SQUAD Programs

The Senior National Age Squad is St Peters Western's top Age Group Squad. Athletes in this squad are committed to training and competing at State and National Competitions. The Squad is made up of High Performing Secondary School Swimmers, many of whom have chosen to specialise in selected race distances and strokes. 

Technique, endurance, strength and power remain the cornerstone of the Senior National Age Squad, with swimmers working through complex programs which focus on peak performance at various National and International Competitions. The Senior National Age Squad is the training group of several National Champions as well as selected National and State Swimming Team Members. 

Junior National Age Squad members are well trained, competitive athletes who are committed to working towards their athletic potential. The Squad caters for accomplished swimmers who are training for top level State and National Age Group competitions. 

All training sessions continue to focus on technique and efficiency while building athlete’s endurance and the ability to race. Annual training volume has increased from the State Development Squad and members in the Junior National Age Squad attend two Strength and Conditioning sessions each week which assist with athletic resilience and full body strength. 

Members of the State Development Squad are swimmers who are becoming experienced, competitive athletes. State Development Squad members have competitive skills and technique and can complete training sets with efficient strokes. They are competent medley swimmers who can race all four strokes with confidence. 

The Squad’s training sessions are now more complex and work around a periodised annual program with regular dry land training before pool sessions. Members from the State Development Squad focus on the Queensland State Championships held each December and the School Swimming Pathway (District | Region | State | National) trials held throughout the year. 

Group 1

Swimmers in Group 1 commence lap swimming. This squad builds on stroke technique and skills while beginning to perform basic training sets and complete competitive race distances. The focus in Group 1 Squad is on the enhancement of the four strokes as well as kicking endurance, race starts and turns. This step of the St Peters Western pathway introduces competitive swimming to young athletes.

Group 2

Group 2 swimmers are becoming experienced trainers. The squad continues to master skills and technique while challenging athletes with longer sessions and speed work. Efficient swimming in basic aerobic and sprint sets will be the focus of this group. Weekly training is ramped up to include a variety aerobic and anaerobic work across the four strokes and in kick sets. The Group 2 Squad is the first of the competitive racing squads, with a number of the swimmers competing in various Brisbane Swimming short course and long course meets. 

Group 4

Group 4 is for non-competitive swimmers who enjoy training and wish to continue improving their swimming skills.  These swimmers will usually compete in QGSSSA or AIC teams for the College. 

Mini Squad is where St Peters Western Swimming Training begins. The Squad is one step up from Learn to Swim in the SPW Swimming pathway. This is where swimmers start developing their technique of the four strokes as well as building an array of skills that will last throughout their swimming careers. Body positioning and improving stoke and kick propulsion in the water are the key areas that are worked on in each training session.