Swim England Artistic Swimming National Programme

January 9, 2017

The Swim England Artistic Swimming National Programme is designed to develop world-class athletes while supporting their growth both in and out of the pool.

Our mission is to become one of the fastest-developing nation in Artistic Swimming, competing at the highest levels and building a strong high-performance culture for future success.

National Programme Structure

The programme is structured into three key levels: Youth, Junior and Senior Programmes

Youth & Junior Programmes

Training takes place for Youth during school holidays and for the selected solo/duet on weekends. Junior training takes place in school holidays and weekends. These squads provide a clear pathway to elite senior competition.

The Youth Programme focuses on foundational skills and progression, with top athletes potentially selected for an international competition during the season.

The Junior Programme consists of two squads:

A development squad, preparing athletes for the next stage.
An elite squad, training for international competition. The top Junior athletes will be selected to compete internationally.

Senior Programme

Athletes train on a weekly and daily basis at the High-Performance Centre (HPC) in Bristol.

Selected athletes are encouraged to attend school, university or further education in Bristol or Bath to integrate with the squad and optimise training.

The programme aims to prepare athletes for elite competitions, including the European Championships, World Championships, and the Olympic Games.

More details on squad selection can be found in the selection documents.

Pathway to the National Programme

Before joining the National Programme, athletes must progress through the Regional Pathway, which includes participation in the annual Regional Games held at the High-Performance Centre in Bristol.

The Regional Pathway is designed to:

Enhance technical skills beyond club training.
Provide education in sports science, land training and routine skills.
Offer additional competitive opportunities.

To be considered for the National Youth or Junior Programme, athletes must:

Have progressed through the Regional Pathway.
Have successfully completed club-level tests in strength, flexibility and technical ability.
Attend trials, where selection is based on:

Physical, technical, and psychological criteria.
Compatibility with the programme and work ethic.
Competitive mindset and proven performance at regional/national level.

It is essential that athletes and their coaches fully understand the commitment, travel and time investment required before attending trials.

Commitment & Expectations

To be part of the National Programme, all training is compulsory, selections for migration between squads and to competitions are ongoing during the season.
Clubs and coaches play a vital role in supporting athletes’ development and engagement throughout the pathway.
Competitive athletes should be actively participating in regional and national competitions.
Selection and performance standards can be found in the Standards Document below.

Selection Information

Download the latest Swim England Artistic Swimming selection information below.

Talent Programme

If you have a question about England Programmes Artistic Swimming, please email [email protected].