Since being awarded Swim England ‘Performance Centre’ status in September 2018, the University of Surrey Scholarship and Performance Squads have trained together with Guildford City’s National Youth and Senior Squad. These combined training sessions have proven to be very successful and have facilitated the integration of elite University aged athletes into the Guildford City Club Programme. Going forwards it is anticipated that there will be a steady stream of senior athletes joining the group from all over the world. From September 2019 the existing National Youth and Senior Squad will officially be amalgamated with the University Scholarship and Performance swimmers into the newly formed National Performance Squad.
To ensure that senior athletes are training alongside like minded senior age group athletes the entry age for the National Performance Squad will be 17 years (as at 31 December 2020). This will in turn have an impact on the ages of all other squads throughout the Club. The National Age Group Squad will be re branded the National Youth Squad and will be open to swimmers aged 15 and over.
The following chart summarizes the changes for all competitive squads from September 2019:
National Performance 17+ 2003 & earlier -British Summer Championships Qualifier
National Youth 15 + 2005 & earlier -English Summer Championships Qualifier
Regional 13 to 15 2007 to 2005 -Regional Championships Qualifier
Senior Competitive Dev. A 14+ 2006 & earlier -Squad Consideration Times
Senior Competitive Dev. B 14+ 2006 & earlier -Coaches Invitation
County A 11 to 13 2009 to 2007 -Surrey County Qualifier
County B 12 to 14 2008 to 2006 -Squad Consideration Times
County C 10 to 13 2010 to 2007 -Coaches Invitation
Junior County A 9 to 11 2011 to 2009 -Coaches Invitation
Junior County B 7 to 9 2013 to 2011 -Coaches Invitation
All ages as at 31 December 2020
All members can be assured that we will continue to provide each individual a world class training programme suitable for their age and long term development. Our goal is that every swimmer reaches their full potential and that they thrive in a nurturing and competitive environment.
Further details of the Refresh can be found in the various Squad Criteria and Specifications 2019-20 on the Club’s website. Please note that swimmers who have achieved the qualifying standard and are age eligible will graduate to the next squad in September 2019. Those swimmers who are remaining in their current squad will still need to maintain the standards outlined.
Please also note, as a result of this initiative, individual squad time out ages will change for the current year: 2018 – 2019.
