Swimming NSW State Squads

Support of podium categorised athletes is targeted at helping NSW swimmers gain National team selection, as well as achieving performance success at the international level or at senior benchmark events.

SNSW will provide resources (including the potential of funding) to assist NSW categorised swimmers with training or competition plans deemed to enhance potential success at the elite level. Athletes must submit an Individual Athlete Performance Plan (IAPP) when requesting financial or performance service support.

NSW athletes within categories 1, 2 or 3 (i.e. podium, podium ready or podium potential) on the current Swimming Australia Athlete Categorisation Olympic Program list are eligible. Athletes will be supported for as long as they are categorised by Swimming Australia.

The State and National Talent Program is now known as Swimming Australia’s ‘Flippers’ Program. The objective of this program is to prepare Australia’s next generation of swimmers for National team selection and senior performance excellence. The program will feature a combination of activities delivered by each State and Nationally, aiming to assist promising athletes to successfully transition to the pinnacle of swimming in Australia - the Dolphins Swim Team.

Athletes who swim a 2021/22 SNSW Flippers Squad qualifying time in a Final at one of the following selection meets:

• 2021 Australian Age Championships (7-12 April 2021);
• 2021 Australian Swimming Championships (14-18 April 2021) and/or;
• 2021 Australian Swimming Trials (12-17 June 2021)

For Timed-Finals, athletes must swim the squad qualifying time and be placed in the Top 8.

Athletes’ age as at the age swum at the meet. Consideration may be made for athletes who age up during a meet or between selection meets.

Please note: Due to the uncertainty of events taking place during this period, squad selection may also be considered from performances in Finals at:

• 2020/21 SNSW Senior State Age Championships (12-17 December 2020)
• 2021 SNSW Country Championships (19-21 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Senior Metropolitan Championships (27-28 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW State Open Championships (18-21 March 2021)

The Swimming NSW Performance Squad is designed to support identified and excelling NSW athletes with the potential for Australian Junior or Senior Swim Team selection within the 2024 Olympic cycle and beyond.

Athletes who swim a 2021/22 SNSW Performance Squad qualifying time in a Final at one of the following selection meets:

• 2021 Australian Age Championships (7-12 April 2021);
• 2021 Australian Swimming Championships (14-18 April 2021) and/or;
• 2021 Australian Swimming Trials (12-17 June 2021)

For Timed-Finals, swimmers must swim the squad qualifying time and be placed in the Top 8

Athletes’ age as at the age swum at the meet. Consideration may be made for athletes who age up during a meet or between selection meets.

Please note: Due to the uncertainty of events taking place during this period, selection into this Squad may also be considered from performances in Finals at:

• 2020/21 SNSW Senior State Age Championships (12-17 December 2020)
• 2021 SNSW Country Championships (19-21 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Senior Metropolitan Championships (27-28 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW State Open Championships (18-21 March 2021)

The maximum number for the SNSW Performance Squad is 40 athletes. Should there be more athletes eligible than the maximum number, athletes will be ranked by percentage closest to the squad qualifying time.           

The SNSW Open Water Performance Squad recognises the best National level open water swimmers in NSW. Support is provided to this group with the aim of selection onto the Australian Swim Team. The squad provides an opportunity for athletes to come together as a group to train and compete specifically for open water swimming.

Athletes aged 16 years and over who swim at the 2021 Australian Open Water Championships (29-31 January 2021) and attain the following results (excluding visitors):

Priority 1:

• Top 10 placing in 10km Open event
• Top 5 placing in 5km Open event
• Male and female 18-19-year-old age group: 1st – 5th placing in the 10km in the combined Age group
• Male and female 16-17-year-old age group: 1st – 5th placing in the 7.5km in the combined Age group

Priority 2:

• Male and female 18-19-year-old age group: 1st – 5th placing in the 5km in the combined Age group
• Male and female 16-17-year-old age group: 1st – 5th placing in the 5km in the combined Age group

The Swimming NSW Sharks Squad is designed to identify emerging age group swimmers. The Pathway Program aims to support swimmers and coaches in the Sharks Squad to:

• develop technical skills
• gain racing experience through quality age-group competition
• develop holistically as an athlete and a person

Pool criteria

Male swimmers 14-17 years and female swimmers 13-16 years who swim a 2021/22 SNSW Sharks Squad qualifying time in a Final at one of the following selection meets:

• 2021 Australian Age Championships (7-12 April 2021) and/or;
• 2021 Australian Swimming Championships (14-18 April 2021)

For Timed-Finals, swimmers must swim the squad qualifying time and be placed in the Top 8.

Age as at the first day of the 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships (7 April 2020).

Please note: Due to the uncertainty of events taking place during this period, selection into this Squad may also be considered from performances in Finals at:

• 2020/21 SNSW Senior State Age Championships (12-17 December 2020)
• 2021 SNSW Country Championships (19-21 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Senior Metropolitan Championships (27-28 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW State Open Championships (18-21 March 2021)

Open Water criteria

Females & Males aged 14-15yrs: Medallist in the 5km Age events at the Australian Open Water Championships (excluding visitors).

The maximum number for the SNSW Sharks Squad is 40 athletes. Should there be more athletes eligible than the maximum number, athletes will be ranked by percentage closest to the squad qualifying time.         

The SNSW Junior Achievement program is designed to recognise the achievements of young competitive swimmers across NSW.  With this recognition, we hope to further encourage swimmers to continue their competitive development in the sport.

Female swimmers under 13 years or male swimmers under 14 years who swim a 2021 Australian Age Championships qualifying time at one of the following meets:

• 2020/21 SNSW Junior Metropolitan Championships (28-29 November 2020)
• 2020/21 SNSW Senior State Age Championships (12-17 December 2020)
• 2021 SNSW Country Championships (19-21 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Senior Metropolitan Championships (27-28 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Junior State Age Championships (27-28 March 2021)

The Swimming NSW Paralympic Pathway provides encouragement and support to para swimmers with the potential to make the Australian Paralympic Team. There are three tiers to this pathway: Swimming Australia Podium Categorised Para Athletes, Para Potential Squad and Para Development Squad

Support of podium categorised Para athletes is targeted at helping NSW Para swimmers gain National team selection, as well as achieving performance success at the international level or at senior benchmark events.

SNSW will provide resources (including the potential of funding) to assist NSW Para categorised swimmers with training or competition plans that are deemed to enhance potential success at the elite level. Athletes must submit an Individual Athlete Performance Plan (IAPP) when requesting financial or performance service support.

NSW Para athletes within categories 1, 2 or 3 (i.e. podium, podium ready or podium potential) on the current Swimming Australia Athlete Categorisation Paralympic Program list. Athletes will be supported for as long as they are categorised by Swimming Australia.

To provide Para swimmers on the verge of National Team selection with opportunities to advance their training and competition development. Activities would provide greater exposure to an elite performance environment that would improve results and chances of selection onto the Australian Dolphins Team.

Swimmers aged 12 years and over are eligible for the Para Potential Squad. Swimmers must achieve one SNSW Para Performance Squad qualifying time in a Final at one of the following long course Championships (Paralympic events only):

• 2021 Australian Age and Multi-Class Swimming Championships (5-7 April 2021)

Please Note: Due to the uncertainty of events taking place during this period, selection into this Squad may also be considered from performances at:

• 2021 SNSW State Open Championships (18-21 March 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Country Championships (19-21 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Senior Metropolitan Championships (27-28 February 2021)

In addition:

• Swimmers selected on the SNSW Para Potential Squad are ineligible for selection in Area Development Squads.
• Swimmers selected on a Swimming Australia Team or Squad will not be eligible to continue with the SNSW Para Performance Squad.

To provide young and emerging Para swimmers to training experiences in a high-performance setting. The aim of the activities would contribute to swimmers maintaining motivation and improving performance to achieve the next level of success.

Swimmers between 12-23 years of age are eligible for this squad. Swimmers must achieve one SNSW Para Development Squad qualifying time at one of the following long course Championships (Paralympic events only):

• 2021 SNSW State Open Championships (18-21 March 2021)
• 2021 Australian Age and Multi-Class Swimming Championships (5-7 April 2021)

Please note: Due to the uncertainty of events taking place during this period, selection into this Squad may also be considered from performances at:

• 2021 SNSW Country Championships (19-21 February 2021)
• 2021 SNSW Senior Metropolitan Championships (27-28 February 2021)

In addition:

• Swimmers selected on the SNSW Para Development Squad are ineligible for selection in Area Development Squads
• Swimmers selected on a Swimming Australia squad/team will not be eligible to continue with the SNSW Para Development Squad