SNSW State Squads

2025-2026 SNSW State Squads

Swimming NSW's mission for our Performance Pathway Program is to create sustained excellence through a robust program that supports NSW coaches and athletes. The SNSW State Squads provide comprehensive support to athletes at different stages of their swimming careers. Each squad aims to enhance athletes' skills, readiness, and personal growth to excel in swimming at various levels of competition.

Please find below the 2025-26 Performance Pathway Program. To download a PDF version, please CLICK HERE.

Please note all squad members are required to abide by the Performance Pathways Terms and Conditions.

2025/26 SNSW Performance Pathways Program

Swimming NSW’s (SNSW) State Squads provide comprehensive support to athletes at different stages of their swimming careers. Each squad and touring team aim to enhance athletes' skills, readiness, and personal growth to excel in swimming at various levels of competition.

Key notes:

• Squads & Touring teams will be selected by a panel based on performances during the identified meets and timeframes.
• The selection criteria outlined below is flexible to allow movement within the pathway & additional athletes will be added to squads should they fast track their progression.
• 2025- 26 Benchmark Time: The time is established from the 2024 Olympic Games. The 8th fastest time that qualifies for the final becomes the 2025-26 Benchmark Time.
• Squads and Touring Teams (pool) will be selected from registered officiated meets with automatic timing systems (unless otherwise stated within the squad criteria). All times are subject to ratification.

Squads & Touring Teams Selection Criteria

SNSW Touring Team

Purpose: To provide international competition experience and exposure to NSW’s best athlete and coaching talent in readiness for National Team performance.

2025 Touring Teams:

• 2025 New Zealand Short Course Championships.
• 2025 Japan Open.

Selection Criteria:

• The top 10 available athletes will be selected for the Touring Team (athletes who attend the Benchmark Event National Team/s are ineligible for selection).
• Athletes will be selected based on ranking % of the 2025-26 benchmark time.
  • See appendix 1 for 2025-26 benchmark time.
• Only performances in Olympic events will be considered.
• The Touring Teams will be selected from performances between 1st January – 30th June (fastest times in heats or finals).
• The SNSW Touring Teams will be announced in July 2025.

Note: Athletes will be selected for one Touring Team only.

SNSW Open Squad

Purpose: In preparation for LA 2028, provide competitive training opportunities for the best NSW Talent.

Selection Criteria:

• The top 20 NSW athletes including categorised athletes & National Flippers.
• Athletes will be selected based on ranking % of the 2025-26 benchmark time.
  • See appendix 1 for 2025-26 benchmark time.
• Only performances in Olympic events will be considered.
• The Open Squad will be selected from performances between 1st January – 30th April (fastest times in heats or finals), plus Australian Trials.
• The SNSW Open Squad will be announced in July 2025.

SNSW Futures Squad

Purpose: Provide a performance environment that develops the experiences, skills and technique to perform when it matters.

Selection Criteria:

• 30 NSW athletes will be selected (age range 20 years and under).
• Athletes will be selected based on ranking % of the 2025-26 benchmark time.
  • See appendix 1 for 2025-26 benchmark time.
• Only performances in Olympic events will be considered.
• The Futures Squad selected from performances between 1st January – 30th April 2025.
• SNSW Futures Squad will be announced in May 2025.

Open Water Futures Squad

Purpose: Provide a performance environment that develops the experiences, skills and technique to perform when it matters.

Selection Criteria:

• The top 10 NSW athletes (age range 16 years and over).
• Athletes will be selected from Australian Age and Australian Open Water Championships (7.5km / 10km).
• Open 10km (Male & Female): NSW medallists or swimmers within 5 minutes of the winner.
• 18/19 Years 10km (Male & Female): NSW medallists or swimmers within 5 minutes of the winner.
• 16/17 Years 7.5km (Male & Female): NSW medallists or swimmers within 3 minutes of the winner.

Ranking of swimmers:

• Should more than 10 swimmers qualify for the SNSW Open Water Futures Squad, swimmers will be ranked based on the % against the winning time for the respective qualifying event. The 10th ranked athlete's percentage will establish the minimum qualifying percentage.
• If 10 or fewer swimmers qualify, swimmers may be selected based on their percentage ranking against the winning time in their respective event.
• SNSW Open Water Futures Squad will be announced in May 2025.

Sharks Squad

Purpose: In preparation for Brisbane 2032, provide targeted training & education opportunities to athletes to deliver long term athlete development.

Selection Criteria:

• 80 athletes (age range Girls 12-15 yrs / Boys 13-16yrs).
• Selection window: 1st December 2024 – 30th April (any meet in this period, fastest times in heats or finals).
• Athletes will be selected based on rankings % of the 2025-26 benchmark time.
  • See appendix 1 for benchmark times.
• Only performances in Olympic events will be considered.
• The top 40 girls and top 40 boys will be selected:
  • Girls squad: all guaranteed places (top 8 spots as indicated) will be based on rankings % of the 2025-26 benchmark time.
    • 12/13 years = 8 spots
    • 14 years = 8 spots
    • 15 years = 8 spots
    • The remaining 16 spots are based on rankings % of the 2025-26 benchmark time (no age quotas).

Note: NSW Gold medallists from Olympic events at the Australian Age Championships will be selected.

• Boys squad: all guaranteed places (top 8 spots as indicated) will be based on rankings % of the 2025-26 benchmark time.
  • 13/14 years = 8 spots
  • 15 years = 8 spots
  • 16 years = 8 spots
  • The remaining 16 spots are based on rankings % of the 2025-26 benchmark time (no age quotas).

        Note: NSW Gold medallists from Olympic events at the Australian Age Championships will be selected.

• SNSW Sharks Squad will be announced in May 2025.

SNSW Para Futures Squad

Purpose: Provide a performance environment that develops the experiences, skills and technique to perform when it matters.

Selection Criteria:

• Up to 40 athletes will be selected (Age range 12 – 21 years).
• Selection based on % of the 2025-26 Para benchmark time.
  • See appendix 2 for 2025–26 Para benchmark times.
• Squad selected from performances at NSW Open, Australian Age (MC) and Australian Open (MC) Championships.
• Only performances in Paralympic events will be considered.
  • Note: Identified athletes (up to a maximum of 8) from non-Paralympic events (S15 – S19 classifications) will be invited to attend SNSW Para Futures Squad training day activity.
• SNSW Para Futures Squad will be announced in May 2025.

2025-26 Benchmark Time

SNSW Para Benchmark Time – Paralympic Events only