Aligned with Swim England’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) framework, the pathway places the swimmer at the centre of decision-making, recognising that progression is individual, non-linear, and influenced by skill level, personal circumstances, and age.
Ascot Royals provides two clearly defined but flexible pathways:
Movement between squads is fluid, allowing swimmers to train in the environment best suited to their current development needs.
The Development Squads form the development side of the club, offering structured coaching with a flexible approach to training and competition commitments.
Consolidating technique across all four strokes
Developing efficient starts, turns, and finishes
Introducing race skills and competition understanding
Building confidence and positive training habits
Flexible training attendance
Competition attendance encouraged but not compulsory
Emphasis on learning, enjoyment, and progression
Further technical refinement and skill consistency
Improving endurance, speed control, and race skills
Developing independence and responsibility in training and during racing
Flexible but progressive training expectations
Competition attendance encouraged based on readiness
Balanced approach alongside school and other commitments
The Competitive Squads are designed for swimmers who are ready to increase their commitment to training and competition, while continuing to develop in line with LTAD principles.
Transition from development to competitive racing
Strengthening race skills, starts, turns, and finishes
Building confidence and understanding of competition formats
Improving race performance and technical efficiency
Developing physical conditioning appropriate to age and stage
Increasing competition exposure and goal setting
Advanced race skills and performance development
Greater training consistency and race preparation
Supporting swimmers to reach their individual competitive potential
At Ascot Royals, swimmers are not locked into a single squad. Movement between Development and Competitive squads is based on:
Individual skill set and technical ability
Age and stage of development
Personal circumstances, including school and family commitments
Attitude, engagement, and readiness
This flexible approach reflects Swim England’s LTAD philosophy and ensures swimmers are always training in the environment that best supports their Passion, Progress, and Potential.
Competition is an important tool for learning and development, but it is not the sole measure of success.
Across all squads:
Competition attendance is guided and appropriate to the swimmer’s stage
Focus is placed on personal improvement and learning, not results alone
Swimmers are supported to develop confidence, resilience, and enjoyment
Ascot Royals is committed to delivering a swimmer-centred pathway aligned with Swim England’s Long-Term Athlete Development framework, ensuring:
Age-appropriate physical and technical development
Positive experiences that encourage lifelong participation
Progression that reflects individual needs rather than rigid structures
Through our Development and Competitive Squads, swimmers are supported to grow, adapt, and thrive, living our club values of Passion, Progress, and Potential at every stage of their journey.