County Development - Bluefins Squad Spotlight🔦

Parent Guide Series

The Squad

County Development marks the first step on the County Pathway — where swimmers aged 9–14 learn to handle tougher sessions, race more often, and measure themselves against County standards.

It’s a squad with its own identity — challenging, rewarding, and already producing success stories. It’s also one of our super squads — six lanes alive with effort, concentration, and team energy. Every length counts; every swimmer has a role. The full-pool format makes this group unique within the club — a training arena that blends purpose with pride.

Swimmers typically begin in lanes 1–2 as they settle in, gradually moving across the pool as confidence and consistency grow. Leaders aren’t necessarily the quickest; they’re the most reliable, coachable, and composed. Lanes are balanced for pace, ability, and stroke emphasis — encouraging cooperation rather than comparison.

💬 Coach’s Tip:“County Development is where swimmers learn to train — not just swim fast. That’s the difference between early promise and lasting success.”

The Environment

The pool deck is a hive of energy — six lanes working together with rhythm and intent. Lane leaders play a central role: they guide pace, clarify instructions, and set an example for others to follow.

💡 Coaching Principle: Lane leaders aren’t chosen for speed but for consistency and communication. They listen, ask questions, and help teammates stay organised — a great lane leader is a coach’s dream.

This stage also encourages swimmers to take greater responsibility: turning up prepared, managing their kit, and listening with intent. Parents can best support progress by promoting independence rather than providing direction from the gallery.

A Week in Training

Training commitment is four sessions per week (around five hours total). Each 75-minute block provides time for technical work without leaving swimmers overtired.

The group trains under the familiar Bluefins mantra — Set, Drop, Lock, Push. Every length has a purpose, and every skill is rehearsed under just enough challenge to build resilience.

What is Set, Drop, Lock, Push? Everything you need to know is in our step-by-step guide here!

Warm-Up

4 × 50m Freestyle → Backstroke 4 × 50m Backstroke → Breaststroke 4 × 50m Breaststroke → Freestyle

Focus: Controlled push-offs with at least four streamline dolphin kicks, composed swimming with attention to body alignment, stroke length, and breathing rhythm — always finishing on the wall.

New members quickly learn that patience beats pace. Technique comes first; speed follows once form can be held.

💡 Coaching Principle: Cycle times — the biggie! For example, take 4 × 50m Freestyle on a 1:15 cycle. Push off at 0, swim the 50m in 55s, giving 20s rest. When the clock reaches 15s (quarter past), push off again. Simple.

Skill Development

Training isn’t about endless lengths. Aerobic mileage takes a back seat to precision.

At Bluefins we value skilful, efficient swimming far more than volume. Every metre serves a technical purpose, reinforcing control and accuracy.

We’re not trying to build next year’s 11-year-old 800m national champion by piling on laps with poor form. The goal is to create stroke technique that endures for years — adding speed only when swimmers can sustain quality.

Core technical priorities include:

🔑 Wall preparation – Set, Drop, Lock, Push every length, starting each lap with purpose and discipline.

🏊‍♀️ Stroke count – measuring efficiency through minimal strokes.

📏 Stroke length – maximising distance per pull.

⏱️ Stroke rate – understanding rhythm and tempo.

🌬️ Breathing patterns – mainly every three strokes (bilateral) to promote balance and control through growth.

🌊 Extended underwater travel – targeting five dolphin kicks from each wall in a tight, locked streamline.

🖐️ Finishes – racing discipline of always hitting the wall with control and accuracy

💡 Coaching Principle: Technically focused sessions can be mentally demanding. Swimmers should arrive on time, fuelled, and hydrated to maintain concentration. Coaches match that intensity — constantly demonstrating, adjusting, and providing clear feedback. It’s a workout for them too, and every coach is fully invested in making a difference.

Main Skill Work

1. Drill progressions — 4 × 75m (kick, drill, swim by 25s) developing body control and precision.

   Recap from previous work: tonight’s emphasis is Breaststroke — base position with thumbs touching, arms extended, and head neutral for an efficient glide. A strong sculling action flows into a powerful kick to drive that glide phase.

2. Open turns — swimmers line up along the pool, facing the wall with arms extended.

   They take turns rehearsing Breaststroke and Butterfly open turns across the width — reapplying Set, Drop, and Lock through to the subsurface phase.

3. IM transitions — 10m out, swimmers practise each legal IM turn before linking into full Individual Medley (2 × 100m), carrying momentum smoothly across all four strokes.

4. Full-stroke challenge — 4 × 100m, applying skills under light fatigue while keeping form and efficiency intact.

💡 Coaching Principle: It’s the small details that build strong training habits — clearing the wall so teammates can finish hand-to-wall, showing courtesy, teamwork, and awareness.

The Finisher

We like to end on a high. Sometimes an exceptional set fills the session; other times we round off with a relay — fast, loud, and full of smiles. Relays bring speed, teamwork, and racing sharpness, letting swimmers practise starts, subsurface phases, and strong finishes. Parents in the gallery soon recognise the competitive buzz that fills the pool.

Racing & Competition

Competition sits at the core of County Development. Swimmers race regularly at home and away meets across all strokes and distances.

This includes the distance events of 800m and 1500m, introduced here as tests of pacing, endurance, and composure. The emphasis remains on holding turns, push-offs, and stroke form — proving that technique must endure even under fatigue.

Swimmers are encouraged to target 200m and above, with strong attention to the Individual Medley to develop all-round ability.

💬 Coach’s View: “County Development is where swimmers start to connect the dots. They discover that training detail leads to racing results, and that hard work always finds a reward.”

🔗 Read more in our Parent Guide blog: How Young Is Too Young for Distance?

The Swimmer's Voice🎤 — County Development in Action

This year’s Club Championships gave many of our County Development swimmers the chance to take on their first distance events — 400m, 800m, and even 1500m. For every swimmer, the focus wasn’t on time, but on holding skill and form under fatigue. It’s a learning process that builds confidence, resilience, and pride in completing something new.

400m Freestyle – Eloise, 9 🏊‍♀️ 💬 “I tried to stay relaxed and keep my strokes long. The hardest bit was not rushing — but I finished strong! My biggest worry was if I’d lose count!”

Eloise approached her first 400m with calm composure, focusing on stroke length and breathing control throughout the race.

800m Freestyle – Ethan, 10 🏊‍♂️ 💬 “I thought it would feel never-ending, but once I’d got going, it felt really good. I just kept thinking about my turns — that’s what got me through it.”, "I could have gone faster!"

Ethan showed brilliant pacing awareness and consistent technique through his first 800m, staying focused and confident from start to finish.

1500m Freestyle – Megan, 11 🏊‍♀️  💬 “It was my longest race ever! I kept reminding myself — smooth strokes, tight turns, and don’t lose focus. My legs were gone at the end, but I loved the challenge!”

Megan handled her debut 1500m with maturity and patience, demonstrating excellent skill retention across all 60 lengths — a huge achievement for any swimmer at this stage.

Every one of these swimmers in County Development learned something new this year — not about how fast they could go, but how well they could swim when tired. That’s the foundation of endurance and the essence of Bluefins training.

Recognition & Next Steps

The County Development Squad is a cornerstone of the Bluefins pathway. Many Regional and National Pathway athletes began right here — where discipline, detail, and enjoyment first came together.

Only a small number of swimmers move on to the Performance Pathway, where sessions are longer, expectations are higher, and squad places are limited. Progression at this level depends on readiness, consistency, and coachability — and with space at a premium, selection must be earned, not assumed.

💡 Coaching Principle: Right attitude, attendance, and effort — that’s what opens the door to opportunity.

Others continue to thrive within the County Development Squad, developing their skills further as they move across lanes.

For those who may be finding the level of commitment challenging, or who prefer a slightly less intense competitive environment, a move into the Age Group Competitive Squad can be the right fit. This route allows swimmers to continue refining technique and gaining race experience in a supportive, balanced setting.

All routes hold equal value. The key is readiness — not rushing. Moving up too early can create gaps in skill or confidence that take months to rebuild. Some swimmers naturally develop later, finding their way into the Performance Pathway when the timing matches their growth, maturity, and ability.

Case Study: Ethan's Journey

October 2023: Ethan joined Bluefins at age 12, starting in Club 1 Squad, training once a week. Before the year was out, he progressed from the Fitness Squad to Competitive Development, where he refined his skills and confidence. He then advanced to Age Group Competitive, where he qualified for his first County Championships.

2024: Ethan entered the County Pathway through the Age Group County Squad (now renamed County Development). After the County Championships, he stepped up to Youth Performance, his first real big test. Here, he settled into the squad environment and continued to hone the skills required for the next chapter — finishing the year in Regional Performance.

2025: Building on two years of consistent progress, Ethan achieved multiple successes at the County Championships. His performances earned him a place in National Performance, and he went on to qualify for the South East Regional Championships. In true Ethan style, he capped the season by qualifying for the National Championships in August 2025.

Ethan’s journey is an exceptional one — and probably unique. This level of progression isn’t typical; it takes years of consistency, patience, and learning. Every swimmer’s pathway is personal — development unfolds at its own pace, and every milestone deserves celebration.

Ethan dreamed big — and sometimes, dreams really do come true if you’re willing to put in the work, stay coachable, and never give up on the process. 💙

County Development — the Super Squad where technical excellence grows into racing confidence.

📋 County Development Criteria Age: 9–14 ⏱️ Pool Time: 4 sessions / ~5 hrs per week 📊 Standard: Development towards County standard 🎯 Target Level: County Champs Base QT – Compete Regularly – Home & Away Meets

Swimmers should: 🤸 Complete a land warm-up before each swim 🏊 Refine technique while meeting harder training demands 😀 Show a positive attitude and good behaviour 🙌 Show respect and good manners to swimmers, coaches, and members ⏱️ Explore training target times 🎽 Enter regular meets, racing a variety of strokes and distances 📊 Know County qualifying times for their main and form strokes

Pathway Focus: 📌 Encourages enjoyment while building strong habits 📌 Prepares swimmers for Age Group Performance & beyond 📌 An important step requiring greater focus and commitment — low attendance can result in a move, freeing space for others progressing 📌 Progression to Performance Pathway is not guaranteed — depends on attendance, effort, coachability, technique, results & potential 📌 Introduces pacing awareness and controlled exposure to distance racing — 400 m, 800 m, and 1500 m freestyle. Full list of Squad Criterias