The Potential Squad comprises swimmers who are competent in all four strokes over 25/50 meters who have the potential to increase their capacity to swim longer distances through training more often under the guidance of a qualified ASA swimming coach. These swimmers would be expected to have the ambition to develop their skills to allow them to complete in external open galas and, from time to time, in Essex League galas on behalf of the Club.

The Attainment Squad is the first step forward for the Potential Squad members and, at this stage, the swimmers have demonstrated their commitment to training through attendance at sessions and should have developed the skills necessary to compete on behalf of the Club. We would expect these swimmers to have the ambition to develop further through the squad structure.

Swimmers who meet qualification criteria based on their personal best times (relative to County qualifying times), their commitment at training sessions and attendance levels may move into the County Squad. Here training intensity increases further and is reflected in the number of training sessions undertaken. We would expect the majority of this squad to ultimately qualify to swim in the Essex County Championships.

The National Squad has the heaviest training and competition commitment and comprises those swimmers who have qualified or are close to qualifying to swim in the National Age Group and Youth Championships. They train for 18½ hours per week (land and pool training) and will also have to demonstrate a consistent and committed approach to training throughout the season.

The Club Squad is designed for those swimmers who are generally former members of one of the squads named above but who are unable or unwilling to maintain the commitment to the training sessions or are unable to meet the requisite qualifying criteria. These swimmers still compete in external competitions where they achieve the qualifying times and often swim in League Galas.