Swimming NSW State Squads

Swimming NSW's Performance Squads are designed to support current national team members and transitioning athletes. Transitioning athletes refers to those moving from age group swimming to open swimming or open swimming to either national squad or senior benchmark event selection.

There are three tiers (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and the Open Water Performance Squad within the Performance Squad pathway.

Swimming NSW's Sharks Squads are designed to identify and provide support for emerging age group swimmers and their coaches. Talented swimmers will have the opportunity to:

• Enhance education, develop skills and gain exposure to varied opportunities away from their daily training environment.
• Create a supportive environment for emerging swimmers to develop their skills and swimming knowledge in preparation for National Junior Team and/or Talent Identification (TID) Squad selection.

The NSW Sharks structure consists of two tiers: Gold and Silver.

The Australian State Teams Short Course Age Championship sees each State and Territory from around the Country bring their best up and coming swimmers to Canberra to compete for the title of State Teams Champion. It is a great opportunity for swimmers to race for and represent the Mighty Blues.

Identifying and developing extraordinary sporting potential is a tremendously exciting journey. Typically it involves a rare blend of coaching art, science, environment and systematic planning. Sporting potential of this kind is often described as ‘gold dust’ - rare, valuable and requiring skilful handling along the journey to transfer into World and Olympic excellence.

To prepare Australia’s next generation of swimmers for senior performance excellence, Swimming Australia, through the State Technical Directors has thoroughly reviewed the Performance Pathway program. The State and National Talent Program now will be known as Swimming Australia’s ‘Flippers’ program. The program will feature a combination of activities delivered by each State and Nationally with the aim of preparing identified athletes to successfully transition to the pinnacle of swimming in Australia - the Dolphins Swim Team.

The aim of the Swimming NSW (SNSW) Touring Team is to provide athletes who are on the cusp of National Team selection with an opportunity to travel and compete at a high-level overseas meet. From this, swimmers will be able to practice racing under pressure and in an unfamiliar environment. Swimmers will gain greater racing and touring experience, with the goal of National Team selection in the near future.

Athletes who are selected as a Swimming Australia (SAL) Categorised Athlete in the Olympic Program.

Read the full 2019 Gold Performance Squad Selection Criteria.

Female athletes aged 16 years and over and male athletes aged 17 years and over as at the first day of the selection meet.

Only the following performances will be considered for squad selection:

• Priority 1
  •  Athletes who meet the squad qualifying time in a 2019 Australian Open Final, Australian Age Final or Australian Trials A Final
• Priority 2
  • National Medallists at the 2019 Australian Open or Australian Age Championships
  • Finalist in Olympic Events at the 2019 Australian Trials (must swim in the A Final)
  • For A Final only events or Timed Finals, athletes who are in the Top 8 at the 2019 Australian Trials (Olympic Events only)

Read the full 2019 Silver Performance Squad Selection Criteria.

Females aged 16 years and over and males aged 17 years and over as at the first day of the selection meet.

Only the following performances will be considered for squad selection:

• Finalists at the 2019 Australian Open and Age Championships (must swim in the Final)
  • for Timed Final events, top 8 placing
• B Finalists in Olympic Events at the 2019 Australian Trials (must swim in the B Final)
  • for A Final only events or Timed Finals, top 16 placing

Read the full 2019 Bronze Performance Squad Selection Criteria.

Athletes aged 16 years and over who swim at the 2019 Australian Open Water Championships and attain the following results (regardless of visitors):

Priority 1

• Top 5 placing in 5km and 10km Open events at the Australian Open Water Championships

Priority 2

• 6th – 10th placing in the 5km and 10km Open events at the Australian Open Water Championships (regardless of Visitors)
• Male and female 18-19 year old: 1st – 5th placing in the 10km or 5km
• Male and female 16-17 year old: 1st – 5th placing in the 7.5km or 5km

Read the full 2019 Open Water Performance Squad Selection Criteria.

The following performances will be considered for squad selection:

Priority 1

• Swimmers who swim a SNSW Sharks Gold Squad qualifying time in a 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championship Final (or top 8 in Timed Final events)

Priority 2

• Medallists at the 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championships

Open Water

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

Read the full 2019 Gold Sharks Squad Selection Criteria.

Swimmers who are 2019 Australian Age Finalists (must swim in the final or are in the top 8 of Timed Final events) who are not selected in the SNSW Sharks Gold Squad or;

Open Water

Females & Males aged 14-15yrs: Silver & Bronze Medallists in the 5km Age events at the Australian Open Water Championships (regardless of visitors)

Read the full 2019 Silver Sharks Squad Selection Criteria.

A team of up to 44 swimmers will be selected. The NSW State Team will comprise of:

• 10 males in the 14-15 years age group;
• 10 males in the 16-17 years age group;
• 10 females in the 13-14 years age group;
• 10 females in the 15-16 years age group and;
• 4 Para swimmers in the 13-17 years age group

Swimmers age is determined as at the first day of the State Teams competition.

The squad will be selected from the highest rankings using the following meets:

• 2019 SNSW Country Short Course Championships
• 2019 SNSW Metropolitan Short Course Championships
• 2019 SNSW State Age 13 & over Short Course Championships

The first ranked male athlete from the combined 14-15 years age groups and the combined 16-17 years age group events will become the first priority for selection onto the NSW State Team.

The first ranked female athlete from the combined 13-14 years age groups and the combined 15-16 years age group events will become first priority for selection onto the NSW State Team.

Para swimmers will be ranked by percentage (%) using the SNSW Para Potential Squad Times. The first and second ranked male and female Para swimmers aged 13-17 years in the S6-S10 & S13 classes will become first priority for selection onto the NSW State Team.

The SNSW Selection Committee will also have the option of using Australian Age and Australian Open results when selecting athletes for the 800m and 1500m events.

Only performances in Olympic and Paralympic events will be considered.

Read the full 2019 NSW State Teams Selection Criteria.

13-14 Yrs Girls

15-16 Yrs Girls

14-15 Yrs Boys

16-17 Yrs Boys

Para Swimmers

NSW swimmer performances at the 2019 Hancock Propecting Australian Swimming or 2019 Hancock Propecting Australian Age Championships:

• 8^th placed into the World Championship Final plus 3% for Females Aged 20yrs and over and Males Aged 21yrs and over;
• 8^th placed into the World Championship Final plus 5% for Females Aged 19yrs and under and Males Aged 20yrs and under.

Only performances from the following meets will be considered for team selection:

• Priority 1
  • Swimmers who have achieved a 2019 SNSW Touring Team qualifying time in a Final at the 2019 Australian Swimming Championships or 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championships.
• Priority 2
  • Swimmers who achieve a 2019 SNSW Touring Team qualifying time in the Heats of the 2019 Australian Swimming Championships or 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championships.

Read the full 2019 Touring Team Selection Criteria.

Team Coaches

• Amanda Isaac (Abbotsleigh)
• Bruce Vyvyan (University of NSW)

Staff

• Jon Shaw (Team Leader, Swimming NSW Coaching Director)
• Gina Sacilotto (Performance Analyst)

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: Para Performance Squad, Para Potential Squad and Para Development Squad.

To provide financial support to NSW Para categorised athletes for Senior Para benchmark competitions.

Athletes who are a Swimming Australia (SAL) Categorised athlete in the Paralympic Program.

Read the full 2019 Para Performance Squad Selection Criteria.

To provide Para Potential swimmers with opportunities to enhance their training and competition development. Activities would provide greater exposure to a performance training environment that would improve performances to achieve selection onto a National Team or Squad. The SNSW Para Potential Squad would undertake the SAL Testing Protocols (where applicable).

Swimmers must achieve one (1) SNSW Para Potential qualifying time in a Final at one of the following long course Championships (Paralympic events only):

• 2019 SNSW State Open Swimming Championships (March 2019)
• 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships (April 2019)
• 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships (April 2019)

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 Potential Squad.

Read the full 2019 Para Potential Squad Selection Criteria.

To provide talented Para swimmers with an educational component to assist with their training and personal development. The aim of the activities would contribute to swimmers maintaining motivation and improving performance to achieve selection onto a National Team or Squad.

Swimmers must achieve one (1) SNSW Para Development qualifying standard at one of the following long course Championships (Paralympic events only):

• 2019 SNSW Open Swimming Championships (March 2019)
• 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships (April 2019)
• 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships (April 2019)

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

Read the full 2019 Para Development Squad Selection Criteria.