Youth Development squad bring in New Year with three-day training camp

Swim England Diving’s Youth Development squad started their 2025 with a three-day training camp at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

25 athletes made the trip to South Yorkshire, giving them the opportunity to further develop their basic skills and build relationships with fellow athletes that will be part of the camps across the calendar year.

The event in Sheffield welcomed 13 divers onto their very first camp of the programme, including those that were selected from the 2024 Swim England Diving Talent Games.

The aim of the camp was to focus on refining the athletes’ diving techniques, physical conditioning and enhancing their mental preparation as they begin to prepare for their events across the remainder of the season.

The athletes received bespoke sessions throughout the three days, designed by the programmes head coach, Kirsteen Mitchell (Dive London) and Sandwell head coach Nigel Mills.

For the first-year divers, they focussed on developing their tuck dives and working on their entries, whilst the second-year divers – who attended the fifth of their seven camps – fine-tuned their required dives and competition routines. Athletes also got the chance to attend some important workshops on sports psychology and injury prevention to ensure a holistic approach to their development.

The camp also provided some vital workshops for both parents and coaches across the weekend.  Coaches were welcomed with an experiential learning opportunity from Swim England’s coach learning and development officer, Matt Higgins, whilst parents took part in an induction workshop from Swim England welfare officer Rebecca Wood.

Speaking on the first camp of the New Year, Swim England talent and inclusion officer for diving “The first Team Z camp of the year was a huge success.

“We had an exciting weekend of learning where we were able to work with the divers on their basic skills and then put them into practice on the boards.

“It was a great to see the newly selected athletes learn from those that have been involved with the programme last year, whilst also giving us the chance to see just how far those second-year athletes have progressed.

“It was also really important to us to have something for both parents and coaches to take part in across the weekend and we hope they all took something away from their workshops in Sheffield.

“Thank you to all the coaches and staff who gave up their time to support the athletes and we can’t wait for the next camp in March.”

More about the Swim England Diving Youth Development squad

The Swim England Diving Youth Development squad is the first step on the Swim England Diving talent pathway for divers aged 10–11 years of age (at the point of selection).

Divers follow a journey over an 18-month period where they will take part in seven weekend-based camps. These are focused around developing divers technically and physically by building on the fundamental skills demonstrated at the Swim England Diving Talent Games.

The programme aims to prepare each diver for the Junior Elite Championships at the end of the 18 months.

You can see each stage of the Swim England Diving talent pathway here.