a minimum of one Olympic event will be considered for selection. Please note, new individual Olympic events, including the male 800m Freestyle and Female 1500m freestyle, will not be considered in the selection process for the 2018/19 season.  Selection of Para-swimmers to the Para Skills Academy will be at the complete discretion of the Swim Wales Para-swimming manager, and will be based on current performance level, potential to improve, technical and tactical ability and work ethic.  Selections will be based on official 2018 British Swimming ranking lists as of the 10th August 2018.  Selections will be made from performances at all accredited long course meets from January 1st to August 10th 2018.  Selections will be announced before the 10th September 2018.  Split times from relays will not be considered for selection.  Only Swim Wales registered swimmers will be considered for selection.

6.3 Selection Conditions

 Following the initial National Skills Academy training camp in September/October 2017, swimmers will only be selected for subsequent camps if they are deemed to have met the following conditions:  Exhibited good levels of work ethic, behaviours and listening/learning skills during the previous camp.  Exhibited a committed focus to technical improvements (stroke technique and race skills) during and between camps.  Exhibited a continued full commitment to their home programme.

APPENDIX A: PARA SWIMMING PERFORMANCE CRITERIA (IPC POINTS)

Youth Development Elite Elite Senior Elite Development 1 Development 2 Classification Male 15-16 yrs. Male 17-18 yrs. Male 15-18 yrs. Male 19-20 yrs. open Female 14-15 yrs. Female 16-17 yrs. Female 14-17 yrs. Female 18-19 yrs. S1-S4 471 529 587 616 645 S5-S7 542 609 676 709 743 S8-S10 590 663 736 772 809 S11-S13 484 544 604 634 664 S14 616 692 768 806 844

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