Led jointly by Head Coaches Jan Griffiths and Steve Wadey the new Academy will bring together and place under one management team the existing squads of Tadpoles, Level 1, Level 2, Tigersharks Bronze, Tigersharks Silver, Junior County and Junior Development including all of the satellite pools at Notre Dame, Cranmore, Guildford High and St Catherine’s.
 
We will enhance and improve the excellent foundation of aquatic education that both the Academy and Junior Development have delivered in the past with the continuing emphasis being “Learn to Train” and the acquisition of competitive water skills for the very young swimmer.
 
Benefits to swimmers and their families

– Wider selection of sessions to choose from for swimmers 4 to 9 years old
– Additional sessions at the Spectrum throughout the week for younger swimmers
– Greater flexibility for session combinations
– Clear and simple pathways for swimming success
– Greater opportunities for squad promotion
– Minimizing pressure on younger swimmers
– Increase of Spectrum Junior Development programme to 45 weeks per annum

The new Academy will be divided into two distinct groups Junior Development Academy and Junior County Academy. We will continue to ensure that our specially selected ASA qualified and DBS checked teachers and coaches inspire and motivate our pupils in appropriate sized classes.

Junior Development Academy

The Junior Development Academy will be the first group that most young swimmers will be offered with the main goal of helping develop confidence in the water and to become technically proficient and legal in all four strokes. Pathways within the Junior Development Academy will run in a progressive and structured manner from the age of four years starting with weekly group half hour lessons progressing to weekly one hour sessions and more when required.

Junior County Academy

Swimmers who demonstrate commitment and the necessary skills within the Junior Development Academy will be selected to join the Junior County Academy. This group will target swimmers who it is believed have the potential to ultimately graduate to the High Performance or Competitive Development divisions of the Club. Entry into our Junior County Bronze, Silver and Gold Squads will remain by invitation only. The selection criteria shown below will be used not only to assess potential new swimmers but also for continuous assessment purposes. The criteria will be based on work ethic, commitment, potential and ability.

Please see the new Academy Specification for further details and contact Jan Griffiths if you have any queries guildfordacademy@hotmail.co.uk (01483) 839030