Squad Criteria

Squads are chosen according to their personal best times. These inform the coaches of how well children are doing and progressing. Swim England recognised personal best (PB) times can be gained at licensed galas.

Belper Marlin Swimming Club promotes various galas throughout the year where these can be gained including the two internal ‘Summer Sprints’ and ‘Club Championships’. In March children also are asked to swim in the time trials which are run during a normal Sunday session.

It is important to note that children can compete in internal galas at any age, however to get a recognised PB they must be nine years of age and gain it in a licensed gala.

With all this information the coaches not only move the children through the lanes but also into the different swimming sessions. In addition, they pick groups for competitive team galas such as the ‘Four Towns’, ‘Derbyshire & Notts Junior League’ and the National Arena League. These three competitions require swimmers of varying abilities and it is a real honour to be chosen for them.

When your child is swimming at a higher standard and needs to increase their number of weekly sessions, morning slots also become available. Progressing even further faster swimmers who are aiming for regional times are then invited to Loughborough to train in the 50m pool.

By offering all these sessions the club provides an environment in which your child can progress and be guided in their swimming to a county and even national level.

For further information on how to enter galas and what they are like please see the pdf documents in swimmer guidance.