Starfish Squad aims to offer a smooth transition from lessons for those with basic swimming ability. The focus for Starfish swimmers will be on building confidence and a strong foundation for progressing to the four main swimming strokes.
Turtle Squad continues to consolidate the work done in Starfish Squad and helps young swimmers to build their stamina. Turtle Squad sessions focus on introducing technique, starts, turns and dives in all four swimming strokes. Swimmers may be invited to novice leagues or introductory galas and they will also be encouraged to participate in our own club time trials, which allow swimmers to gauge their progress. Swimmers are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible.
Junior Development swimmers have increased pool time and continue to work on perfecting their stroke techniques, turns and dives whilst continuing to increase their stamina. There will be more competitive swimming opportunities at this stage and coaching staff will be looking for commitment to training to ensure progression.
Development swimmers will continue to work on all areas of their technique whilst exploring longer events at competition and transitioning to training with higher squads.
Junior District Swimmers who show commitment to their swimming will be invited to incorporate land-based training into their schedule. There will be more opportunity to compete at this stage, including progressing from the Novice Leagues into the Fife Leagues. In these squads, attendance and commitment are very important to ensure aerobic fitness is maintained.
District squad is an opportunity to consolidate all previous swimming knowledge and venture into a more varied range of events and competitions. At this stage full commitment and dedication is expected to improve stamina and performance.
Preformance Squad is for those swimmers aiming to compete in higher level competitions, for example, East Districts, Scottish National Age Groups (SNAGS), National and British level competitions. Performance swimmers are aiming for inclusion in Scottish swimming camps and pathways. Attendance, positive attitude and commitment are essential.
Please note that boys must wear swimming trunks or jammers not long baggy shorts as these can hinder progress and make swimming harder due to the excess material around the legs. Girls must wear a one-piece swimsuit.
As swimmers progress through the squads, they will require various items of equipment, some of which can be purchased second-hand from our fundraising team. Having the right equipment will help them train more effectively and improve competitive performance.
The following list of basic equipment is used across InCAS squads;
You will also need a reusable water bottle to help stay hydrated during training. Please note that fizzy drinks are strictly prohibited as are any other drinks containers including plastic bottles with removable caps and glass!
Should a swimmer require any medication (e.g. inhaler), either routinely or in case of an emergency, please make sure this is brought to every training session and that the coach has been made aware of any medical conditions.
There are various types of more advanced equipment which may be used as swimmers move through the squads. Advanced training equipment;
Where possible, equipment and personal belongings should be labelled.
As mentioned earlier, some second-hand equipment and swimwear are available for sale with all funds raised going to the club. InCAS also operate a swim shop where you can order branded items like caps, hoodies and T-shirts.
Please note that electronic equipment (mobile phones, tablets etc.) are strictly prohibited for poolside. Where possible these should be left in a secure locker if required, or with a trusted spectator.