Squad Programme
Training groups for swimmers of all ages and abilities, with a clear path from first strokes to international racing.
The Hong Kong Island Stingrays Swim Club offers training groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Stingrays to offer age-specific training for all of our athletes, geared towards challenging and developing each individual to the best of their abilities.
Our comprehensive swim programme provides instructional training for Club, Developmental, Age Group Competitive and Senior Competitive swim streams, with a clear path for progression within each training group. Our programme ensures that our swimmers are taught the correct skills and techniques to compete competently at whichever level they choose. As the training level increases, attendance and performance requirements become much more of an entry requirement to that specific group.
Squad overview
Developmental Programme
The Developmental squads are for swimmers who are new to competitive swimming. Swimmers are placed in a specific group depending on their age and ability level to set them up for future success in swimming.
Stingers Squad
Age guideline 5 to 10 years
The Stingers Squad is a session-based squad for athletes who are new to the sport and/or are working towards learning the four competitive strokes. Sessions are centred on competitive stroke instruction with an emphasis on balance in the water through specialised drills. This squad will set you up with the strokes and skills needed for competitive swimming.
Rays Squad I
Age guideline 6 to 8 years
Rays squad is a 3x per week programme. This is when swimmers begin true technique work on their strokes and learn competitive skills such as starts, turns and finishes. Meets are encouraged to measure progress. Dry land is introduced to assist athletic development.
Rays Squad II
Age guideline 9 to 10 years
Rays squad is a 3x per week programme. This is when swimmers begin true technique work on their strokes and learn competitive skills such as starts, turns and finishes. Meets are encouraged to measure progress. Dry land is introduced to assist athletic development.
Age Group (MS) Competitive Programme
The Age Group Competitive Programme is for swimmers who can swim all four competitive strokes legally. In addition to the technique development these swimmers will do, they will also be introduced to training.
Development Squad I
Age guideline 8 to 10 years
Development squad is a 5x per week programme. The swimmer continues the refinement of stroke and competitive skills, while meet attendance is important so they can begin to see improvement in racing and build bonds with teammates. Attendance at dry land is essential to improve athletic development!
Development Squad II
Age guideline 11 to 12 years
Development squad is a 5x per week programme. The swimmer continues the refinement of stroke and competitive skills, while meet attendance is important so they can begin to see improvement in racing and build bonds with teammates. Attendance at dry land is essential to improve athletic development!
Futures Squad I
Age guideline 9 to 12 years
Futures I squad is a 6x per week programme. Athletes continue to develop drills, stroke technique, starts and turns. The training environment remains fun, however a greater emphasis is placed on competition, learning to train and swim discipline. At this point swimming is becoming one of your main activities and meet attendance is essential while continuing to build bonds with teammates. Dry land has become an important part of being a healthy, well-rounded athlete.
Futures Squad II
Age guideline 12 to 14 years
Futures II squad is a 6x per week programme. Athletes continue to develop drills, stroke technique, starts and turns. The training environment remains fun, however a greater emphasis is placed on competition, learning to train and swim discipline. Athletes will be aiming to compete and achieve at HKGSA Divisional Meets whilst aspiring to compete at HKGSA Age Nationals. At this point swimming is your main activity and meet attendance is essential while continuing to build bonds with teammates. Dry land has become an important part of being a healthy, well-rounded athlete.
Senior (HS) Competitive Programme
The Senior Competitive Programme has options for swimmers of all abilities and goals, ranging from high school swimming through to club swimming at a national and international level. Each squad builds upon the previous one, with the goal of creating the proper progression for athletes to move through the programme based upon their respective goals.
Competitive Squad
Age guideline 13+ years
Competitive is for HS-aged swimmers who enjoy competitive training and swimming yet need time to continue other activities (sporting or otherwise). These individuals often find they do not have the flexibility to commit to the Performance Squad training schedules. This allows them to improve their swimming ability to the competitive level each individual swimmer wishes to achieve.
Performance Squad I
Age guideline 13+ years
The Performance I Squad is for HS-aged swimmers who are at Sectional Bonus Standard. It is an 8-session per week programme. Swimming and academics are the sole focus of this squad. Attendance at training, camps and meets is crucial, expected and monitored. The goal is to prepare athletes to attain multiple Sectionals cuts. Admittance to this group will be based on, but not limited to, attendance, ability, performance and coachability. Dry land is an integral part of the programme to help the athlete reach their potential.
Performance Squad II
Age guideline 15+ years
The Performance II Squad is for HS-aged swimmers who are at US Sectionals Standard and moving towards Futures and US Junior National Standard. It is an 8+ session per week programme. This is a high-achieving training squad where swimming and academics are the sole focus. Attendance at training, camps and meets is crucial, expected and monitored. The goal is to prepare athletes for national and international levels of competition while assisting athletes to excel in the sport. Admittance to this group will be based on, but not limited to, attendance, ability, performance and coachability. Dry land is an integral part of the programme to help the athlete reach their potential.
Club Programme
The Club Programme is an opportunity for both late swimming developers and swimmers who want to make less of a commitment to swimming. Swimmers will learn to train, and improve and refine swimming technique, skill and fitness. Coaches will work with swimmers who wish to take their swimming further and want to progress into the main competitive squads in the future.
Stingrays Club Blue Squad
Age guideline 10 to 14
The Stingrays Club Blue Squad is for MS-age children looking to improve their swimming technique, skills and fitness, and has 3x sessions available. Club Blue has a less stringent commitment level than the competitive squads. It allows swimmers to refine and improve technique and skill while balancing other sports and activities, and to improve and maintain a good level of physical fitness. Swimming is beneficial to a child’s physical health and wellness, and it is also a vehicle by which the child learns valuable life lessons and skills that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Stingrays Club Black Squad
Age guideline 13+
The Stingrays Club Black Squad is for HS-age swimmers who want to stay fit year round, and it has 3x sessions available. Technique is primary, then an increase in volume, intensity and speed will be introduced. The focus is on fitness, competition at school and internal meets; there is no meet attendance requirement. Athletes are encouraged to attend a minimum of 3x sessions per week, as this allows swimmers to improve and maintain a good level of physical fitness while still having time for academics and other interests.
Programme progression
There are many ways to progress through the sport of swimming. Because there are many factors that go into growth, development and maturation, we must accommodate these various levels of athletes with different squads. Squads become more specific throughout the programme. Correct squad placement is essential to ensuring quality coaching for the individual, squad and team. At some point each level will be introduced to the next in some way. As in any organisation, there has to be some order and structure. These squads are designed to be a guideline. Coaches at times will make moves outside these definitions due to situations at the time regarding swimmers, squads and whole team levels. Becoming a great swimmer is a marathon, be patient!
Things to remember
Move ups are a coaching decision.
The coaches have nothing to gain by your athlete’s lack of progression.
Squad placement is not a statement on the long-term success of your child.
How we place swimmers
When we consider which squad you fit into, we take into account the following:
- Training attendance
- Competition performance
- Training performance
- Maturational age and biological age
- Emotional age
- A good attitude
- Aptitude and potential
- Within the optimum age limits for the squad
For more information about groups and group progression, please direct enquiries to your swimmer’s current group coach.
Find your squad
Book a tryout and our coaches will recommend the right place to start.