Swimming develops in a demanding environment Competitive swimming does not progress in neat steps. Skills are revisited, adjusted and rebuilt as swimmers grow, mature and change physically. Swimming takes place in an environment where breathing is restricted, balance is unstable and propulsion, timing and body position must all be controlled together. Small changes in technique or coordination can therefore have a disproportionate effect on performance.

Goal setting becomes increasingly important as swimmers move into the Age Group Performance stage. Training volume increases, competition standards rise, and swimmers begin to experience the pressure of expectations — both internal and external. At this stage, goals are no longer just about what swimmers want to achieve, but how they approach their training, racing, and daily habits. This guide explains how Outcome, Performance, and Process Goals work together

Swimming development is not about rushing results. It is about building the swimmer properly, at the right pace, for the long term. At Basingstoke Bluefins, our pathways are guided by Aquatics GB & Swim England’s Optimal Athlete
Development Framework (OADF). This framework helps ensure that young swimmers progress through training and competition in a way that is structured,age-appropriate and sustainable.

The new season has begun with real momentum — and our swimmers have wasted no time setting the standard. Each month, we highlight individuals who bring the right blend of effort, attitude, consistency, and skill to every session. Our Top Swimmer awards recognise those who don’t just perform well in the pool, but who train the right way: • they embrace feedback • they chase improvement • they show discipline and focus • they support their lane

The season closes with Basingstoke Bluefins swimmers having delivered an extraordinary year, with 169 club records set across the programme. Twenty-three swimmers contributed to that total — up from nineteen the previous year — reflecting growing depth and a wider distribution of performance. Records reflected a mix of expected progression and clear step-changes, with first-time club records from Ella, Eloise, Isabel, and Olek illustrating the range of contributors within th